Atlanta Braves: A too-early check of the Spring Training position battles
By Jeff Schafer
Checking in on Braves Spring Training position battles
The 2018 Spring Training season began last Friday, yes just six days ago, but we can’t help but think ahead. The Atlanta Braves have a couple positional battles to sort out over the next few months so of course we’ve got that on our minds.
This is obviously a way too early look at the competition. The Braves have played six games (1-4-1) and many players have gotten either few at-bats or only pitched a few innings.
The position battles the Braves have would be – starting rotation, left field, third base, the bullpen and the bench.
Though a few of these positions aren’t really “battles” it’s still entertaining to look into these…
Starting Rotation
The Braves have many pitchers in contention for the five starting rotation spots. Two pitchers are locks — Julio Teheran and Mike Foltynewicz. The other three spots are still open (kinda)
Brandon McCarthy – 3 IP, 0.00 ERA, 0 runs, 1 hit, 1 walk, 3 strikeouts
Scott Kazmir – 1 IP, 0.00 ERA, 0 runs, 0 hits, 2 walks, 0 strikeouts
Sean Newcomb – 1 IP, 0.00 ERA, 1 runs (0 earned runs), 1 hit, 1 walk, 2 strikeouts
Max Fried – 0.2 IP, 27.00 ERA, 2 runs, 3 hits, 1 walk, 1 strikeout
Luiz Gohara – hasn’t pitched yet because of a groin strain
Left Field
Top prospect Ronald Acuna has received the most at-bats by any Braves hitter. The Braves think they know what they have and want to watch the young kid play. There’s still debate whether he’ll start the season with the Atlanta Braves or play in Triple-A for the first few weeks.
Preston Tucker – .500/.636/.625, 4-8 at the plate, 1 double, 1 run, 3 walks, 1 strikeout
Lane Adams – .000/.000/.000, 0-10 at the plate, 0 walks, 5 strikeouts
Ronald Acuna – .231/.231/.231, 3-13 at the plate, 1 run, 2 RBIs, 1 base steal, 4 walks, 1 strikeout
Third Base
Unless the Braves decide neither of these guys can handle a full season at the hot corner and sign a free agent, Johan Camargo will be our everyday third baseman. We’ll see more of these guys as the month of March ticks by.
Johan Camargo – .250/.222/.625, 2-8 at the plate, 1 home run, 1 run, 2 RBIs, 0 walks, 0 strikeouts
Rio Ruiz – .083/.083/.083, 1-12 at the plate, 0 walks, 7 strikeouts
The Bullpen
Atlanta will most likely start the year off with an eight-man bullpen. It’s extremely difficult to “lock in” any bullpen guys because you just never know, but I would say the Braves have two locks — Arodys Vizcaino and A.J. Minter.
Here you go, pick eight…
Arodys Vizcaino – 1 IP, 0.00 ERA, 1 hit, 0 runs, 0 walks, 0 strikeouts
A.J. Minter – 1 IP, 0.00 ERA, 2 hits, 0 runs, 0 walks, 0 strikeouts
Jesse Biddle – 2.1 IP, 0.00 ERA, 1 hit, 0 runs, 0 walks, 0 strikeouts
Aaron Blair – 1 IP, 0.00 ERA, 1 hit, 0 runs, 0 walks, 0 strikeouts
Sam Freeman – 2.2 IP, 0.00 ERA, 1 hit, 0 runs, 0 walks, 2 strikeouts
Anyelo Gomez – 2 IP, 0.00 ERA, 1 hit, 0 runs, 0 walks, 2 strikeouts
Josh Graham – 2.1 IP, 0.00 ERA, 2 hits, 0 runs, 1 walk, 1 strikeout
Adam McCreery – 1 IP, 0.00 ERA, 2 hits, 0 runs, 0 walks, 1 strikeout
Akeel Morris – 1.1 IP, 0.00 ERA, 1 hit, 0 runs, 4 walks, 1 strikeout
Peter Moylan – 1 IP, 0.00 ERA, 1 hit, 0 runs, 0 walks, 2 strikeouts
Philip Pfeifer – 1.2 IP, 0.00 ERA, 1 hit, 0 runs, 0 walks, 0 strikeouts
Jose Ramirez – 1 IP, 0.00 ERA, 0 hits, 0 runs, 0 walks, 0 strikeouts
Ricardo Sanchez – 1 IP, 0.00 ERA, 0 hits, 0 runs, 0 walks, 1 strikeout
Daniel Winkler – 1 IP, 0.00 ERA, 0 hits, 0 runs, 2 walks, 2 strikeouts
Matt Wisler – 2 IP, 0.00 ERA, 2 hits, 0 runs, 0 walks, 1 strikeout
Rex Brothers – 2 IP, 4.50 ERA, 1 hit, 1 run, 0 walks, 4 strikeouts, 1 homer allowed
Chase Whitley – 2.1 IP, 7.71 ERA, 3 hits, 2 runs, 2 walks, 2 strikeouts,
Lucas Sims – 2.0 IP, 9.00 ERA, 3 hits, 2 runs, 2 walks, 0 strikeouts
Shane Carle – 2 IP, 13.50 ERA, 4 hits, 3 runs, 1 walk, 0 strikeouts, 1 homer allowed
Josh Ravin – 2 IP, 13.50 ERA, 4 hits, 3 runs, 2 walks, 3 strikeouts, 1 homer allowed
Jason Hursh – 1.2 IP, 27.00 ERA, 6 hits, 5 runs, 2 walks, 0 strikeouts
Miguel Socolovich – 1.2 IP, 32.50 ERA, 4 hits, 6 runs, 3 walks, 0 strikeouts
Luke Jackson – 0.1 IP, 108.00 ERA, 3 hits, 5 runs (4 earned runs), 2 walks, 0 strikeouts
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Bench Positions
The Braves will keep four positional players on their bench to start the season. Kurt Suzuki will be one of these players and Culberson will be another. So two more spots are available. Right now, you’d have to go with Preston Tucker (if he doesn’t win LF job) and Danny Santana (ugh).
Kurt Suzuki – .750/.750/1.000, 3-4 at the plate, 1 double, 1 run, 1 RBI, 0 walks, 0 strikeouts
Charlie Culberson – .375/.444/.750, 3-8 at the plate, 1 double, 1 triple, 1 R, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 2 K’s
Rio Ruiz – .083/.083/.083, 1-12 at the plate, 0 walks, 7 strikeouts
Preston Tucker – .500/.636/.625, 4-8 at the plate, 1 double, 1 run, 3 walks, 1 strikeout
Lane Adams – .000/.000/.000, 0-10 at the plate, 0 walks, 5 strikeouts
Danny Santana – .455/.455/.545, 5-11 at the plate, 1 double, 2 runs, 1 RBI, 1 strikeout, 1 SB
Dustin Peterson – .000/.000/.000, 0-5 at the plate, 0 hits, 0 walks, 2 strikeouts