Three players on the Atlanta Braves’ Opening Day roster are expected to be…

Atlanta Braves’ Opening Day Roster Has 3 Likely Surprises

Three players on the Atlanta Braves’ Opening Day roster are expected to be surprises

Starting with an intriguing prospect, the Atlanta Braves are sure to have some huge surprises on their Opening Day roster.

As of last Thursday, Brian Snitker conceded that his Opening Day roster was very much determined. While he didn’t name names, people who follow the team on a regular basis can make educated guesses.

So, what can Braves fans anticipate?

As is typical of competitive teams with high turnover, the Braves’ opening day roster has three surprises.

To begin the season, William Contreras, Spencer Strider, and Tucker Davidson should all be on the Braves’ big-league roster. It’s unclear whether they’ll stay in Atlanta long-term, but it’s still a big milestone for the young guys.

Three surprises on the Braves’ Opening Day roster

Contreras, William

Contreras’ inclusion comes as a shock, considering Atlanta already had two catchers on the roster in Travis d’Arnaud and Manny Pia. Contreras, however, has one of the final bench spots locked up, ensuring that the younger brother of Cubs catcher Willson Contreras gets a shot in the big leagues.

According to MLB.com’s Mark Bowman, “Catching is his primary thing.” “He’s still a catcher in our eyes.” However, because of his athleticism, you might be able to move him around the diamond.”

Tucker Davidson is a character in the film Tucker Davidson

With the Braves switching to a six-man rotation to begin the season, Davidson edged out Kyle Muller for the final position. For the first two weeks of the season, Atlanta won’t have a day off, so they’ll need fresh arms. That’s where Davidson — and his partner Strider — come into play.

Strider, Spencer

The Braves haven’t decided whether Strider or Davidson will be the No. 6 starter, but Snitker is excited about the former’s potential as both a starter and a long relief. Strider has a fastball of 101 mph, but he needs to work on his breaking stuff before he can be a reliable starter in the major leagues.

Atlanta will have him pitch to his strengths for the time being.

“I’m pleased with [Strider’s] improvement,” Snitker remarked. “Every time he goes out, like [Saturday], he’ll be learning something new because he’ll be up against competition he’s never seen before.” He’s armed, and I’ve noticed a significant development in his secondary skills.”

On Opening Day, the Braves take on the Reds at Truist Park.