Thursday was a thrilling day for Braves Country, as the club reunited with fan favorite Adam Duvall after he spent a season with the Red Sox.
It was a must-needed addition to a Braves bench that was starving for some more depth in the outfield. However, according to the team, Duvall will provide more than just depth. He will be platooning with Jarred Kelenic in left field.
The Braves have told Kelenic he will platoon with Duvall
— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) March 14, 2024
When the signing was initially announced, I still thought the Braves would be giving Jarred Kelenic the bulk of the starts in left field. He’s younger, oozing with potential, and under contract for five seasons. The hope is that he can be a staple in the Braves outfield alongside Michael Harris II and Ronald Acuña Jr.
Perhaps that can still happen, but it’s evident the Braves aren’t as confident as perhaps they were a few months ago. Exactly one month ago, Alex Anthopoulos said that they were leaning towards letting Kelenic play every day instead of platooning.
Alex Anthopolous said the #Braves are leaning toward playing Jarred Kelenic every day rather than start out in a platoon. They believe he’ll benefit more from everyday at-bats, even if he struggles early like Michael Harris II did. That will also play into the decision on 4th OF.
— David O'Brien (@DOBrienATL) February 15, 2024
I’m not sure what happened between now and then that made the Braves change their mind. Kelenic has struggled this Spring, but it’s Spring Training, and it’s overwhelmingly evident Kevin Seitzer has him making some significant changes to his approach. It was always going to take some time to see substantial results.
Perhaps it was just as simple as Adam Duvall showing interest. He likely was holding out, looking for an opportunity to play every day. As the season approached, that chance may have never arrived, forcing him to make a decision.
The Braves signing Duvall always made too much sense. They needed a more proven fourth outfielder in case Kelenic struggled, particularly a right-handed bat that could potentially platoon with him. Duvall’s also experienced some of the best years of his career in Atlanta, is familiar with the organization, and the Braves provide him with the best opportunity to win a championship.
The longer Duvall remained unsigned, the more likely it seemed like Alex Anthopoulos would swoop in, and that’s exactly what happened. The Braves are a substantially better team today than they were earlier in the week.
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Photo: David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire
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