North Port, Florida – The man whose absence has defined 2024 of his team has been deliciously inevitable so far during spring training.
Ronald Acuña Jr., the man of the franchise of the braves of Atlanta, a dynamo at power of the best order, had his season derailed last year by a torn ACL on May 27. Two different legs sent him to the surgeon’s table and the brave. Its unavailability – associated with an apparently endless cavalcade of other injuries which, in particular, included elbow surgery launched by the Spencer Strider flames – hampered the quest for Atlanta for a seventh crown of East Nl consecutive . A carousel of survivors and fillings admirably scribbled the club in a place of joker, but lifeless outfit failed to win a single eliminatory match.
Friday, in the Braves clubhouse, four days before the first training session of the team, Acuña spoke for almost 10 minutes. With a smile in an ear is coated on his face, the 27 -year -old addressed his recovery, his state of mind, his way back and his time. He called the Atlanta’s exterior field “the best outdoor field of baseball”. He laughs and joked, is clearly delighted to be back in the mixture. And, impressive, he did everything in English. It was, according to those regularly around the club, the longest and most engaging interview that Acuña has ever given in her second language.
And he was not the only notable brave to speak of a covered Florida morning. Alex Anthopoulos, the president of the baseball operations team, organized his first question and answer session in person this calendar year. His eyes have hidden behind a pair of dark sunglasses, the elusive and secret exercise has taken off a few layers on a franchise that comes out of its most disappointing season since 2017.
Here is an overview of what Acuña and Anthopoulos had to say and how their comments intersect with the biggest questions faced by the brave as they seek to dethrone the phillies in the NL East.
When will Acuña and Strider return?
On this subject, Anthopoulos has not chosen the words: none of the players will be on the opening day list.
Acuña, who has taken shot practices, will not appear in any match of the Pamplemousse League, by Anthopoulos. Its biggest obstacle to stay is cutting and gas plantations and vital movements in the outside field. Anthopoulos has also shared that Acuña will not bow to DH whenever he is back.
But the major to remember is that the Venezuelan of model is on time and in a good mood.
“The priority is that I feel good – it’s the most important thing,” said Acuña. “When they tell me I need to play that day, I will be there.”
Strider, which launched an enclosure on Friday, could make an appearance or two at the end of March, but it is not expected in the bigs before the end of April. He has not yet faced live strikers but should do it in the coming weeks.
These two players, of course, are absolutely crucial for the brave 2025. The calculation of the 2024 team was just as simple and, therefore, unhappy. Acuña and Strider, a top five player and launcher in the world, barely played. The third goal player from the Austin Riley stars missed last month. The starting receiver Sean Murphy was injured during the first two months. The second goal player Ozzie Albies and the central field player Michael Harris II were also released for extended sections.
But it all starts with Acuña and Strident. The fact that the team played slow this duo in the spring is logical. Defining low expectations concerning their return dates represents a simpler path, one with fewer opportunities for the disappointment of fans. Thus, although their paths towards full health will remain a huge story this spring, it was intelligent for Anthopoulos to be final and unshakable about their deadlines.
Why were the brave not more active in winter?
The biggest addition of Atlanta’s off -season occurred just a few weeks ago, with the signing of the Voltner Jorickson Profar. The large Curacaoan tutor experienced an escape campaign in 2024, winning a starting head in the game of stars and now a solid three -year agreement with the brave.
But other than that, typically active Anthopoulos was particularly shy. The team’s largest business trade in the team was a salary dump in November which sent Jorge Soler to Anaheim. Meanwhile, a group of established players went to the free agency. The longtime AS Max Fried has signed a big agreement with the Yankees. The pillar of the Charlie Morton rotation is now an Oriole. Atlanta has chosen not to take a year of option on the head of the clubhouse and veteran Travis d’Arnaud, who is now with the Angels. The only other remaining brave brave people who contributed significant to the World Series 2021 triumph are Riley, Albies and Ian Anderson.
It is difficult to argue that arrivals prevail over departures. This inactivity has aroused the agitation among some fans of brave, who, of course, want the club to take full advantage of its competitive window. But Anthopoulos rejected the idea that his team, currently bearing the eighth highest pay in the game, only acted by frugality.
“I think the biggest difference is that we have spent a lot on our own players,” he said. “I think we have the most, probably long -term contracts for the majority of the teams. You start to look around the list, not necessarily in rotation, but we have long -term contracts everywhere. We didn’t have as many holes.
“Now we have lost free agents – without a doubt. But we have people we are going to give opportunities. »»
Who are temporary fillings for Strident and Acuña?
The external alignment of the most likely opening day puts in the left featured on the left, the center of Patrol of Michael Harris II of the fleet and the old High Hope Jarred Kelenic on the right. Kelenic was disappointing during his first year as courageous in 2024 and should spend most of his time as a bench once after the cult.
With strider on the shelf, Two of the five rotation points are to be won. The winner reigning Cy Young Chris Sale, All-Star Reynaldo Lopez and the recruit in small groups Spencer Schwellenbach are locks. Grant Holmes, a well -traveled veterinarian who appreciated a 2024 rebound, is the favorite for fourth place. And Anderson, who shone as a young man with the brave before undergoing a injury, seems ready to seize the fifth temporary place.
It is a group which, until Strider returns, looks a little light, but Anthopoulos explained that he did not want to cash the pitch situation by adding another arm of free agent.