With pitchers and catchers officially scheduled to report this week and the entire team required to report by February 20th, spring training for the Atlanta Braves is finally here. Don’t worry, Braves fans—baseball season is just around the corner. We have already begun to hear about players showing up early to camp.
The Braves’ camp is going to be quite interesting. Even though, barring injuries (be well, guys), the great majority of the Braves’ roster places are locked in for the 2024 season, there is still at least one unclaimed spot in their rotation, a few spots in the bullpen that need to be filled, and a bench that has to be stocked. Fans will also want to watch Jarred Kelenic, Chris Sale, Reynaldo Lopez, Aaron Bummer, and other recent newcomers to the Braves perform.
The consequences for the major league roster are not the only reason spring training is fascinating. In addition to a plethora of minor league signings who are non-roster invitees who may have an effect this season, if not immediately out of spring training, the Braves have invited several of their prospects to camp. Atlanta’s alternatives and plans for 2024 will be revealed by how well those men perform this spring and how long they stay in camp.
It seems inevitable that there will be numerous roster reductions this spring, particularly once the games begin. As minor leaguers are returned to minor league camp and the regular men begin playing more and more throughout the spring, the most of these moves will be anticipated. In order to allow them time to find a new team before the 2024 season begins, there will also be players on minor league contracts vying for a position on the major league squad who just won’t cut it and will be released rather early.
