Heading into the 2018 season, fans of the Atlanta Braves expected a subpar season at best. Young talent made up most of their roster, which gave fans reason for their expectations. But Atlanta gave their fans a huge treat by winning their first NL East pennant since 2013. Although they had an early exit from the playoffs at the hands of the LA Dodgers, there’s a bright future for the Braves.
The star that is Ronald Acuña Jr. provided the Braves with a spark they didn’t have for a while. Acuña started his rookie campaign slow but blossomed in the second half. In the second half, the young blood hit .322 with 19 home runs and 45 RBIs. At one point, Acuña hit a homer in five consecutive games. Pretty impressive for a dude who’s only 19, huh?
You can’t forget Acuña’s best buddy Ozzie Albies. Albies, in his first full season with the Braves, proved to be the second baseman of the future for the team. He started off hot, making his first All-Star game appearance. However, he cooled off significantly in the second half. If Albies can figure out how to stay consistent throughout a whole season, he’ll have a successful career. This power duo has the potential to bring Atlanta championships.
Freddie Freeman and Nick Markakis brought experience to the Braves. Markakis showed that he can still play, making his first All-Star game. He came up with clutch hits to put the Braves on top. But nobody deserved to be rewarded more than Freeman. The 1B played through the four terrible seasons while the Braves were rebuilding. He didn’t bolt or demand a trade as some players might. He played through it and led the Braves to a playoff birth.
The Braves pitching staff performed excellently this season. Although there were struggles, the pitchers looked poised and improved from seasons before. Mike Foltynewicz showed why he’s the ace of the group, nearly pitching two no-hitters. He also made an All-Star appearance, the first of his career. Sean Newcomb pitched well in his second year with the Braves. Despite the late seasons struggles, Newcomb has a bright future. The bullpen is a question mark for the Braves, but they have some talented arms. Jonny Venters showed he can still toss the ball pretty well and provided the bullpen with a good spark.
Overall, there’s certainly reason for excitement in A-Town. The Braves have a talented young core along with experienced veterans that can keep them at the top. If they continue this trend, I see another World Series in the near future. A bright future is ahead for Atlanta.
-Eric Jackson