Projecting Braves’ 2026 opening day roster
NORTH PORT, Fla. — The Braves begin their 31-game spring training schedule Saturday against the Rays in Port Charlotte, Florida.
Here is The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s first roster projection as exhibition season begins.
Catcher (2): Drake Baldwin, Jonah Heim
This is straightforward: Baldwin will be the Braves’ primary catcher with Sean Murphy (hip surgery) sidelined until sometime in May. The team signed the veteran Heim as it reported to camp, giving Baldwin a credible backup. The Braves also have Chadwick Tromp and Sandy Leon as experienced organization depth.
Infielders (6): Matt Olson, Ozzie Albies, Austin Riley, Mauricio Dubon, Jorge Mateo, Luke Williams
The Olson, Riley and Albies trio returns for its fifth season. Dubon will handle shortstop until Ha-Seong Kim returns in what the team hopes is early May. Mateo, signed to a one-year deal shortly after Kim’s injury, provides some speed.
There is one more spot up for grabs, likely to go to Kyle Farmer or Williams. The Braves also could see who shakes loose from another roster before opening day. We’ll go with Williams here since he’s the familiar face.
Outfielders (5): Ronald Acuña Jr., Michael Harris II, Jurickson Profar, Mike Yastrzemski, Eli White
There’s not any mystery here, either. Acuña should be an MVP contender if he remains healthy. Harris will try to distance himself from his traditional slow starts and carry his second-half adjustments from last summer into 2026.
Profar will serve as a designated hitter more regularly earlier in the season, which puts Yastrzemski in left. The Yastrzemski signing bolstered the Braves’ depth and increased their lineup optionality. White, meanwhile, possesses the versatility and athletic ability every club covets.
Starting pitchers (5): Chris Sale, Spencer Strider, Reynaldo Lopez, Grant Holmes, Bryce Elder
Lopez and Holmes are healthy and trending well in their build-up processes. The Braves already have lost Spencer Schwellenbach and Hurston Waldrep for months, depleting their rotation options, but the first four possess a lot of upside (and health risk). The guess here is Elder, who’s out of options, opens in the rotation. It’s worth noting he had a 2.82 ERA over his final seven starts, covering seven innings four times. It’s not like the Braves need him to be Superman anyway, certainly not if their offense produces as they expect.
Fans have clamored for the team to add another starter, but the Braves haven’t projected that same desperation. Elder and Joey Wentz provide veteran options. Veteran Martin Perez is also solid organizational depth. Some young pitchers, like JR Ritchie, should factor into this equation later this summer.
But for now, it’s easiest to envision Elder in the rotation with Wentz in the bullpen to start the season.
Bullpen (8): Raisel Iglesias (closer), Robert Suarez, Dylan Lee (LH), Tyler Kinley, Aaron Bummer (LH), Joey Wentz (LH), Joel Payamps, Ian Hamilton
Raisel Iglesias, Robert Suarez, Dylan Lee, Tyler Kinley and Aaron Bummer are slated to be five of the eight relievers. Wentz or Elder likely will be the sixth (and would provide a starting option if the Braves wanted to extend their rotation earlier in the season). The team had a brief look at Payamps last year and opted to re-sign him for $2.25 million, so we included him here, too. There would be one more spot available for Hamilton, Daysbel Hernandez, Jose Suarez, Hunter Stratton and Dylan Dodd, among others.
Hamilton could be subbed out for several options, including Jose Suarez, who would provide additional length. But the first six names of this unit should have the Braves feeling optimistic they’ll have a strong bullpen. One certainly could argue the Iglesias-Robert Suarez duo is the best the Braves have had since the Kimbrel-O’Flaherty-Venters days.
About the Author
Gabriel Burns is a general assignment reporter and features writer for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. After four years on the Braves beat, he's expanded his horizons and covers all sports. You'll find him writing about MLB, NFL, NBA, college football and other Atlanta-centric happenings.
