After working with the rookie-level FCL Braves for the previous two seasons, Nina is back as the pitching coach. Nina’s final visit to SRP Park was in 2021, her first season as a Braves affiliate with the GreenJackets. Nina played seven seasons at Triple-A after being selected by the Oakland Athletics in the 1997 MLB Draft.
Justus, a native of Cartersville, Georgia, was selected in the 2016 MLB Draft by the Los Angeles Angels. He attended Atlanta’s Georgia Institute of Technology. From 2016 to 2019, Justus played minor league baseball for the Angels organisation. Justus inked a contract with the Miami Marlins for the 2021 season, joining the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp and Pensacola Blue Wahoos.
Tom Adams, who was an employee of the 2023 FCL Braves, will be the athletic trainer for the GreenJackets. Jake Wynn, a New York native from Stony Brook University, joins as the strength coach.
The manager of the Philadelphia Phillies, Rob Thomson, outlined his team’s strategy to start strong and prevent Atlanta from taking a commanding lead in the division in an interview with Alex Coffey of the Philadelphia Inquirer.
The offence is where it all starts. After signing a free agent contract last summer, Trea Turner was a free agent addition who got off to a very cold start, while Bryce Harper required some time to get back to his previous level of play after recovering from Tommy John surgery. Thomson claims that the Phillies’ preparation for spring training was hampered by the fact that a number of them took part in the World Baseball Classic.
“They are permitted to go to the complex and participate in those (player development) games during major league games. only to receive bats. They can get an at-bat every inning if they so choose; they are not even required to play on the field. Additionally, kids can receive at-bats there thanks to the Trajekt [pitching] machine that we now have.
Thomson said that in order to avoid falling behind early in the divisional competition, everyone should get more spring training at-bats. He did this while making reference to Trea Turner, Kyle Schwarber, and J.T. Realmuto.
“If you start off in a somewhat better position… We were.500 for the months of March and April, so we weren’t too bad. However, in May? We were far from excellent. After that, you have to play catch-up. And a lot of energy is being expended there. On the other hand, August and September are less anxious if you have a better start.”
Thomson explained, “It’s making sure that all of our relievers, for the most part, check certain boxes.” During spring training, they all play back-to-back games. Everyone completes one plus [inning]. When they enter the game with runners on base, they all have a dirty inning. Because there is a lot less adrenaline in major league spring training games than in minor league ones, you try to do that there.
Thomson addressed the conclusion of spring training and the team’s intention to see the last week of Grapefruit League play as an extension of the regular season as he wrapped up his spring training adjustments.
“And then really focusing on the previous five or seven games, or whatever, and turning up the music while declaring, ‘Let’s go.'” To help relievers get used to it, we’re sort of mixing and matching, putting them in positions they’ll likely play in during the regular season.”
The Phillies, who finished in third place in the division recently (2022) or second place in 2023), advanced further into the playoffs as a wild card and defeated Atlanta in the divisional round in each season.
