Braves rumors: A hint as to who won't make the postseason roster
The Atlanta Braves clinched the No. 1 seed in the National League by way of holding a 104-58 record. With that, they won't have to play in the Wild Card Series. Instead, they will wait to see who makes it out of there and then face off with the remaining team with the lowest seed.
Even with the team having essentially a one-week break, they will still have to make up their postseason roster. There is one player who won't be on the roster for their hopeful run to their second World Series title in three years.
On Monday, the day after the end of the regular season, the Braves outrighted infielder Ehire Adrianza to Triple-A Gwinnett.
Adrianza was in the midst of his second stint with the Braves. In his first stint with the team, Adrianza was part of the World Series-winning team. He would rejoin the team in 2022 and then win the primary backup infielder position. However, Adrianza dealt with elbow inflammation and later picked up a shoulder strain that would sideline him from early May until most of the season, where he was designated for assignment on Sept. 25.
In five games, Adrianza had just 10 at-bats, failing to record a hit.
While he was outrighted, it's unknown if Adrianza would accept the assignment.
Braves rumors: Multiple players snubbed on MLB.com list
Given that the Atlanta Braves were one of the top teams in all of baseball, the expectation was that there would be multiple recognitions heading their way. After all, they do have two NL MVP candidates on the roster in outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. and first baseman Matt Olson, with the former being the favorite. Not to mention that starting pitcher Spencer Strider is a legitimate NL Cy Young candidate as well.
MLB.com created a list of the top 50 players who will compete in the postseason across all 12 qualifying teams. Well, one thing that stood out was Acuna sitting second on the list behind Los Angeles Dodgers star Mookie Betts. But there was one absence on the list -- outfielder Michael Harris II. However, Harris was listed as an honorable mention, so there's that.
There is going to be much debate as to who should win the NL MVP between Acuna and Betts, but the Braves star has done something that has never been done. Acuna became the first player to ever record 40 home runs and 70 stolen bases in a single season. That's right. Not one player has ever done that.
Acuña was listed second behind Betts because he didn't play in Atlanta's World Series run in the postseason due to a knee injury.
As for Harris, he dealt with multiple injuries to start the season, but he has since rebounded and played to the level he did as a rookie last year. Through 138 games, Harris recorded a .293 batting average, a .331 on-base percentage, a .477 slugging percentage, 18 home runs, 57 RBI, 76 runs scored, and 148 hits in 505 at-bats.
Here is which Braves players made the Top 50 and where they are ranked:
- Ronald Acuña Jr. (No. 2)
- Matt Olson (No. 5)
- Spencer Strider (No. 15)
- Austin Riley (No. 23)
- Ozzie Albies (No. 33)
- Sean Murphy (No. 44)
Braves rumors: Marcell Ozuna's turnaround helps Atlanta tie MLB home run record
Earlier this season, Atlanta Braves designated hitter Marcell Ozuna caught the ire of Braves fans due in part to his struggles at the plate. But one road trip to Miami to take on the Marlins turned his fortune around. With that turnaround, Ozuna did make things easier for the Braves, especially in terms of clinching the best record in baseball and tying the home run record.
On Sunday's season finale against the Washington Nationals, Ozuna hit not one but two home runs. With that, Ozuna helped the Braves bring their home run total to 307, tying the 2019 Minnesota Twins for the most home runs hit in a single season.
What a moment for the Braves. Earlier in the year, fans were calling for Ozuna to get released by the team. Through April, he was dreadful, recording a .085 batting average, a .194 on-base percentage, a .203 slugging percentage, two home runs, two RBI, four runs, five hits, and 18 strikeouts.
But once on the road trip to Miami, Ozuna hit three home runs and knocked in six runs in three games. Since then, Ozuna carried the momentum throughout the season and eventually had a season to remember. Particularly, he hit 40 home runs in a campaign for the first time.
In 144 games, Ozuna slashed .274/.346/.558 while recording 40 homers, 84 runs, 100 RBI, and 145 hits in 530 at-bats.
The Braves led the majors in home runs by a mile, with the Los Angeles Dodgers being in second with 249.
While hitting all of those home runs in the regular season are nice and all, but the Braves are focused on bringing home another World Series title.
