Editor’s note: Let’s try this again ... apologies if you previously received an old edition.
Anyone else fall asleep about an inning into last night’s romp over Arizona, then speed-run a replay this morning?
No?
Nobody?
Well then. Here’s Chad.
HEIM TIME
By Chad Bishop
The Braves have two shutouts this season. Catcher Jonah Heim has been behind the plate for both.
“That’s not by accident. He’s a pro back there,” Braves manager Walt Weiss said. “Like I’ve said before, you’re the main guy back there on a world championship club (in 2023 with the Rangers), you’re bringing something to the table. And we’re seeing that with Jonah.”
The 30-year-old Heim signed a one-year contract with the Braves in February to provide the team catching stability and depth until Sean Murphy returns from hip surgery (which will probably happen this month). Heim started the season-opener Friday against the Royals, a 6-0 Braves’ win, and Monday’s game against the Athletics, a 4-0 Braves’ victory.
Heim caught six innings of starter Chris Sale and one each from Dylan Lee, Robert Suarez and Tyler Kinley, respectively, on Friday, then six innings of starter Bryce Elder and one each of Aaron Bummer, Suarez and closer Raisel Iglesias on Monday. All seven pitchers recorded scoreless outings throwing to Heim.
“That’s our No. 1 job back there is to put up zeros and just turn it over to our offense to score some runs,” Heim said. “I’m putting down the signs, but all the credit’s to our pitchers. They’ve done a phenomenal job executing all the pitches. It’s easy to do my job when we got pitchers that come in and execute.”
📲 Grazie, Chad. Y’all make sure to follow him on X.
WHEN DID THE BRAVES GET SO OLD?
Through two series, reigning Rookie of the Year Drake Baldwin helped shoulder the Braves offense — and keep the Atlanta youth movement alive.
Pitchers Didier Fuentes (now a top-100 MLB prospect) and JR Ritchie (already lights out in Triple-A) don’t figure to be far behind.
But as I briefly mentioned last week, Baseball America ran the numbers — and deemed the Braves to have the oldest opening day roster in baseball.
Which baffled me! Wasn’t it just yesterday all these dudes (Ronald Acuña Jr., Ozzie Albies, Austin Riley, etc. etc.) were 20 or 22? Just starting their careers?
Well … no. Turns out it’s been a few years.
Nevertheless, I asked data guru Rahul Deshpande to do his own research. He found that this Braves roster — average age: 30.35 years — is one of the oldest of the last decade or so.
While this season’s stats are similar to other recent rosters (even matching 2024 exactly), the team’s average age has climbed quite a bit since Acuña made his debut in 2018.
Not super surprising, I suppose.
Most of Atlanta’s offseason adds were guys a little longer in the tooth: Reliever Robert Suárez and outfielders Kyle Farmer and Mike Yastrzemski are all 35. Mauricio Dubón, Dominic Smith and the aforementioned Heim are north of 30 too.
And they’re proving there ain’t nothing wrong with a little seasoning.
Baldwin excluded, the top of the Braves lineup still has some work to do. It’s the wily veterans at the bottom of the order helping keep things afloat.
- Through the first six games, Dubón, Smith and Yastrzemski combined to go 17-for-47 (.360) at the plate — while driving in or scoring 16 of the team’s 24 runs.
- The trio then combined for two home runs, four RBIs and six runs scored in Thursday night’s opener against the Diamondbacks.
“It’s just a professional at-bat … I think he’s one of those guys that keeps the line moving,” manager Walt Weiss told reporters Wednesday, when asked about Smith. “I think he does it, Dubón does it, Yaz does it. And I think that’s the difference in our offense, to a degree.”
Experienced, grind-it-out type ballplayers. We love to see it.
DUELING IN THE DESERT
The Braves continue their series in Arizona tonight with a 9:45 p.m. start on Apple TV.
Saturday’s game arrives at 7:15 p.m. on Fox, while Sunday’s finale starts at 4:15 p.m. on BravesVision.
🤔 What to know: Beloved former Brave Michael Soroka started his Diamondbacks tenure in grand fashion this week, striking out 10 batters over five innings against the Tigers. One of those was an “immaculate” inning, meaning he struck out the side in nine pitches.
Soroka should start Saturday against Atlanta.
- Grant Holmes and Bryce Elder are up next for the Braves, with the mysterious fifth spot in the rotation to follow Sunday … perhaps in the form of Martín Pérez.
📝 The scouting report: Plagued by pitching injuries (sound familiar?), the Diamondbacks finished at 80-82 and fourth in the National League West last season. Eugenio Suárez, who hit four homers in a single game against the Braves last April, left for Cincinnati.
BRAVES AT ANGELS
After wrapping up in Arizona, the Braves head to Anaheim for a three-game set.
We’re looking at 9:38 p.m. first pitches on Monday and Tuesday, followed by a 4:07 p.m. start on Wednesday (all on BravesVision).
🤔 What to know: Braves postseason hero Jorge Soler is still plying his wares for the Angels, as is Travis d’Arnaud — but it’s Kurt Suzuki, another former Braves catcher, who’s in charge.
- Suzuki, 42, spent three post-playing career years as a special assistant to Angels GM Perry Minasian before taking the managerial gig in the offseason.
🎉 Meanwhile, back in Atlanta: The Braves will host a block party in Summerhill during Wednesday’s road trip finale. On the schedule: Blooper, “lawn games” and plenty to nosh on.
Festivities start around 3:30 p.m. near Georgia Avenue and Reed Street.
QUICK, SOME OTHER NEWS!
✅ The Fan-tastic Four of the Win Column’s tournament of Atlanta athletes includes three Braves … and a matchup between Ronald Acuña Jr. and Matt Olson.
👕 New powder blue “City Connect” jerseys paying homage to the 1980s, TBS and Dale Murphy … yay or nay?
🤨 The quest to find out why some Braves were celebrating hits by scratching their heads proved more arduous than expected.
✈️ Ever seen the Braves team plane? Broadcaster CJ Nitkowski recently posted a photo … and they’re already added a humongous BravesVision logo.
🥲 It took 12 years, but Braves bullpen catcher Wigberto Nevarez finally made it to the bigs.
PHOTO OF THE WEEK
Mike Yastrzemski came thiiiiiis close to stealing a home run from Athletics catcher (and former Braves farmhand) Shea Langeliers on Wednesday.
Thanks for reading Braves Report. Tell a friend — and maybe give the Win Column a shot, too.
Until next time.
About the Author
Tyler Estep hosts the AJC Win Column, Atlanta's new weekly destination for all things sports. He also shepherds the Sports Daily and Braves Report newsletters to your inbox.
