A couple of position players arrived in Spring Training a week ahead of schedule, but the Braves pitchers and catchers reported on schedule Wednesday. After consecutive terrible playoff results, everyone is eager for the challenge as the Braves attempt to reach the summit of the mountain for the first time since 2021.
At his first media conference at Spring Training on Thursday, Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos covered a wide range of subjects, one of which was particularly intriguing in light of probable injuries as the season gets underway. As Spring Training gets underway, Anthopoulos stated there are no surprises but that they would not talk about minor injuries.
The Braves have suffered greatly from injuries in recent years, especially to their pitching staff. Several players are expected to recover from significant injuries during Spring Training, so it will be interesting to watch how they perform over the next six weeks.
Huascar Ynoa and Tyler Matzek are recovering from Tommy John surgery. A shoulder issue that kept Dylan Lee out of action for the majority of last year is the kind of injury that can persist for years. With the depth the Braves have in their roster, all of them will be vying for spots on the roster, thus none of them should be taken for granted.
Then there are the starting pitchers to watch, such as Max Fried and Chris Sale. The Braves’ newest addition, Sale, has spent the last several years battling only ailments; but, he did mention following his trade that this was the first summer he had been healthy in a long time.
Fried had trouble with his elbows last season. When he did make a comeback at the end of the season, it didn’t appear that the ailment was still bothering him. Of course, elbow injuries are serious business, and Fried remains the Braves staff’s best player. It is important to keep an eye on his health during Spring Training.
