What Does the 2025 Season Have in Store for the Braves?
The Atlanta Braves are gearing up for the 2025 season as Spring Training camp got underway this week. Entering this season, the team is looking to bounce back from a tumultuous 2024 campaign. Last season, the Braves were plagued by season-ending injuries to several of their high-end starters on offense and on the mound, with both star outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. and premier starting pitcher Spencer Strider missing a majority of the season. Despite these trials and tribulations, the Braves still managed to sneak into the playoffs as a Wild Card team before being quickly eliminated by the San Diego Padres in the NL Wild Card Round. Now, with their stars on the mend, the Braves are aiming to reclaim their status as a top contender in a loaded National League this season.
During the offseason, general manager Alex Anthopoulos and the Braves front office wasted no time making notable signings to help bolster their roster for 2025. The most significant acquisition was veteran outfielder Jurickson Profar, who agreed to a three-year deal worth $42 million with Atlanta. At 31 years old, Profar is coming off his best season in MLB in 2024, as last season’s Silver Slugger Award winner set new career highs with 24 home runs and 85 RBIs. The Braves also decided to re-sign fellow outfielder Jarred Kelenic to a one-year deal last month to avoid arbitration, as he provided some offensive pop in his first year with Atlanta after having struggled to find consistent playing time during his first three MLB seasons with the Seattle Mariners. These moves have helped strengthen the Braves’ outfield depth, as they will still be without Acuña to begin the 2025 season while he makes his way back from his torn ACL a season ago.
The Braves will be eagerly awaiting the anticipated returns of their 2023 NL MVP, Acuña, along with ace pitcher Strider, at some point in the first half of the season. Their eventual return to action will have a significant impact on Atlanta’s success, as Strider’s return will help create a formidable duo at the top of their rotation, alongside last season’s NL Cy Young Award winner, Chris Sale, who had a resurgent season. Meanwhile, Acuña will provide the versatile depth in the outfield that he has always showcased since becoming a full-time starter, along with his impactful power bat in the Braves lineup, which already boasts power hitters like Matt Olson, Austin Riley, Marcell Ozuna, and Ozzie Albies, who has showcased the ability to put up big home run totals despite his shorter stature. With key players returning and a solid roster in place, the Braves should be optimistic about their chances of being legitimate World Series contenders once again. However, it will not be easy, as they will face stiff competition within their own division, with the Philadelphia Phillies and New York Mets posing significant threats to win the NL East Division crown in 2025.
