This story was excerpted from Mark Bowman’s Braves Beat e-newsletter. To learn the complete e-newsletter, click on right here. And subscribe to get it often in your inbox.
Whether or not your group gained the World Sequence or skilled a disappointing marketing campaign the earlier season, you stay up for this time of 12 months. The tip of winter brings hope for the summer season forward.
With the Braves set to welcome pitchers and catchers to Spring Coaching subsequent week, listed here are solutions to some questions you might need relating to the 2024 camp:
When is the primary exercise for pitchers and catchers?
Braves pitchers and catchers will report back to camp by Wednesday after which stage their first official exercise the next day. “Pitchers and catchers report” will at all times be magical phrases for baseball followers. However the fact is, pitchers, catchers and place gamers appear to reach earlier and earlier yearly. Might need one thing to do with these Spring Coaching services now having the identical facilities of a five-star resort.
What’s the date of the primary full-squad exercise?
Early arriving place gamers will take batting observe and take part in different casual exercises. However a few of the organized offensive and defensive drills is not going to happen earlier than the Braves maintain their first full-squad exercise on Feb. 20.
The place is the Braves’ facility?
North Port, Fla., is a fast-growing metropolis crammed with lovely new neighborhoods like West Villages, which surrounds CoolToday Park. The power is roughly 40 minutes south of Sarasota and an hour north of Fort Myers.
Can followers attend exercises?
Followers could have entry to the again fields starting Feb. 18 at 9 a.m. ET. Entry shall be granted by way of Gate 3 or the Inexperienced Gate earlier than video games start. The Inexperienced Gate would be the solely entry level for the again fields on the times the Braves are enjoying a Grapefruit League recreation on the principle subject.
Jarred Kelenic and Chris Sale would be the newcomers who draw essentially the most consideration. Kelenic grew to become the group’s left fielder when he was acquired from the Mariners in December. He’s a former high prospect who may gain advantage from a change of surroundings. Sale’s standing as one of many recreation’s high beginning pitchers was erased as he battled a number of illnesses over the previous few years. However the Braves imagine the 34-year-old left-hander can nonetheless be a difference-maker of their rotation.
Reynaldo López and Aaron Bummer are relievers who may bolster what has the makings to be a robust bullpen.
Who’re a few of the high prospects invited to Main League camp?
Beginning pitcher AJ Smith-Shawver, ranked by MLB Pipeline because the group’s high prospect, rose to the Majors final 12 months and confirmed how invaluable his sturdy proper arm may very well be for a few years to come back. This 12 months’s prospect fascination will heart on No. 2 prospect Hurston Waldrep, the Braves’ 2023 first-round Draft choose. The proper-hander is lower than a full calendar 12 months faraway from serving to the College of Florida attain the Faculty World Sequence finals. However there’s an opportunity he, too, may be part of Atlanta’s rotation sooner or later this 12 months.
When is the Braves’ first Grapefruit League recreation?
The Braves will open the Grapefruit League schedule at 1:05 p.m. on Feb. 24, with what is basically a cross-town matchup in opposition to the Rays in Port Charlotte, which is adjoining to Englewood, the quiet seaside city the place a few of the Braves have stayed throughout Spring Coaching.
What are a couple of different notable spring video games?
The Pink Sox will go to CoolToday Park on Feb. 25 and March 17. Different guests embrace the Orioles (Feb. 26, March 1, March 9), the Phillies (March 3) and the Yankees (March 21)
What’s the Spring Breakout and when is the Braves’ recreation?
To provide followers a greater really feel for a few of the recreation’s future stars, video games pitting high prospects from opposing groups shall be performed throughout March’s third weekend. Smith-Shawver and Waldrep is perhaps among the many gamers the Braves ship to Fort Myers to play Boston’s high prospects on March 16.
Will the Braves’ video games be televised?
A full record of televised video games shall be introduced at a later date. Brandon Gaudin and C.J. Nitkowski are at the moment scheduled to name every of the Braves’ closing 4 house video games: vs. Blue Jays (March 20), vs. Yankees (March 21) vs. Rays (March 23), vs. Twins (March 25).
When is the membership’s final recreation in Florida?
The Braves will conclude their Grapefruit League schedule with a March 26 recreation in opposition to the Twins in Fort Myers.
What are the main points for Opening Day?
The Braves will open the 2024 common season the place their previous two seasons ended. They face the Phillies at 3:05 p.m. ET on March 28 at Residents Financial institution Park.