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Riley went 1-for-2 with a two-run home run in Atlanta's Grapefruit League game against the Pirates on Wednesday.
The third baseman took Jarod Bayless deep in the third inning, taking advantage of Paul Skenes' exit two batters prior. Riley was fully healthy for the first time in a while this offseason, and he's looking to rebound after a couple tough campaigns that saw him hit just 35 homers in 212 regular-season games with a .760 OPS -- a sharp decline for the 28-year-old after he belted 75 long balls with an .869 OPS in 2022-23 while missing only six games in total.
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Braves' Bryce Elder: Maintaining velo increase
Rotowire
Elder averaged 93.3 mph with his four-seam fastball during his spring debut Wednesday, maintaining the velocity gains he flashed at the end of last season, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.
The 26-year-old right-hander gave up one run on two hits over two innings against the Pirates in Grapefruit League action Wednesday, striking out three without walking a batter. Elder closed out 2025 in impressive fashion, posting a 2.82 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 41:8 K:BB over his final seven starts and 44.2 innings, and more giddy-up on his fastball factored into that success. "He was popping a lot of 95s late in the season last year," manager Walt Weiss said. Elder averaged 92.8 mph overall on his four-seamer last season, but that number jumped to 93.7 mph during that seven-start stretch. He attributed the increase to work with biomechanics expert Bob Keyes, whose list of prior clients includes Hall of Famers Nolan Ryan, Randy Johnson and Greg Maddux. Elder isn't expecting to rise to that level, but if he can come close to repeating his performance over the last month-plus of 2025, he should be able to lock down a rotation spot with Atlanta.
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Braves' Chris Sale: Inks extension
Rotowire
Sale agreed to a one-year, $27 million contract extension with Atlanta on Tuesday that includes a club option for $30 million in 2028, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Sale was set to hit free agency after the season but will get some extra security with this deal. His fastball was up to 96 mph in his first spring action Sunday as he logged two scoreless innings.
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Braves' JR Ritchie: Sharp in spring debut
Rotowire
Ritchie tossed two scoreless, no-hit innings in Atlanta's Grapefruit League game against the Twins on Sunday, walking one and striking out one.
The 22-year-old right-hander tossed 19 of 32 pitches for strikes in his spring debut. Ritchie is knocking on the door of the majors after posting a 3.02 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 61:27 K:BB through 11 starts and 59.2 innings for Triple-A Gwinnett last season, and while Atlanta doesn't want to rush him, he could be an injury or two away from getting thrust into the rotation.
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Braves' Drake Baldwin: Goes yard Sunday
Rotowire
Baldwin went 2-for-2 with a solo home run in Atlanta's Grapefruit League game against the Twins on Sunday.
The 24-year-old backstop took Taj Bradley deep in the third inning, the only run Atlanta scored off the right-hander. Baldwin took home NL Rookie of the Year honors in 2025, slashing .274/.341/.469 over 124 games with 19 homers and 80 RBI, and he'll be a key part of Atlanta's offense this season.
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Braves' Bryce Elder: Could be part of six-man rotation
Rotowire
Elder appears likely to get a start or two early in the season with Atlanta playing 13 consecutive days to begin its schedule, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.
Elder is battling Joey Wentz for the fifth starter role, but that competition will probably extend into the regular season with the team having to give serious thought to deploying a six-man rotation for the first couple weeks. Elder made 28 starts for Atlanta in 2025, posting a 5.30 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 131:51 K:BB in 156.1 innings.
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Braves' Joey Wentz: Likely to begin season in rotation
Rotowire
Wentz appears likely to get a start or two early in the season with Atlanta playing 13 consecutive days to begin its schedule, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.
Wentz is battling Bryce Elder for the fifth starter role, but that competition will probably extend into the regular season with the team having to give serious thought to deploying a six-man rotation for the first couple weeks. Wentz produced a 4.92 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 64:23 K:BB in 64 innings over 14 appearances (13 starts) for Atlanta in 2025.
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Braves' Chris Sale: Humming to begin spring
Rotowire
Sale topped out at 96 mph with his fastball in his first game action of the spring Sunday, allowing two hits and striking out three over two scoreless innings against the Twins, Chad Bishop of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
The veteran southpaw tossed 37 pitches and fired first-pitch strikes to all eight batters he faced, and Sale even had to make a tough defensive play on a Trevor Larnach chopper. After he missed significant time last summer due to a rib fracture, it was a very encouraging performance from Sale to begin his spring. In two seasons with Atlanta, he's averaged 151.2 innings with a 2.46 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 11.6 K/9.
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Braves' Ray Kerr: Joining Atlanta for camp
Rotowire
Atlanta assigned Kerr (elbow) to its big-league camp Monday.
Kerr was already under contract with the organization on a minor-league deal, but his assignment to big-league camp seemingly indicates that he's back to full health after undergoing Tommy John surgery in the summer of 2024. The 31-year-old lefty previously made 39 relief appearances between stops with San Diego and Atlanta from 2022 through 2024, recording a 5.30 ERA and 1.42 WHIP in 54.1 innings. He'll likely open the 2026 campaign at Triple-A Gwinnett.
Acuna will hit in the leadoff spot for 2026, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.
Acuna bounced around Atlanta's batting order in 2025, leading off 43 times, batting third 46 times and batting sixth twice. He'll open the 2026 season as the team's leadoff hitter, a role which Jurickson Profar filled to end the previous campaign. Acuna, though limited to 95 games because of injury, slashed .290/.417/.518 with 21 home runs, nine stolen bases and a 71:102 BB:K across 412 plate appearances in 2025.
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Braves' Mike Yastrzemski: Goes yard to kick off spring
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Yastrzemski went 2-for-2 with a walk, a solo home run and a second run scored in Atlanta's Grapefruit League game against the Rays on Saturday.
The veteran outfielder went deep off Tampa Bay prospect T.J. Nichols in his first plate appearance of the spring. Yastrzemski signed a two-year deal with Atlanta in December, and he'll fill a strong-side platoon role in left field for his new squad after slashing .256/.362/.446 with 15 homers in 454 PAs against right-handed pitching last season between the Giants and Royals.
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Braves' John Gil: Making good impression in camp
Rotowire
Gil has drawn comparisons to former Atlanta shortstop Rafael Furcal with his energy and speed early in camp, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.
Furcal was the 2000 NL Rookie of the Year and a three-time All-Star over a 14-year big-league career, but while he was generously listed at 5-foot-8 during his playing days, Gil stands 6-foot-1 and is still growing into his athletic frame. The 19-year-old began to tap into his upside at the plate last year at Single-A Augusta, slashing .258/.352/.378 with seven homers and 50 steals in 64 attempts over 100 games. Another step forward in 2026 could see Gil soar up the ladder and have him knocking on the door of a big-league debut.
Lopez sat at 93 mph and touched 94 in the second inning of his live batting practice session Thursday, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.
It's an encouraging spot to be at this stage of spring training for Lopez, who averaged 95.5 mph with his four-seamer during his All-Star 2024 season. The right-hander made just one start in 2025 before undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his pitching shoulder, but he is without restrictions this spring and has a spot in Atlanta's rotation locked up.
