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Atlanta Braves

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Austin Riley Austin Riley Roaring into regular season Sun, Mar 22, 2026, 11:39 AM Riley went 3-for-4 with two doubles, a home run and four RBI in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Red Sox. Analysis: The long ball wasn't a cheap one -- Riley got hold of a Garrett Crochet cutter in the second inning and put it over the ersatz Green Monster at JetBlue Park. It was Riley's fifth homer of the spring, and the third baseman knocked both his doubles off Boston's ace as well. Over 15 Grapefruit League games, Riley's batting .395 (15-for-38) with a 6:8 BB:K, and he looks more than ready for Opening Day.
Daysbel Hernandez Daysbel Hernandez Yet to make spring debut Sun, Mar 22, 2026, 10:48 AM Hernandez (shoulder) threw a live batting practice session Monday but has yet to make his Grapefruit League debut, Chad Bishop of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. Analysis: Atlanta has proceeded slowly with Hernandez in camp after he finished last season on the injured list while recovering from right shoulder inflammation, but the club has yet to confirm that the 29-year-old reliever will open 2026 on the shelf. That said, Atlanta has just three more exhibition games prior to Opening Day, so Hernandez will likely need to pitch in at least one of those contests in order to have a shot at breaking camp with the big club.
Jose Azocar Jose Azocar Cut from big-league camp Sun, Mar 22, 2026, 8:44 AM Atlanta reassigned Azocar to minor-league camp Friday. Analysis: After he was unable to win a reserve outfield spot on Atlanta's Opening Day roster, Azocar is expected to begin the season at Triple-A Gwinnett. The 29-year-old previously logged 21 plate appearances in the majors between Atlanta and the Mets in 2025, slashing .263/.333/.263.
Sandy Leon Sandy Leon Opening season in minors Sun, Mar 22, 2026, 8:40 AM Atlanta reassigned Leon to minor-league camp Friday. Analysis: Leon saw action in five big-league games with Atlanta in 2025 but had little chance of cracking the Opening Day roster after the club signed Jonah Heim to a one-year deal shortly before the start of spring training. Heim will head into the season as the top backup to No. 1 catcher Drake Baldwin while Sean Murphy (hip) misses at least the first month of the campaign. Leon will likely need at least two of Baldwin, Heim and Murphy to be shelved at a given time before earning another opportunity with the big club.
Mike Yastrzemski Mike Yastrzemski Returning to action Sunday Sun, Mar 22, 2026, 8:15 AM Yastrzemski (eye) is starting in left field and batting cleanup in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Twins. Analysis: The veteran outfielder has been sidelined the past couple days due to pink eye, but he's good to rejoin the spring lineup Sunday. Yastrzemski should be a lineup regular for Atlanta in the strong side of a platoon in left field after signing a two-year, $9.5 million contract in December.
Jose Suarez Jose Suarez On track for roster spot Sat, Mar 21, 2026, 11:33 AM Suarez allowed one run on two hits and two walks over 5.1 innings in Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Pirates. He struck out six. Analysis: The 28-year-old southpaw has had a solid spring, posting a 3.38 ERA and 14:8 K:BB over 16 innings, and he built up to 75 pitches (44 strikes) during Friday's start. With Martin Perez having fallen short of a bid for a spot on the Opening Day roster, Suarez and prospect Didier Fuentes are set to begin the season in the bullpen as long-relief options, although one or both of them could be called upon for spot starts as Atlanta begins its schedule with 13 games in 13 days.
Martin Perez Martin Perez Headed for minors Sat, Mar 21, 2026, 11:21 AM Perez will remain with the Atlanta organization after coming up short in his bid for a spot on the Opening Day roster, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports. Analysis: The veteran lefty pitched well this spring, posting a 2.84 ERA and 10:3 K:BB over 12.2 innings, but the dominance of top prospect Didier Fuentes seems to have squeezed out Perez. Perez is expected to begin the season at Triple-A Gwinnett and could be one of the first players called up if further injuries hit the big-league rotation.
Didier Fuentes Didier Fuentes Makes Opening Day roster Sat, Mar 21, 2026, 10:08 AM Fuentes will make Atlanta's Opening Day roster as a part of the team's bullpen, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports. Analysis: Fuentes earned his spot on the team's Opening Day roster after a strong spring training, striking out 17 batters over nine scoreless, hitless innings in three Grapefruit League games. The 20-year-old right-hander will serve out of the bullpen to open the season, though he could slot into the rotation quickly as Atlanta plays 13 games in 13 days to begin its campaign.
Kyle Farmer Kyle Farmer Gets split contract with Atlanta Sat, Mar 21, 2026, 9:17 AM Atlanta signed Farmer to a one-year split contract Saturday. Analysis: The 35-year-old infielder was invited to spring training by Atlanta in early February. Across 12 Grapefruit League games, he posted a .400/.417/.514 slash line with one home run and five RBI in 36 plate appearances. A path to the Opening Day roster opened up when Jurickson Profar was suspended for the entire 2026 season after testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug for a second time in the last year, but Farmer could still begin the season at Triple-A Gwinnett.
Dominic Smith Dominic Smith Could make Opening Day roster Sat, Mar 21, 2026, 9:12 AM Atlanta signed Smith to a one-year split contract Saturday. Analysis: Smith was invited to spring training by Atlanta in mid-February and slashed .242/.342/.364 with one home run and four RBI in 38 plate appearances over 12 Grapefruit League games. If he makes the Opening Day roster, Smith could see some work as the designated hitter against right-handed pitching for as long as Sean Murphy (hip) is sidelined.
