Braves' 2024 season defined by injuries from start to finish

ATLANTA -- Braves manager Brian Snitker considers this past season to be the most challenging he has ever experienced. His team beat the odds by advancing to the postseason, despite being weakened by significant injuries throughout the season.

But given the team’s preseason expectations of World Series or bust, there was still a feeling of disappointment after the Braves were swept by the Padres in the Wild Card Series, just two days after clinching a postseason berth with a win in the regular-season finale.

“We had a really nice year for what we did with the hand we were dealt,” Snitker said. “But I had a bad day [the day after the season ended]. I expected us to go deeper than we did.”

Defining moment
When Spencer Strider was lost for the season after making just one healthy start, nobody could have envisioned how much worse things might get on the injury front. By the time Austin Riley’s season ended with a fractured hand in August, Braves fans were numb. A season filled with horrific health-related developments was defined on May 26, when Ronald Acuña Jr. tore his right ACL while attempting to get back to second base during a game in Pittsburgh.

The Braves won the 2021 World Series after Acuña tore his right ACL. But replacing his MVP-caliber talents proved far too significant during a year in which Atlanta saw six of the 10 members (starting pitcher included) of the Opening Day lineup miss significant time because of injury. The lineup used during the season opener experienced six full innings together all year.

Sean Murphy missed almost two months after straining his left oblique in the seventh inning of the first game. Ozzie Albies needed a little more than a week to recover from a great toe fracture in April, but then he needed almost two months to recover from the fractured wrist suffered on July 21. Michael Harris II’s hamstring strain led him to spend about two months on the IL.

What we learned
Given how the season ended, it seems ridiculous to say we learned this team has more starting pitching depth than anticipated at the start of the season. Chris Sale’s back issue combined with the need to clinch a postseason spot during a final-day doubleheader, forced the Braves to bring AJ Smith-Shawver up from Triple-A to start Game 1 of the Wild Card Series.

But the revelation that Sale would have been healthy enough to start in the National League Division Series had the Braves advanced, restored the belief that the rotation should still be strong even if both Max Fried (free agent) and Charlie Morton (might retire) aren’t back next year.

The Braves won big with the offseason gambles they made on both Sale, who is the top NL Cy Young Award candidate, and Reynaldo López. Spencer Schwellenbach’s instant rise toward frontline starter enhances the excitement about what he’ll do over the next few years with Strider, who should return during the early portion of next season. Ian Anderson, Smith-Shawver and Bryce Elder add to the internal depth that could be enhanced with an offseason acquisition.

Best development
Schwellenbach began the season at the High-A level and ended it as a key asset within a rotation that included multiple All-Stars. The 24-year-old was incredibly impressive as he commanded his six-pitch mix. Seeing a homegrown pitching product show frontline capabilities is the ultimate development for any organization.

Area for improvement
The Braves spent approximately $17 million to gain the chance to control Jarred Kelenic for five seasons. Kelenic sat as Ramón Laureano served as the primary left fielder during the regular season’s final weeks. A healthy Acuña will be the primary right fielder again at some point early next year and Harris will be back in center field.

As for Jorge Soler, he is a defensive liability who would be best utilized as a designated hitter for a team that doesn’t already have Marcell Ozuna in that role. With questions surrounding Soler and Kelenic, there’s a chance Laureano could begin next season as the primary left fielder.

On the rise
Hurston Waldrep, the Braves' No. 3 prospect, wasn’t ready for the Majors this year, but now more than a year removed from collegiate baseball, the young hurler could further strengthen Atlanta’s rotation depth next year. He ended the season with confidence as he posted a 1.06 ERA over his final three starts for Triple-A Gwinnett.

Team MVP
Ozuna was the offensive MVP, but this honor goes to Sale, who with one more start could have become the first pitcher to win MLB’s Triple Crown in a full season since Johan Santana in 2006. Instead he settled for the NL’s Triple Crown, leading the Senior Circuit in wins (18), ERA (2.38) and strikeouts (225).