ATLANTA BRAVES NEWS

Mike Soroka - Throws live batting practice Soroka (hamstring) threw live batting practice Friday, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

Impact It sounds like a Grapefruit League outing could be on the horizon. Soroka has been slowed this spring by a right hamstring strain and isn't going to be ready for Opening Day, but he might not miss too much time if he can keep progressing. Once he's healthy and stretched out, the right-hander should push the winner of the battle between Jared Shuster and Dylan Dodd for the fifth starter spot in Atlanta's rotation, but Soroka has thrown only 13.2 big-league innings since his 2019 breakout due to multiple surgeries and injuries.

MARCH 17, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Vaughn Grissom - Not yet declared starter Grissom is not starting for Atlanta for the third straight Grapefruit League game Friday, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

Impact Grissom is healthy and is expected to play Saturday, per manager Brian Snitker. It seems notable that he's started just two of the last seven games at shortstop though, while Braden Shewmake gets another start there Friday. Shewmake has been Atlanta's best defender at the position this spring and has also posted an .805 OPS, although his minor-league track record doesn't suggest he would offer much at the plate with regular playing time. Per Bowman, it will be either Grissom or Shewmake making the roster, with the other playing regularly at Triple-A Gwinnett. It's something to monitor over the final 10 days of camp.

MARCH 17, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

David O'Brien: For those Braves fans who'd been... - The Athletic For those Braves fans who'd been wondering/worrying about Collin McHugh since he hadn't pitched in a Grapefruit League game, you can stop: T...

MARCH 17, 2023 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Kyle Wright - Nearing Grapefruit League debut Wright (shoulder) threw two innings Wednesday on a back field, Justin Toscano of the Atlanta Journal Constitution reports.

Impact The workout went really well, per manager Brian Snitker, and the next step for Wright could be his Grapefruit League debut. He's behind Atlanta's other projected starters after requiring a cortisone injection for his right shoulder back in January, but the hope is that the 27-year-old will be able to jump into the starting rotation in early April. Wright won 21 games in 2022 with a 3.19 ERA and 174:53 K:BB across 180.1 regular-season innings.

MARCH 16, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Mike Soroka - Takes part in fielding work Soroka (hamstring) was spotted taking part in pitcher's fielding practice Wednesday, but Atlanta has yet to provide an update on when he'll make his spring debut, Mark Bowman of ML...

Impact Though Soroka received a clean bill of health heading into spring training, the snake-bitten right-hander strained his right hamstring early in camp and had his throwing progression slowed down as a result. While Soroka hasn't been shut down from activity and looks as though he's drawing closer to pitching in a game, the fact that he hasn't yet made his debut this late in spring training essentially takes him out of the running for a spot in Atlanta's Opening Day rotation. Soroka will most likely open the season on the injured list and should continue to ramp up to a starter's workload at the club's spring facility in Florida, leaving Jared Shuster and Dylan Dodd as the primary candidates for the No. 5 spot in the rotation to begin the campaign.

MARCH 16, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Lefty Dylan Dodd becomes surprise of Braves spring training NORTH PORT, Fla. — Dylan Dodd didn’t imagine this either. Just a few years ago, he had an ERA over 5.00 at Southeast Missouri State. And des...

MARCH 15, 2023 • SACBEE.COM

Lefty Dylan Dodd becomes surprise of Braves spring training NORTH PORT, Fla. — Dylan Dodd didn’t imagine this either. Just a few years ago, he had an ERA over 5.00 at Southeast Missouri State. And des...

MARCH 15, 2023 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

Photos: A look at Braves prospect Dylan Dodd Photos of pitcher Dylan Dodd, a candidate to earn the Braves' fifth-starter's job.

MARCH 15, 2023 • AJC.COM

Marcell Ozuna - Bat heating up Ozuna went 2-for-3 with a walk, a double, two runs scored and four RBI in Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the Phillies.

Impact The veteran slugger banged out his fourth two-bagger of the spring against Cristopher Sanchez as part of a four-run first inning. Ozuna is now hitting .321 (9-for-28) in camp, and while he's still looking for his first homer, he at least appears ready for Opening Day. The 32-year-old is looking to rebound from a rough 2022 campaign that saw him slash just .226/.274/.413, and he could offer some late-round power production this season.

MARCH 15, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Braves want pitcher Ian Anderson to 'get right and back to where he was' The Atlanta Braves optioned right-hander Ian Anderson to Triple-A Gwinnett on Tuesday, ending his bid for the fifth spot in the starting rot...

MARCH 15, 2023 • AJC.COM

Diamond Sports files for bankruptcy, but Braves fans still able to watch games The question Braves fans have pondered over the past month: How will Diamond Sports Group’s financial issues affect Braves broadcasts?

MARCH 15, 2023 • AJC.COM

With Anderson optioned, top prospect gets extended look NORTH PORT, Fla. -- Jared Shuster has been the talk of Braves camp, and he will continue to be in the spotlight as he and fellow prospect Dy...

