As the calendar turned over to 2026, the Atlanta Braves' roster was in really good shape. They had re-signed some key names, including Raisel Iglesias and Ha-Seong Kim, and added Robert Suarez, Mauricio Dubon, and Mike Yastrzemski, among others. Other than an impact rotation arm (foreshadowing), the Braves had checked the boxes they needed to. Unfortunately, a series of injuries has undone some of that good work.
Not signing a starter was forgivable with Atlanta's previous rotation depth, but the injuries to both Spencer Schwellenbach and Hurston Waldrep have basically removed any margin for error now. However, the injury to Kim that is going to keep him out until May is giving Dubon an opportunity to play every day, for better or worse, and give someone else a shot at a bench spot.
There are a number of potential candidates for that infield bench spot. Longtime Oriole Jorge Mateo has been the favorite to back up Dubon since the Kim injury news broke, but Braves beat writer Mark Bowman seems to think that a recent minor league signing, Kyle Farmer, has a real chance of making the Opening Day roster as well. Whoever ends up occupying that last bench spot may not want to get too comfortable, though.
Kyle Farmer may have a chance of making the Braves' Opening Day roster, but it is likely to be fleeting if it happens
Just days before the start of camp, the Braves signed Farmer to a minor league deal, which, given his profile and the timing, certainly suggests that Atlanta would like to keep him around for a bit. Farmer's deal is a minor league contract, but the Braves don't make that move unless they think they could need the versatile infielder.
There is some wisdom to that, given all of the Braves' injury issues in recent years across their infield other than iron man Matt Olson, but adding Farmer to the roster from day one does pose some longer-term roster problems. Kim is (hopefully) going to return in early May, and he is going to push Dubon to the bench when that happens. Mateo was signed to a major league deal, and with Farmer out of options, stashing him in Triple-A and not having to worry about getting him through the waiver wire in a month makes a lot more sense at first glance.
These things have a tendency to work themselves out, and this is a fringe roster concern. If Kim comes back and the rest of the infield stays healthy, no one is going to really care who the second infielder on the bench is. However, it is something to consider when thinking about Opening Day roster projections, and you can expect Farmer to be in the conversation for at least a few weeks.