Braves Ranked Among Top 10 MLB Franchises ‘Groomed’ For Future Success

Atlanta Braves fans are looking for something positive amid the team’s six-week slide. On June 10, Bleacher Report obliged.

Kerry Miller of Bleacher Report ranked the Braves as the fourth MLB franchise poised for the most success over the next half-decade.

“With Acuña and Strider out for the year and with just Marcell Ozuna going all out on offense, Atlanta is far from the World Series favorite we expected all offseason to be,” Miller wrote.

“Even though nothing is seemingly going well, there are eight games above .500 and comfortably in the playoff picture, because even “unlucky” Atlanta is still in great shape and not going anywhere in the near future .”

Miller noted the long-term deals the Braves have signed with Ronald Acuña, Ozzie Albies, Sean Murphy, Spencer Strider and Michael Harris II as reasons for optimism. These aren’t even all the stars the Braves have locked into long-term contracts.

First baseman Matt Olson is signed through the 2030 season, while third baseman Austin Riley won’t be a free agent until 2034.

Even 33-year-old designated hitter Marcell Ozuna, who is having his best season in a Braves uniform this year, signed for another year.

The biggest long-term concern is the pitching staff. That’s ironic, of course, considering it’s the pitching staff that keeps the Braves afloat in 2024.

But Max Fried, 30, will be an unrestricted free agent this winter. And even if Chris Sale is having a resurgence year, he’s 35 and isn’t guaranteed to continue pitching as well as he has long term.

Braves fans, however, may have gotten a little taste of the future on Sunday. Right-hander Hurston Waldrep struggled in the fourth inning of his MLB debut, but pitched three solid innings before that. In addition to Waldrep, AJ Smith-Shawver and Spencer Schwellenbach are the top prospects that could emerge from the Braves’ minor league system.

There’s no reason for Braves fans to give up on the 2024 campaign. But if things continue to go south, then there should still be better days ahead for the franchise.