Every offseason, Baseball America takes a deep dive into each organization, beginning at the major-league level and working their way through the lower levels of the minors. With that, they come up with a lineup projection for several years down the road, providing an idea of what to expect in the future for each team. For the Braves, Baseball America’s 2028 roster projection doesn’t look too different from what this year’s might look like, which is both encouraging and disturbing.
Braves Projected 2028 Roster
Catcher: Sean Murphy
First Base: Matt Olson
Second Base: Ozzie Albies
Third Base: Austin Riley
Shortstop: Orlando Arcia
Right Field: Ronald Acuña Jr.
Left Field: Jarred Kelenic
Center Field: Michael Harris II
Designated Hitter: Drake Baldwin
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Because the Braves have locked up most of their core group to contracts that run through the end of the decade, this projection is likely to be much more accurate compared to other teams around the league.
Sean Murphy is under contract through 2028 with a team option for 2029. It’s very possible he’s still the Braves starting catcher on Opening Day a few years from now, and if not, Drake Baldwin is the most likely candidate to take over behind the plate, who is listed as the projected designated hitter.
Matt Olson, Austin Riley, Ronald Acuña Jr., and Michael Harris II are all under contract through at least 2028 and are core pillars of the team. It’s highly likely all four of them are in the Braves starting lineup for many years to come unless injuries continue to be an issue.
Ozzie Albies is probably the most interesting case on this list, because his contract actually runs out following the 2027 season. It’ll be interesting to see if the Braves attempt to re-work that in the near future, ensuring he remains in Atlanta for his entire career.
Alarm bells surely went off when seeing Orlando Arcia and Jarred Kelenic at shortstop and left field, respectively. However, these projections don’t take into account free agency, only what the Braves currently have in-house. It’s unlikely those guys will still be starting in Atlanta four years from now. Hell, they might not even be starting for the Braves next season.
Rotation
Closer: Hurston Waldrep
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Projecting rotations so far out is almost impossible due to volatility and injuries. Right now, Spencer Strider and Spencer Schwellenbach look like a helluva one-two punch for years to come that the Braves can rely on, but that can change in an instant.
I’m not as high on AJ Smith-Shawver as the rest, but he certainly could establish himself as a permanent fixture in Atlanta’s rotation for years to come. Cam Caminiti is a prospect Braves fans are going to become familiar with quickly, as he was the club’s first round pick this year, and Owen Murphy was off to an unbelievable start this season before Tommy John surgery ended his campaign.
But one of the more interesting bits of this entire piece is Hurston Waldrep being listed as the club’s future closer. As of now, he’s been a starting pitcher, quickly rising the ranks all the way to the majors this season. The Braves will surely try to continue to develop him in that role, but Waldrep has the stuff with his fastball-splitter combination to potentially take over the closer role in Atlanta.
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David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire
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