Rowdy Tellez Rowdy Tellez Inks MiLB pact with Atlanta Fri, Mar 20, 2026, 7:56 PM Tellez signed a minor-league contract with Atlanta on Friday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports. Analysis: Tellez spent time with the Mariners and Rangers last season, slashing .228/.276/.443 across 312 total plate appearances. He's spent the entire offseason on the open market but still saw a little bit of action while playing for Mexico in the World Baseball Classic, during which he went 1-for-9 with two walks and two strikeouts across four games. The 31-year-old will almost certainly begin 2026 as an organizational depth piece at Triple-A Gwinnett, but he'd be likely to join the big club if Matt Olson were to miss any amount of time.
Luke Williams Luke Williams Heads to minor-league camp Fri, Mar 20, 2026, 5:13 PM Atlanta assigned Williams to minor-league camp Friday. Analysis: Williams, a 29-year-old utility player, was a long shot to make the big-league roster, and Friday's move confirms he'll open 2026 in the minor leagues. Williams went 6-for-30 (.200) with one homer, one double and a 4:10 BB:K during spring training.
Ben Gamel Ben Gamel Assigned to minor-league camp Fri, Mar 20, 2026, 5:11 PM Atlanta assigned Gamel to minor-league camp Friday. Analysis: Gamel has hit four homers this spring, but the veteran outfielder is just 7-for-34 (.206) with a 1:12 BB:K. He won't make Atlanta's Opening Day roster, which could mean Dominic Smith has won a spot on the big-league squad.
Mike Yastrzemski Mike Yastrzemski Battling pink eye Fri, Mar 20, 2026, 5:00 PM Yastrzemski is dealing with pink eye but is expected to be back in the lineup in the next couple of days, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports. Analysis: Yastrzemski will be temporarily sidelined while he deals with pink eye. The issue is expected to be resolved in time for Opening Day, though. Yastrzemski is slated to serve on the strong side of a platoon in left field.
Dylan Dodd Dylan Dodd Starting 2026 at Triple-A Fri, Mar 20, 2026, 4:48 PM Atlanta optioned Dodd to Triple-A Gwinnett on Friday. Analysis: Dodd appeared in 28 games out of the bullpen last year for Atlanta, but he'll begin the 2026 campaign at Triple-A. The 27-year-old left-hander posted a 3.00 ERA across nine innings during spring training.
Chris Sale Chris Sale Named Opening Day starter Fri, Mar 20, 2026, 1:35 PM Sale has officially been named Atlanta's Opening Day starter, Gabe Burns of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. Analysis: Sale will make his seventh career Opening Day start and his second straight in Atlanta. The soon-to-be 37-year-old will face the Royals. Sale has had back-to-back stellar seasons, posting a 2.38 ERA and a 2.58 ERA, respectively.
Didier Fuentes Didier Fuentes Dominates again Wednesday Fri, Mar 20, 2026, 11:26 AM Fuentes struck out eight over four perfect innings of relief in Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Phillies. Analysis: The 20-year-old right-hander fired 34 of 50 pitches for strikes after taking the mound to begin the sixth inning, although he was facing a lineup of Philly bench players and minor leaguers. Fuentes has been arguably the most impressive pitcher in camp this year for Atlanta, posting an eye-popping 17:0 K:BB over nine scoreless, hitless innings across three spring appearances, and the only baserunner he allowed during that dominant stretch came on a hit-by-pitch. Fuentes is still expected to begin the season at Triple-A Gwinnett, but he's making a strong case to win an Opening Day spot on a team that's lost three starting options to injury this spring, and which is expected to deploy a six-man rotation over the first couple weeks of the campaign.
Ian Hamilton Ian Hamilton Outrighted to Gwinnett Thu, Mar 19, 2026, 2:29 PM Hamilton cleared waivers Thursday and was sent outright to Triple-A Gwinnett. Analysis: Hamilton doesn't have any minor-league options remaining, so his demotion to Triple-A will cost him his place on Atlanta's 40-man roster. The 30-year-old righty made just two appearances in the Grapefruit League this spring, giving up one run on three hits and two walks while striking out one batter in 1.2 innings.
Jurickson Profar Jurickson Profar Suspension upheld Thu, Mar 19, 2026, 11:24 AM Profar will miss the full 2026 season after the appeal of his 162-game PED suspension was denied Thursday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports. Analysis: The 33-year-old outfielder was handed the suspension in early March, and the ban is now official with the appeal process completed. It's the second straight season with a PED suspension for Profar, who will also be ineligible to play in the postseason.
Reynaldo Lopez Reynaldo Lopez Continues to build up Wed, Mar 18, 2026, 12:03 PM Lopez gave up three runs on five hits and two walks over 3.2 innings in Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the Red Sox, He struck out six. Analysis: While the right-hander's final line wasn't pretty, Lopez got stretched out to 73 pitches (48 strikes) and remains on track for a spot in the Opening Day rotation. He isn't yet showing the velocity he carried prior to last year's shoulder injury, however -- Lopez topped out at 94.3 mph with his four-seamer Tuesday and had trouble reaching 90 mph consistently in his final inning of work, after he averaged 95.5 mph with the pitch in 2024. With Atlanta already down Spencer Schwellenbach (elbow), Hurston Waldrep (elbow) and other starting options, the team needs Lopez to be both healthy and effective in 2026, so his 2.84 ERA and 14:6 K:BB over 12.2 spring innings is at least encouraging.