Atlanta Braves Need Two Young Pitchers to Step up in 2024
Assuming none of their young arms are traded, the Atlanta Braves need at least two of them to solidify their spot in the starting rotation in 2024.
While the starting rotation for 2024 as a whole should be fine (as long as the guys at the top stay healthy), a lot of focus this offseason has been on what the rotation looks like after 2024 with the possible losses of Max Fried and Charlie Morton.
As discussed in this article, the Braves could decide to go into 2024 in hopes of finding a few arms that will cement themselves in the rotation long-term.
When discussing the future of any rotation, it can be somewhat futile because of the volatility of pitchers.
Not long ago, we were dreaming about a future rotation of Spencer Strider, Max Fried, Kyle Wright, Ian Anderson, and possibly Michael Soroka.
Injuries and regression can change things quickly for a starting rotation. Gone are the days when you can count on three guys holding the top of your rotation together like the Braves had with Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, and John Smoltz for so many years.
Still, with a core of position players locked up, the Braves need to address the long-term plans with the starting rotation. And even if they decide to sign a free agent or trade for a starter to help, they'll still need a few internal arms to solidify themselves in the rotation.
Candidates Who Could Earn a Rotation Spot in 2024
Bryce Elder -- As things stand right now, Elder would be the SP2 behind Strider for 2025. Even after an All-Star season, he has some things to prove in 2024 to show he deserves a spot even at the back of the rotation.
Reynaldo Lopez -- This is the wild card. It seems like the Braves want to develop him back into a starter. If he can bottle up what he's done as a reliever and carry that into a starting role even for just 5-6 inning starts -- that would be huge.
Ian Anderson -- Anderson looked like someone who would be a solid middle-to-top-of-the-rotation arm in the Braves rotation for a long time. But the wildness and lack of pitches finally caught up to him even before the need for Tommy John surgery. He has a lot to prove in 2024. It feels like he could either become a huge piece in the rotation or someone who is moved in a similar fashion as Wright and Soroka were this offseason.
Huascar Ynoa -- For a stretch in 2021 it looked like Ynoa would be a key part of the rotation going forward. But then he hit a wall (literally and figuratively) and hasn't been the same since. He's in a similar spot as Ian entering 2024 but should be good to go from the start. Ynoa has the chance to be a solid bullpen arm if he can't make it as a starter.
AJ Smith-Shawver -- The youngster was forced into action as a 20-year-old and held his own for the most part in 2023. There are some obvious command issues he needs to work on, but the stuff is there to be a future top-of-the-rotation arm. How quickly can he overcome the command issues and prove he deserves a spot in the rotation is the big question entering 2024.
Hurston Waldrep -- The issues for Waldrep are the same as Smith-Shawver, but Waldrep isn't yet on the 40-man roster. However, he is older and has much more experience as a starter. It feels like he might be better positioned to grab that rotation spot if given a chance in 2024.
That's six arms coming into 2024 who have a chance to cement themselves behind Strider in the Braves' future starting rotation. If just two of them can put it together in 2024 it would make the future of the starting rotation look more promising.
Moves would still need to be made next offseason to get another top-of-the-rotation arm, but the depth in the rotation would be much better.
There are other arms the Braves have like Darius Vines, Allan Winans, and Dylan Dodd -- but those are fillers in the rotation who are not likely to be glue guys going forward.
The six guys mentioned above all have the ability to be solid middle-of-the-rotation arms for a while in a big league rotation, which is what the Braves are desperately looking for.
Then the key will be sustaining those arms while also creating an influx of other arms, which they continue to try and do in the draft.
That next wave consists of Spencer Schwellenbach, Owen Murphy, Cade Kuehler, Drue Hackenberg, and J.R. Ritchie (once recovered from TJ surgery).
Building a core in the rotation to match the core group of position players has to be the priority for Alex Anthopoulos and the Braves right now. That's why it's so important to have a few of these internal options step up in 2024.
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