Spring training is in full swing for Atlanta as the team quietly continues to prepare for a pivotal 2025 season. After their 2021 World Series run, the Braves have flamed out in the first round each of the last three seasons, putting pressure on this year's team to show the window isn't closed.
As Atlanta's regular season nears, it is becoming clear who the surprises have been for better or worse. Looking at the Braves who could be playing themselves off the Opening Day roster, six players stand out as possible surprise roster cuts or pieces that could be dealt before the start of the season.
1. Luke Williams
Atlanta's lack of offseason moves opened the door for Luke Williams to make the Opening Day roster. The bench roles were wide open, and Williams' ability to be plugged into so many positions made him a viable fit. However, there isn't one player in camp having a worse time right now than Williams. The utility player has the third most ABs through the first half of spring training and has managed one hit. It is hard to believe that, through sheer luck, Williams hasn't managed to get more than one base hit.
Part of what makes Williams' road to the roster far tougher as well is the offseason signing of Jurickson Profar. The Atlanta outfielder can be plugged into a myriad of positions, giving the team far more ability to build out different versions of their bench unit. Luke Williams was set up perfectly to make the roster and now appears to have fallen not only off the roster but perhaps out of the team's plan altogether.
2. Garrett Cooper
Garrett Cooper was signed as a possible pinch-hitting option and depth option behind Matt Olson. Having a limited defensive option on the bench was always a question mark for the Braves. With an already loaded lineup, you're going to be utilizing a pinch hitter very rarely. For Cooper to make the roster, you needed a huge offensive performance consistently throughout the spring.
Cooper hasn't been awful, but there isn't anything of note about the infielder's performance. Nothing that would demand the Braves carry a defensively limited player at a position that has great stability. Cooper could still be solid minor league depth but is clearly fallen out of the consideration for a bench role and could be considered as a possible roster cut. Atlanta's lack of bench depth remains the team's biggest question mark as the regular season nears.