Braves News: Marcell Ozuna heating up in spring training, more roster cuts, more
By Eric Cole
The Atlanta Braves will be playing baseball that counts in less than two weeks and we still have some unanswered questions about both the lineup and the rotation. Fortunately, this is because of having MORE options than we thought as Braden Shewmake has inserted himself into the shortstop competition and Jared Shuster and Dylan Dodd continue to battle things out in the rotation.
However, one welcome development has been that Marcell Ozuna has seemingly remembered how to hit a baseball over the last week and a half or so. His three run homer yesterday backed up yet another strong spring start from Max Fried and the Braves easily beat the Twins 5-0. Hopefully Ozuna can, you know, not get arrested this season.
More Atlanta Braves News
Elsewhere on the site, we took at look at the all-time Braves records for the most home runs in a single season. I know this will come as a shock to many of you, by Hank Aaron and Eddie Mathews feature prominently on the list along with a few other Braves luminaries.
Finally, we had another roster cut, although this one was a small one as Jackson Stephens was sent back to Triple-A Gwinnett. Stephens was a nice story to begin the 2022 season, but his effectiveness waned as the season went on and his limited appearances this spring, well, haven't been so hot.
MLB News
The World Baseball Classic is barrelling towards a finish and Team USA punched their ticket to the finals in emphatic fashion. After a nailbiter against Venezuela in the previous round, Team USA led by a scorching hot Trea Turner and co. as they walloped Cuba by the score of 14-2. One selfishly hopes that Turner cools off significantly once the season gets started.
The Astros got some brutal news yesterday when it was reported that Jose Altuve broke his right thumb on a hit by pitch during the World Baseball Classic and it will require surgery. No word yet as to how long Altuve will be out, but it seems likely that he will be out at least a couple months as he heals up and then ramps back up into playing shape.