Baseball is a rhythm. You feel it first in the quiet of early February when the North Port air starts to smell less like salt water and more like fresh-cut grass and leather.
Atlanta Braves spring training isn't just a warm-up. Honestly, it’s a high-stakes laboratory where roster spots are won and lost in the humidity of Southwest Florida. If you think the lineup is set in stone just because the names on the back of the jerseys look familiar, you haven't been paying attention to how Alex Anthopoulos operates.
North Port becomes the center of the universe for Braves Country starting February 9th. That is when pitchers and catchers report to CoolToday Park. Full-squad workouts follow on February 15th. It’s a short window to answer some massive questions.
The Pitching Carousel: More Than Just Three Names
Everyone talks about the "Big Three." And why wouldn't they?
Chris Sale is coming off a season where he defied age and physics. Spencer Strider is looking to regain that triple-digit-fastball dominance after a year of rehab and questions. Spencer Schwellenbach has firmly cemented himself as a dude who belongs. That trio is terrifying.
But a rotation isn't three men. It’s a marathon.
The battle for the back end is where things get messy and interesting. Reynaldo López is slated to be stretched out again, but the whispers about a bullpen move never really go away. Then you have Grant Holmes. This guy is essentially pitching for his life in the rotation. He rehabbed a UCL injury without surgery—a gutsy move—and if he doesn't show he can command the zone in February, he’s likely headed back to the pen or worse.
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The Bullpen Depth
- Raisel Iglesias: The undisputed closer.
- Robert Suarez: The new high-leverage weapon.
- Dylan Lee: The lefty bridge.
- Joe Jiménez: The comeback kid (looking to prove that 2025 knee surgery is a memory).
Watch the young arms like Hurston Waldrep. He’s got "Opening Day starter" stuff, but he’s fighting for a seat at a very crowded table.
A New Voice in the Dugout
It feels weird, doesn't it?
For the first time in what feels like forever, Brian Snitker isn't the guy making the daily calls. He's moved into an advisory role, and Walt Weiss has taken the reins. This is probably the biggest storyline that nobody is talking about enough. A manager change ripples through a clubhouse in ways we don't always see on TV.
Weiss has a new staff, too. Jeremy Hefner coming over from the Mets to handle the pitchers is a huge "get." How these guys communicate with the vets—the Matt Olsons and Austin Rileys of the world—will be established in the first two weeks of camp.
The Position Player Shakeup
Marcell Ozuna is gone. That's a lot of home runs and a lot of "Big Bear" energy to replace.
The DH spot is essentially wide open. This is actually a blessing in disguise for a team that struggled with injuries last year. It means we’ll see more of Drake Baldwin and Sean Murphy in the same lineup. Baldwin is the prospect everyone is eyeing; he’s a lefty bat with serious pop.
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The New Faces
- Ha-Seong Kim: The $20 million solution at shortstop. He brings a defensive stability that was sorely lacking.
- Mike Yastrzemski: A veteran outfielder who provides the kind of professional at-bats the Braves love.
- Mauricio Dubón: The Swiss Army knife. He can play everywhere, and in spring, he’ll likely play everywhere.
Ronald Acuña Jr. is the X-factor. He’s healthy. He’s thriving. If he looks like the 2023 version of himself in North Port, the rest of the NL East should be very, very nervous.
Logistics: Getting to North Port
If you're planning to head down, CoolToday Park is a gem, but it’s not Disney World.
Tickets start around $29, which isn't bad for the access you get. The stadium only holds about 8,000 people. It’s intimate. You can actually hear the ball hit the glove.
The first home game is February 22nd against the Minnesota Twins. If you're going, grab a seat near the Superior Pools Tomahawk Tiki Bar in left field. It’s the best spot to soak in the atmosphere while eating a burger that’s probably too big for one human.
2026 Key Dates
- Feb 9: Pitchers & Catchers Report
- Feb 15: First Full-Squad Workout
- Feb 21: First Game (Away @ Tampa Bay)
- Mar 4: Exhibition vs. Team Colombia (World Baseball Classic Prep)
- Mar 21: Spring Breakout (Top prospects vs. Yankees prospects)
- Mar 24: Spring Finale vs. Rays
What Most People Get Wrong About Spring Training
People think the stats matter. They don't.
If Austin Riley goes 0-for-20 in March, nobody cares. He’s working on his timing. What matters are the "fringe" guys. The non-roster invitees.
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Keep an eye on Ian Anderson. He’s been away from the big-league mound for a long time. This spring is his chance to prove he’s still the guy who shoved in the World Series. Or look at Alek Manoah. Anthopoulos loves a project, and Manoah is the ultimate "low risk, high reward" play. If he finds his command in the Florida sun, the Braves just stole a starter for nothing.
Actionable Steps for Fans
If you're following from home or heading to Florida, here is how to actually track the progress of Atlanta Braves spring training without getting lost in the noise:
- Follow the Pitch Counts: Don't look at the ERA. Look at how many pitches a guy like Strider or Sale throws in their first two outings. If they are hitting their marks and staying healthy, that's a win.
- Monitor the DH Rotation: Watch how Walt Weiss uses the DH spot. If he’s rotating Murphy and Baldwin, it tells you they want both bats in the Opening Day lineup.
- Check the "Spring Breakout" Roster: On March 21, the Braves' top prospects play the Yankees' prospects. This is the best look you'll get at the future (specifically guys like Cam Caminiti and JR Ritchie) in a competitive setting.
- Watch the Waiver Wire: Anthopoulos often makes a move in the last week of March. As other teams cut veterans, the Braves usually pounce on a depth piece for the bullpen or bench.
The 2025 season was a grind. 76 wins wasn't the standard. This spring is about resetting that standard and proving that a healthy Braves team is still the class of the division.
Everything starts in North Port. Pack your sunscreen.
Next Steps for Braves Fans:
- Check the official MLB site or the Ballpark app for remaining single-game ticket availability at CoolToday Park.
- Review the 40-man roster moves following the first week of full-squad workouts to see which non-roster invitees are making a push for the bench.