Finding Atlanta Braves who are enjoying career seasons or even just living up to career expectations is difficult. After the team's best player, things grow dark with injuries and regression defining what has been a frustrating 2025 season.
Still, there have been outliers to this, including a strong surge from Matt Olson and the emergence of rookie catcher Drake Baldwin. This is a roster still filled with talent, even if it has yet to live up to expectations. With this in mind, it is interesting to look through the roster and consider who is due for a progression or regression.
Looking at players who could frustrate the team in the second half, one reliever stands out. Daysbel Hernández has enjoyed an incredible first half when you consider expectations vs. production. The veteran has found himself in an unexpected role and made the most of the opportunity. However, the recent lack of control and issues in the middle of innings are sounding alarm bells. Hernández will look dominant one moment, only to completely lose it the next.
Daysbel Hernández Is the Biggest Braves Bullpen Concern
It is important to note that this refers to Daysbel being a concern among the team's high-leverage options. The team has far more concerning pieces still rostered due to a complete lack of other options. The point here remains that the advanced numbers and control issues all suggest that the veteran reliever might be due for some regression in the next half of the season.
This wouldn't be entirely unexpected when you look at what the reliever has done compared to the rest of his career. Atlanta finding this from Hernández is a clear outlier. It wouldn't be shocking to see this exposed in the second half of the season. However, the flip side of this argument is pointing out just how many things have gone wrong for the team with once-reliable players.
Having a veteran enjoy a career year in the middle of this dysfunction could be viewed as overdue. Regardless, it is a clear concern the franchise should keep a close eye on, considering the veteran's career and how far over expectations the 2025 production has been.