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Atlanta Braves: Have Few Open Spots This Spring

By Kit Anderson

Mar 3, 2017; Lake Buena Vista, FL, USA; Atlanta Braves relief pitcher Arodys Vizcaino (38) throws a pitch during the sixth inning of an MLB spring training baseball game against the Boston Red Sox at Champion Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 3, 2017; Lake Buena Vista, FL, USA; Atlanta Braves relief pitcher Arodys Vizcaino (38) throws a pitch during the sixth inning of an MLB spring training baseball game against the Boston Red Sox at Champion Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /
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For a young team the Atlanta Braves have very few spots open for contention this Spring.

The Atlanta Braves are coming to the end of a rebuild but for a team focusing on youth seem to have very few roster spots up for contention. While the back end of the bullpen and final bench spot seems to be up for grabs all starting roles and the majority of the backup ones seems to be decided already.

For a team that is focused on a youth movement there seems to be little focus on youth in Atlanta with the team allowing most innings this year to pass to veteran players that are here only to fill short term roles. While this is understandable it is also hard to watch the Braves future take a back seat to players who may not last the entire season with Atlanta.

What it does show is that there is little room for contention in this year’s camp with most all Braves’ roster spots being decided before the first pitch of the spring was thrown. The bench roles seem all but decided and the 5th starters spot seems to be Mike Foltynewicz’s barring any injury.

The bright side of having so many decided roster spots is that it gives the indication that the team thinks that they might can compete and they have already decided who can help them do just that. While it is doubtful that this Braves’ roster will compete it is encouraging to see them headed back in the right direction.

With that said it also shouldn’t be done at the expense of allowing open competition in camp giving rookies and young players a chance to show that they are ready for a Major League role apart from getting a look at the future or filling innings that is the only reason that young players should be in Major League camp.

Next: Braves Off-season Targets

The Braves are a team that are headed in the right direction but shouldn’t have been so hasty to decide roster spots before spring had even begun. Lets hope in the remaining weeks of Spring Training that the Braves allow young players to compete for spots in earnest putting aside who they would prefer to be on the Major League roster.

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