2025 Season Preview: Braves Have the Roster — Now What?

Opening Day is here, and the Atlanta Braves are back with a vengeance. Last season ended in frustration and a familiar October disappointment. This year? Different energy. Different stakes. The Braves are built to win now, but how far they go in 2025 hinges on health, front-office decisions, and whether the core can elevate from great to legendary.

...so let’s get into it!

LINEUP: STACKED, BUT NOT BULLETPROOF

Ronald Acuña Jr. starts the year on the IL, which sucks, but it won’t define the season. He’ll be back, and when he is, he’s going to remind everyone why he's still the most dangerous player in the league. He'll ease into things, sure, but by June, expect the old Ronnie back... or better.

In the meantime, this is Austin Riley's moment. This is the year he breaks through and grabs real MVP attention. With Acuña out and Olson looking to rebound from a quiet 2024, Riley has every chance to be the anchor of this offense. His spring showed he's locked in, and he's been steadily trending toward a monster year.

Matt Olson? Forget the "sophomore slump" talk. He's a beast at first base and should flirt with 40 bombs and 110+ RBI if he sees pitches to hit. You don't keep this guy down long.

Michael Harris II is poised to be the best center fielder in the National League. His 30/30 potential is real, his glove is elite, and his approach has matured. If he stays healthy, Harris is the kind of player that shifts a playoff race.

Marcell Ozuna may not run well, field well, or throw well, but the man hits. And as a DH, that’s all he needs to do. He posted a .995 OPS in spring, and if that carries into April, he’ll be a force.

Keep an eye on newcomer Jurickson Profar. He may not have been the biggest move of the offseason, but he definitely fits the description of who we are as a team. High OBP, check. Gritty at-bats, check. Clubhouse presence, check. Could he be our guy? It's surly a possibility!

CATCHING DEPTH: THE KID’S TURN

With Sean Murphy on the shelf, all eyes turn to top propect Drake Baldwin. He's not just a stopgap. Baldwin's shown poise, leadership, and surprisingly polished defense for a guy whose bat was supposed to lead the way. Chris Sale and Spencer Strider both vouched for him. That’s no small thing. Even if he returns to Triple-A when Murphy heals up, this won’t be his last time up. He’s here to stay, sooner or later. I predict he will stay over Tromp.

INFIELD: CONSISTENT, DEEP, AND MAYBE CHANGING A LITTLE

Ozzie Albies is... Ozzie. There’s no better compliment. He’s our spark plug, the soul of the clubhouse, and still a threat for 25+ HRs.

But shortstop? That’s where things could shift. Orlando Arcia is the starter, but don’t be shocked if Nick Allen gets more reps as the season rolls on. Allen’s defense is smooth, and his bat (.359 AVG) definitely turned some heads in Florida this spring. The Braves may not say it, but a quiet passing of the torch at shortstop could be coming.

STARTING ROTATION: POTENTIAL TO BE NASTY

Chris Sale leads the charge. And yes, he’s still that dude. The reigning NL Cy Young winner probably won’t repeat, but he’ll hold the line until Strider returns. He’s healthy, competitive, and mean as hell on the mound. Love that guy.

Spencer Strider is headed to Gwinnett to start things off, but when he returns, buckle up. He’s coming off elbow surgery, so expect some bumps in the road, but once he finds rhythm, he’ll remind everyone why he’s a strikeout machine.

Reynaldo López, Spencer Schwellenbach, AJ Smith-Shawver, and Grant Holmes round out the rotation, and while that might sound shaky, the upside is real. Schwellenbach, especially, looks ready beyond his years.

BULLPEN: THE BIG QUESTION MARK

Raisel Iglesias is rock solid. Pierce Johnson and Dylan Lee are steady. But losing Joe Jiménez (injury) and A.J. Minter (now with the Mets) hurts.

Aaron Bummer, Enyel De Los Santos, and Hector Neris all had solid springs, but we need to see it over 162. This group could be elite. Or they could be a headache.

THE FRONT OFFICE: TIME TO GROW A PAIR

Here’s the deal: if Alex Anthopoulos makes the right moves at the deadline, the Braves are legitimate World Series contenders. But if he sits on his hands, brings back old, washed-up names for nostalgia, or plays scared of the luxury tax? This team could waste another prime year.

Let’s not kid ourselves. Ownership pulled back spending in a World Series window. They cut payroll when they should’ve been pushing chips in. Braves fans have every right to be pissed off. This team should be all in right now. We’re hosting the damn All-Star Game. If that doesn’t justify spending, what does?

DIVISION OUTLOOK: BRING IT ON

The Phillies are annoying. The Mets with Juan Soto are dangerous. But the Braves, if healthy, are still the class of the NL East.

If Acuña and Strider return close to full form, if Riley and Harris level up, and if AA steps up at the trade deadline, there’s no reason this team can’t win the division again and punch a real ticket to October.

BOTTOM LINE: NO EXCUSES

This Braves team is good enough to win it all. But we’ve said that before. It’s time for the performance, the health, and the decision-making upstairs to match the talent on the field.

The runway is clear. The stars are aligned. The excuses are gone.

Let’s ride.

Jonathan is a contributor for The Narrative and The Noise, an analyst, a lifelong Braves backer, and staunch Philly Hater. Opinions are his own, but they’re usually on point.