Five questions for Braves as they prepare to begin spring training

Spencer Schwellenbach was good as a rookie, but the Braves have a recent history of young pitchers who couldn’t stay effective after strong debut seasons. If Schwellenbach is the exception and Strider returns with no issues, then the Braves need to worry only about the No. 5 starter. Grant Holmes and Ian Anderson are the best options on the 40-man roster. Look for the Braves to add another veteran pitcher to the spring roster for insurance.

2. Who will be the Braves bullpen’s top setup man?

Right-hander Joe Jimenez was one of the top setup men in baseball last season. He likely won’t pitch this year after undergoing knee surgery in October. Jimenez was second to closer Raisel Iglesias among Braves relievers last season in average leverage index, which means they handled the hardest situations. Snitker and pitching coach Rick Kranitz can use the spring to sort out which reliever will get first shot to handle those important innings this season.

Right-hander Pierce Johnson and lefty Aaron Bummer are the leading candidates. Johnson compiled a 3.67 ERA over 58 appearances in 2024 while striking out 28.4% of batters faced. Bummer had a similar strikeout rate (28.3%) with fewer walks issued and home runs allowed. Lefty Dylan Lee enjoyed a bounce-back season in 2024, so he might be ready to take on a bigger role this year like he did for the Braves in 2022.

3. Will Braves prospect Drake Baldwin become the No. 2 catcher?

Travis d’Arnaud and Sean Murphy split catching duties over the past two seasons when both were healthy. The Braves declined a team contract option for d’Arnaud, who signed with the Angels. He’s potentially a big loss. D’Arnaud carried the offensive production for his position in 2024 when Murphy couldn’t find his form after returning from the injured list.

Chadwick Tromp is the top candidate to replace d’Arnaud as co-catcher with Murphy, but Baldwin is on the come. Baldwin, who bats left, produced an .892 OPS in 75 games at Triple-A Gwinnett over the past two seasons with low strikeout and high walk rates. Tromp has posted a .635 OPS in 156 big league plate appearances.

4. Will the Braves stick with Orlando Arcia at shortstop?

I’m guessing they will, but something general manager Alex Anthopoulos said during a media conference call caught my attention. While explaining why he expects new outfielder Jurickson Profar to improve the lineup depth, Anthopoulos said: “We went into last season thinking guys like Orlando would hit eight, nine. Now with everyone healthy, you are looking at him in the nine hole (again).”

The Braves could use more than an offensive afterthought at shortstop. Arcia’s good defense in 2024 didn’t come close to making up for his .271 on-base percentage, lowest among shortstops with 300 or more plate appearances. The Braves don’t appear to have a better option on the 40-man roster or among the spring invitees. Arcia is set to make $2 million this season. There were some decent free-agent shortstops still available as of Friday, including Jose Iglesias and Paul DeJong.

5. When will Spencer Strider and Ronald Acuna Jr. be ready?

Anthopoulos said neither Strider nor Acuna will be on the opening-day roster. Both players will be at camp. The timeline for their return to games will have a big impact on the season. The Braves still made the playoffs last season, with Acuna playing only 49 games and Strider making only two starts. But to make a serious World Series run, the Braves will need good health for the 2023 NL MVP and 2023 MLB strikeout king.

Strider was throwing bullpen sessions in January, so he presumably will be able to work his way up to pitching in Grapefruit League games. Acuna had surgery in June to repair an ACL tear in his left knee. He returned to play nine months after he had ACL surgery on his right knee in 2021. Acuna will take at least 10 months to return this time.