Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves

Five Braves who could emerge this season

1. Will A.J. Minter take over the closer role? The Braves drafted Minter, 24, in the second round in 2015. Batters hit .224 against Minter last season. In 15 innings, Minter struck out 26 and walked two. 2. A full season of Ozzie Albies could provide huge boost. The second baseman runs like a blur and plays solid defense. Albies, 21, had 20 extra-base hits in 217 at-bats in 2017. Albies stole eight bases and was caught once. 3. Ronald Acuna takes over left, meets half the expectations. His debut may come
By
Feb 16, 2018

With Braves fans itching for a big surge forward in the team’s rebuild, and the team seeking to move closer to 81 wins in the coming season, both desires may rest on young players developing into reliable (or better), everyday performers.

Which players will emerge as key players over the full season? The video above shows five candidates who may provide the answer.

If all five emerge, the Braves’ rebuild could take a big step forward in 2018.

The journey begins Monday when the Braves conduct their first full-squad workout of the year.

About the Author

David Wellham has worked as an editor and content producer at the AJC since 2006, but his knowledge of sports in metro Atlanta and Georgia dates to much earlier. He uses his institutional knowledge to help the AJC provide in-depth coverage of area sports and sports teams. David can be reached at 404-526-5424 and dwellham@ajc.com.

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