Five things to know about the Braves on Tuesday
The Braves have hit the road for a three-game trip in Washington. They return to Atlanta on Friday for a nine-game homestand, the final string of home games in SunTrust Park’s first season.
Atlanta’s remaining 19 games will come against NL East opponents. Those games won’t carry much weight, however. The Nationals clinched the division on Sunday, and the Marlins are the only other team with a (extremely slim) chance of qualifying for October baseball.
Here’s what’s happening with the Braves on Tuesday:
- The Braves and MLB released the tentative 2018 schedule. The Braves will open against the Phillies at SunTrust Park on March 29. It is the earliest Opening Day in baseball history.
- The Braves are nearing a deal with Korean standout Jihwan Bae, a person familiar with the situation told the AJC. The 18-year-old shortstop is highly regarded for his speed and contact and likely would've been a first round pick in the Korean Baseball Organization draft this week.
- As you may imagine, the name "Bae" across the back of a jersey is already a hit, writes our David O'Brien. The latest blog also covers some excellent performing prospects, including highly touted starter Mike Soroka.
- Who's the Braves best all-time second baseman? Our polls are open.
- Dennis Martinez, also known as "El Presidente," has been around SunTrust Park recently. One of the best Latino pitchers in baseball history, Martinez has been doing consulting work for the Braves.
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.
