Spring Training is in full swing for the Atlanta Braves and several players are beginning their push to make the Opening Day Roster. The Braves are expected to be one of the main contenders in the National League East this season and with some of their division rivals already experiencing some adversity, the Braves figure to get stronger with the eventual return of Ronald Acuña Jr. and Spencer Strider.
But while some players know they’ll be heading to San Diego on March 27, other players won’t be as fortunate. Four players found out their fate on Wednesday morning as Atlanta attempted to trim down its roster for Opening Day.
The #Braves today optioned LHP Dylan Dodd and RHP Hurston Waldrep to Triple-A Gwinnett, and reassigned RHP Enoli Paredes and RHP Royber Salinas to minor league camp. Atlanta now has 56 players in camp.
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) February 25, 2025
Dylan Dodd, Hurston Waldrep Among Braves First Spring Training Cuts
The Braves announced that pitchers Dylan Dodd and Hurston Waldrep have been optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett on Wednesday morning. Atlanta also reassigned pitchers Enoli Paredes and Royber Salinas to minor league camp, bringing their current Spring Training roster to 56 players.
Dodd was a third-round pick by the Braves in the 2021 MLB Draft but hasn’t been able to stick on Atlanta’s roster after three full seasons in the minors. Dodd made his major league debut in the 2023 season but went 2-2 with a 7.60 ERA in seven starts and made one appearance last season, allowing a pair of earned runs over two innings.
The left-hander also struggled at Triple-A with a 2-7 record and 5.35 ERA last season and didn’t look good in his first Spring Training start, allowing two runs in an inning of work in a 3-1 loss to the Minnesota Twins last Saturday.
But while Dodd struggled, Waldrep was sent down after a solid Spring Training debut. The 24th overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft came out of the bullpen in Tuesday’s 2-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates and allowed just one runner on base in an inning of work. While he finished the game, he needed 16 pitches to get through the inning, perhaps making the decision to be sent down a little easier.
Waldrop made two appearances and was hammered for 13 earned runs over seven innings but made his way all the way up from Double-A Mississippi and Triple-A Gwinnett for a combined 5-7 record and 3.47 ERA last season.
While Paredes and Salinas were not expected to make the major league roster coming out of camp, it makes the Braves’ pitching situation a little clearer. The top four spots in the rotation are set with Chris Sale, Reynaldo López, Spencer Schwellenbach and Grant Holmes projected to start the year but the fifth spot is up for grabs with 2016 first-round pick Ian Anderson leading the way.
The Braves also have a spot in the bullpen open but it could come down to eight non-roster invitees including recent signing Buck Farmer.