Atlanta Braves: 3 players that surprised us in 2019

We take a look at three players who surprised us in 2019 to help the Atlanta Braves repeat as National League East champions.

In a 2019 season that was filled with both surprise and disappointment (at the end, anyway) there were many Atlanta Braves that were excellent.

And there were a few that didn’t quite hit the mark in terms of fan expectations and likely, organizational expectations.

We’ll hit on those players that were a surprise to the fan base- players that we may not have expected to achieve at such a high level, but they made a huge difference in the team repeating as National League East Division Champions.

Josh Donaldson

Come on, admit it, you were probably among the Atlanta Braves fans that hated the signing of Josh Donaldson. Don’t worry – you were not alone in that thought process.

It was a head-scratcher for many fans, especially with Johan Camargo coming off a banner, even a breakout season, and wonder child Austin Riley waiting in the wings.

It seemed as if the team was set at third base, and potentially, set at the position for a long time.

Instead, Alex Anthopoulos went for the signing that he called ‘the best value’ when he signed Josh Donaldson to a one-year, $23 million dollar deal. WHAT. A. YAHTZEE.

Donaldson was a monster among men in 2019 for the Atlanta Braves. After a relatively slow start, he finished with a .259 average, 37 home runs, and 94 RBI.

Those numbers include a .521 slugging percentage and a .900 OPS.

The numbers were not too far off from his stretch from 2015-2017 where he was second in WAR only to Mike Trout.

A case could be made that Josh Donaldson was the Atlanta Braves MVP, and he could certainly be discussed as maybe even one of the top five most valuable players in the National League.

It wasn’t only the statistical output that helped put the team forward. Donaldson gave the Atlanta Braves a fire that they hadn’t previously had and a loud, outspoken leader that helped propel them in the right direction.

If Donaldson wasn’t signed, or if he didn’t produce at the level that he did, I don’t see the Atlanta Braves winning the NL East in 2019.

The Bringer of Rain returned to form after a calf injury that hobbled him with the Cleveland Indians and limited him to just 52 games in 2018. He erased any doubts that he wasn’t the same.

And now, there aren’t many Atlanta Braves fans that wouldn’t want him back on the team and would be willing to pay for him.

Now, he’ll likely command 3 years and at least a slightly better annual salary. I think the Atlanta Braves could nab him at 3 yrs/$75 million, especially with reports that there is mutual interest that he would return to Atlanta.

Austin Riley was a fine outfielder and if he can find his bat consistently, he’s good to go at that position in my mind.

Johan Camargo can be a valuable bench piece again.

I’d be comfortable with Donaldson all the way. I don’t view Anthony Rendon as an option because I think the Nationals will pay him – plus, with their success in the postseason and his immense fan following in our nation’s capital, he will stay put.