MARCH 15, 2023 • MLB.COM

Magneuris Sierra - Shifted to minor-league camp Sierra was reassigned to minor-league camp Tuesday.

Impact Sierra will most-likely return to Triple-A, where he slashed .297/.358/.437 and drove in 45 RBI through 311 plate appearances last season, alongside stealing 22 bases. There's a chance he appears in some games this season for Atlanta, where most of his value will come from swiping bags.

MARCH 14, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Cody Milligan - Reassigned to minors camp Milligan was reassigned Tuesday to minor-league camp by Atlanta.

Impact Milligan reached Double-A last year, and the infielder/outfielder slashed a solid .296/.397/.381 with two homers and 21 stolen bases in 22 attempts. The 24-year-old will likely report to Triple-A Gwinnett, and could be an option for Atlanta if he replicates those numbers in the International League.

MARCH 14, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Adeiny Hechavarría - Reassigned to minor-league camp Atlanta reassigned Hechavarria to minor-league camp Tuesday.

Impact Hechavarria hasn't played affiliated ball since 2020 and logged just one hit over 11 at-bats this spring. He will most likely begin the season in Triple-A Gwinnett as he continues to knock the rust off.

MARCH 14, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Justin Dean - Reassigned to minors Dean was reassigned Tuesday to minor-league camp by Atlanta.

Impact Dean did not perform well in 2022 over 97 MiLB games, with a .229/.328/.323 slash over 328 plate appearances with Double-A Mississippi and Triple-A Gwinnett. The 26-year-old will likely play all three outfield spots at the upper levels again in 2023.

MARCH 14, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Joe Dunand - Sent to minor-league camp Dunand was reassigned Tuesday to minor-league camp by Atlanta.

Impact Dunand will likely be a lineup option for Triple-A Gwinnett to begin 2023. The 51st pick of the 2017 draft hit just .214/.313/.342 in 90 games with Gwinnett and Triple-A Jacksonville before being claimed off waivers from the Marlins.

MARCH 14, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Drake Baldwin - Shifted to minors camp Baldwin was reassigned to Atlanta's minor-league camp Tuesday.

Impact The 2022 third-round draft selection slashed .247/.396/.284 across 101 plate appearances last season. The 21-year-old backstop will likely remain in Single-A to begin 2023.

MARCH 14, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Brian Moran - Reassigned to minor-league camp Atlanta reassigned Moran to minor-league camp Tuesday.

Impact Moran spent almost all of last season in Triple-A, where he put up a 3.10 ERA and 1.07 WHIP through 98.2 innings. He will almost certainly return to Triple-A ball to begin 2023 and could see a bit of time in the majors if Atlanta's depth is ever tested during the season.

MARCH 14, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Braves option Ian Anderson, Bryce Elder to Triple-A Gwinnett CLEARWATER, Fla. — The Braves’ fifth-starter competition underwent a significant development Tuesday. It’s down to two surprise candidates.

MARCH 14, 2023 • AJC.COM

David O'Brien: The Braves optioned Ian Anderson and Bryce... - The Athletic The Braves optioned Ian Anderson and Bryce Elder to Triple A, leaving lefty prospects Jared Shuster and Dylan Dodd to compete for 5th starte...

MARCH 14, 2023 • THEATHLETIC.COM

David O'Brien: Worth mentioning re: Braves' Ian Anderson &... - The Athletic Worth mentioning re: Braves' Ian Anderson & Bryce Elder being optioned, leaving prospects Dylan Dodd & Jared Shuster to compete for 5th star...

MARCH 14, 2023 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Braves option RHPs Ian Anderson, Bryce Elder to Triple-A

The Atlanta Braves have optioned right-handed pitchers Ian Anderson and Bryce Elder to Triple-A Gwinnett

MARCH 14, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Dylan Dodd - Battling for final rotation spot Dodd is one of the finalists to be the fifth starter for Atlanta to open the 2023 season, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.

Impact Dodd appears to be one of the final two options for Atlanta to open as the fifth starter after Atlanta sent down both Ian Anderson and Bryce Elder. The left-hander has impressed this spring with an 11:0 K:BB and 0.00 ERA over 8.1 innings in three appearances, and registered a 3.36 ERA over 142 innings at three different levels in 2022. Dodd may not win the job over Shuster to open the year, but there's every reason to believe he'll make starts for Atlanta before 2023 comes to a conclusion if he doesn't.

MARCH 14, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Jared Shuster - Good chance to be fifth starter Shuster is one of the final arms competing for the final spot in the Atlanta rotation, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.

Impact Atlanta surprisingly optioned both Ian Anderson and Bryce Elder to minor-league camp Tuesday, so what was once a cloudy race for the final spot has emerged to the final two: Shuster and fellow left-handed prospect Dylan Dodd. In three Grapefruit League appearances, Shuster has allowed just one run in 8.2 innings for a 1.04 ERA, and he's also posted a healthy 9:1 K:BB ratio. This could come down to the final days of spring training, but Shuster has a great chance to get the ball for Atlanta on against the Cardinals for their fifth game.

MARCH 14, 2023 • ROTOWIRE