ESPN predicts Atlanta to have only five All-Star selections in 2024

As the reporting date for pitchers and catchers is rapidly approaching, baseball's attention is turning towards the 2024 season and ESPN thinks the Atlanta Braves will underperform last season in one specific aspect.

In 2023, the Atlanta Braves dominated the All-Star Game, with eight selections. Ronald Acuña Jr led all of baseball in votes, while the Braves had three starters for the "Midsummer Classic" in Acuña, shortstop Orlando Arcia, and catcher Sean Murphy.

Pitchers Spencer Strider and Bryce Elder, first baseman Matt Olson, second baseman Ozzie Albies, and third baseman Austin Riley all made the team as reserves.

But the 2024 All-Star team won't be nearly as full of Braves, if ESPN's correct. Senior Writer David Schoenfield, writing an admittedly "way-too-early" preview of the game, has only five Braves making this year's game, being held in Globe Life Field in Arlington, TX.

Here's who he had making the game...and maybe more importantly, who he didn't:

Starter, outfield: Ronald Acuña Jr

This one isn't hard. If Ronald produces anything like last season, he's an absolute shoe-in for the All Star Game.

Joining Ronald as a starter is Corbin Carroll of the Arizona Diamondbacks and Fernando Tatis Jr of the San Diego Padres.

Starter, third base: Austin Riley

Riley made last year's team as a backup to Nolan Arenado of the St. Louis Cardinals. But Arenado's coming off of a relatively down year, where the 32 year-old batted .266 with the second-highest strikeout rate (16.5%) of his career.

That opens the door for Riley, who just capped his third-straight season of finishing in the top seven of MVP voting with a .281/.345/.516 statline and 37 homers.

Manny Machado of the San Diego Padres is the projected backup to Riley in this exercise.

Starting pitcher: Spencer Strider.

Last year's strikeout leader for all of baseball was an alternate last season and opted out of pitching in the game, but this year he's projected to be the starter.

At the All-Star Break last season, Strider was 11-2 with a 3.44 ERA and 166 strikeouts in his first 18 starts, a strikeout number that led all of baseball.

Reserve, outfield: Michael Harris II

Money Mike makes his first All-Star Game in this exercise, slotting in with Lars Nootbaar of the St. Louis Cardinals and Nolan Jones of the Colorado Rockies on the "second-team".

Harris started slow last season, missing time with a back injury and a hyperextended knee, but rebounded to bat .328/.354/.539 from June 3rd through the end of the season. If he starts off that hot, Harris is a lock to make his first All-Star Game.

Reserve, first base: Matt Olson

First base is a loaded position in the National League, and it's even deeper with the addition of Bryce Harper of the Philadelphia Phillies to the mix.

Harper's the starter in this hypothetical exercise, with Olson slotting behind both him and Freddie Freeman of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Reserve, starting pitching: Max Fried

Fried's only All-Star nod came in 2022, where he made the team off of the strength of a 10-3 record and 2.64 ERA in the first half. Fried didn't slack off down the stretch, either, putting up a 2.18 ERA down the stretch to come in 2nd place in the NL Cy Young voting to Miami's Sandy Alcantara.

Snubbed: 2B Ozzie Albies

Blame Mookie Betts for this one. Now that the Los Angeles Dodgers star is moving into the infield full time for the 2024 season, Schoenfield has Betts and Nico Hoerner of the Chicago Cubs (the 2022 Gold Glove winner) taking the two spots on the team, leaving Albies on the outside looking in.

Albies has made the All-Star game three times in his seven seasons, getting the nod in 2021 and 2018 along with last season.

Snubbed: C Sean Murphy

Murphy, who started last year's game, struggled down the stretch as he dealt with hamstring and head injuries. And that's the rationale Schoenfield's going with to pass him by for this spot, opting for Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith and former Braves backstop William Contreras of the Milwaukee Brewers for the 2023 team.

Snubbed: SS Orlando Arcia

Another starter from last season who isn't even predicted to make the team in 2024, ESPn gives the three spots to Francisco Lindor of the New York Mets (starter) and reserves Trea Turner of the Philadelphia Phillies and Elly De La Cruz of the Cincinnati Reds.

Arcia, who came back to earth down the stretch for Atlanta, made his first career All-Star Game on the strength of a .294 average but batted only .235 in the 2nd half.

Ronald Acuña Jr was actually really...unlucky last year?

Important Braves Today Offseason Stories
2023 MLB Free Agent Rankings
Current Atlanta Braves prospect rankings
Current Atlanta Braves 40-man roster
2024 International Free Agency tracker

Check out Braves Today on Socials!
Follow Braves Today on Twitter!
Like Braves Today on Facebook!
Check out the homepage for more Atlanta Braves News!
Subscribe to Braves Today on YouTube!
Get Exclusive Braves Merchandise