Checking in on Acuña & the happenings at camp

This story was excerpted from Mark Bowman’s Braves Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

Before all of the position players arrive this week and the Grapefruit League season begins on Saturday, let’s take a look back at some of the early storylines to come out of Braves camp.

Ronald Acuña Jr. arrives in a great mood

This might not have been what you gathered from some other media outlets. But quite honestly, the reigning National League MVP said everything you would have wanted to hear if you’re a Braves fan.

Acuña apologized for struggling during the National League Division Series and even said he was sorry for not talking to the media after the final game in Philadelphia. He didn’t need to do that. He also discussed his excitement for the upcoming season. And when asked if he would like to wear the Braves uniform throughout his career, he said, “It’s no secret I’d like to be a Brave for life.”

Some took this as Acuña asking for a new contract, despite the Braves having five more years of control with the current deal. There was no mention of his contract. He was just saying he’d like to spend his entire career with Atlanta. But as long as aggregation exists in the media world, there’s a chance to create this kind of aggravation.

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with fans debating anything that might interest them in the sports world. So, if fans want to talk about the team-friendly contract that will pay Acuña $85 million over the next five seasons ($17 million per year), that’s fine. But in no way, shape or form did Acuña come to camp showing signs of being disgruntled. Unhappy players don’t usually arrive more than three days before they are required to report.

Strong psyche

Chris Sale is among the countless pitchers who have undergone Tommy John surgery. There are also some who might have suffered a rib cage stress fracture while throwing live batting practice like Sale did before the 2022 season. Others have also had a finger fractured by a comebacker. And there may have been another pitcher or two who broke their wrist while falling off a bike.

But without doing any research, I’ll confidently write that Sale is the only pitcher in baseball history to suffer each of these ailments in these specific manners within any four-season span.

But as you talk to the highly competitive and intense pitcher, you get the sense his confidence hasn’t been shaken during this misfortune-filled stretch. His innings will be limited this year, but his effort won’t be. His first quote in this story should give you this sense.

Looking for another great postseason moment

Decades from now, Braves fans will still be talking about Sid’s slide, Justice’s homer and Matzek’s filthy appearance. No full names or playoff series will be needed. These will forever stand among the most iconic playoff moments in franchise history.

So, it was good to see Tyler Matzek anxiously discussing possibly getting another chance to shine in October. His injury-plagued 2022 season ended with Tommy John surgery. He has come to camp healthy. But there is a chance he'll make a few rehab appearances in April before officially rejoining Atlanta’s bullpen.