Braves News: Allard to start spring opener, uniform number changes, more
Today marks the last day before Atlanta Braves baseball games are actually played. Sure, they are just spring training games to start with, but at least we will have actual baseball to talk about this weekend and that pleases us.
While we don't know all of the players that will be playing this weekend, we do know some snippets and can make some inferences. We should a few everyday players getting a couple of at-bats with the guys who are set to play in the World Baseball Classic more likely to get more significant playing time. We also now know that Kolby Allard will be starting the game on Saturday which will be his first appearance with the club since he was traded to Rangers back in 2019.
More Braves News
To get ready for the weekend's games, we decided to take some questions from readers on a wide range of topics relating to the Braves. From prospect stuff to roster speculation to season predictions, there is pretty much something for everyone in this mailbag installment.
Finally, there are a lot of new faces in spring training camp as well as a couple of familiar faces that changed uniform numbers going into the 2023 season. To keep track of it all, Mitchell went through and cataloged all of the new uniforms as well as the uniform changes. For those of you that have Spencer Strider #65 jerseys that you special ordered, you now own collectibles...probably.
MLB News
Shohei Ohtani is set to compete in the World Baseball Classic and a story came out about how he told Mike Trout that Ohtani did not believe that he was the best player on Team Japan. I'm going to go ahead and call shenanigans on that being true/possible, but the fine folks at MLB.com took a shot at trying to figuring out who Ohtani could be talking about including the "Japanese Aaron Judge".
Meanwhile over with the Chicago White Sox, it sure sounds like Tim Anderson wants the White Sox to talk to him more about a contract extension. Anderson seems to be quite happy in Chicago and wants to settle down with his family, but for the moment it doesn't seem like the White Sox are in any hurry to ink another deal with him...at least not yet.