Wishes for the 2023 Atlanta Braves

The last time I tried this, it was in 2020 just as the pandemic was about to shut down spring training and delay the 2020 season by months. I’m sure the post had nothing to do with it though, so let’s try again!

A few days ago I asked readers on Twitter and Facebook to express their wishes for players on the 2023 Braves. I asked them to exclude variations on “stay healthy”, so with that as a given, here’s some of the best wishes and my thoughts.

Ozzie Albies

A more discerning eye for Albies, leading to more walks and better OBP

– M. Dilday

Ozzie learns to have better plate discipline

– R. Lottinger

Ozzie hits left handed like he does right handed

– @JamesATL91

Ozzie has a 30-30 season

– @AndreMcandless

Ozzie Albies hits 15 homers from both sides of the plate

– @ChopCityJason

We all missed Albies last year, but many want him back with better plate discipline this season. Understandable, and him being able to draw a few more walks to at least come closer to his .365 career minor league OBP would be a huge positive to his value. Personally, I’ll be happy just to have him back in the line-up nearly everyday. It’s just a more dynamic line-up with Albies in there, and a better defense as well.

Matt Olson

Dennis Green voice: “Olson is who we thought he was!” He had a bad slump and a lot of Freddie/Olson media last year. But this year it’s alllll Olson and the Chophouse is ’bout to be bombed! 40-50+ bombs

– T. Pittman

Matt Olson hits 50 dingers and thanks his parents (at the close of a World Series win).

– J. Barber

Olson would definitely thank his parents.

Olson’s career high in home runs is 39, set in 2021 with Oakland, so getting to 40 home runs in a season is certainly in reach. Nobody looked better at the plate this spring than Olson, who last year seemed a little dazed at the rapid nature of his joining the Braves and taking over for legend. This year no one looks more relaxed.

Catchers

Travis d’Arnaud competes so well with Sean Murphy that they both go to the All-Star Game, Travis gets the ASG MVP (but Sean’s bat beats him out during the second half); Travis is content with another WS trophy, though.

– J. Barber

There is nothing here I wouldn’t enjoy. I do think d’Arnaud is going to have a strong year, but Murphy is just a ridiculously good addition to this team.

Ronald Acuña

My wish would be that Acuña fixes the launch angle problem that limited his powe output last hear. If he gets that ironed out then he’s a legit 40/40 threat and in the NL MVP conversation.

– M. Brown

Acuña wins World Series MVP

– C. Petty

Acuña wins MVP!

– @BamaCheesehead

The Acuña quadfecta in right field: MVP, Gold Glove, Silver Slugger, Most Improved Player. .290, 44 homers, 44 steals for Hank

– T. Pittman

Expectations are high for Acuña, and they should be. His launch angle “problem” from last year looked to be entirely tied to not having full strength in his knee. That shouldn’t be a problem again.

Michael Harris II

Money Mike 40/40

– D. Carlile

It feels like Braves nation is as confident about their 22-year-old centerfielder as Harris seems to be in himself. Count me among you. Going 40/40 seems more unlikely than Acuña, who came within 3 stolen bases of turning the trick in 2019… but I wouldn’t sneeze at 30/30, a feat only done by a Braves five times (once by Acuña, Dale Murphy, and Henry Aaron, twice by Ron Gant).

Shortstop

I would wish for Orlando Arcia to win the Silver Slugger because how hilarious would that be.

– @TommyHawkBraves

Vaughn Grissom hits for the cycle his first game back up

– @TheflatsChris

Braden Shewmake a top 10% hard hit rate

– @BravesVegeta

All three candidates had great springs but veteran Orlando Arcia ended up with the job and then even got a sparkling new contract extension on Opening Day. But I think most fans, and even the Braves coaches, believe both Grissom and Shewmake will be factors in Atlanta in 2023.

Marcell Ozuna

Ozuna continues his ST hitting

– A. Hutcheson

Honestly, I thought there was at least a 50/50 chance that Ozuna would be released by the end of spring training, but to his credit he put in the work and performed well. He even has reportedly worked on improving his shoulder strength, which has been horrendous since having surgery back in 2017.

Brian Snitker did him a favor when he told the press early on that Ozuna was unequivocally going to make the team. That had to be a relief for Ozuna, and his performance in spring games was very positive afterwards, even as the team also sent a message by making him take the bus to nearly every spring away game.

My wish is that he simply doesn’t embarrass himself and the club off the field ever again and that he’s a better person.

Victor Vodnik

I wish everything would click for Victor Vodnik, because he’d be absolutely disgusting in the pen

– A. Cohen

Vodnik, the number 13 prospect on the most recent OFR Top Prospect List, has long been a favorite around these parts. It was a little frustrating watching him early in camp this year as he was unable to command the fastball consistently, but this was something the improved in his last couple of appearances after he had been reassigned. Maybe he wasn’t putting as much stress on himself. Anyway, Aaron as usual has it exactly right, Vodnik’s stuff is great and if he can put it together the Braves would have yet another weapon out of what is already shaping up to be maybe the best bullpen in the majors.

Ian Anderson

Aqualung returns to postseason form and ‘22 was a bump in the road.

– D. Rogers

Anderson’s release point has been steadily dropping and becoming more inconsistent since he experienced inflammation in August of 2021. Finding a consistent release point and tunnelling the fastball and change-up is key to his success. If he can add a competitive slider to the mix, all the better.

Spencer Strider

Strider Thing, you make my heart sing: 200+ IP and 300 K club

– T. Pittman

This was last done in 2019, when Houston’s Gerrit Cole and Justin Verlander pulled the trick. Now I don’t want to cast aspersions or anything, but it may not have been a coincidence that MLB started cracking down on “sticky stuff” afterwards. Other pitchers who have done this in the Wild Card era include Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez (twice), Hall of Famer Randy Johnson (five times!), would-be Hall of Famer if he wasn’t kind of a terrible person Curt Schilling (three times), will-be Hall of Famers Clayton Kershaw and Max Scherzer, and Chris Sale in that all-to brief period when he looked like the best pitcher in baseball. I won’t say Strider couldn’t pull this off, but his 132 innings pitched last season was nearly double his previous college, summer league, and professional innings pitched combined. He may be a 200-inning guy eventually, but in 2023 seems very unlikely.

Max Scherzer struck out 243 batters in less than 175 innings pitched in 2019. I’d take something like that.

I grant Spencer Strider’s wish of 100 wishes because he’s smart enough to do that.

– T. Poe

Kyle Wright

For Wright to prove last year was no fluke

– @TheBigTripper

Wright’s career turnaround in 2022 was maybe the biggest single reason the Braves were able to win the division, though that’s often overshadowed by the big mid-season developments of Michael Harris’s promotion to Atlanta and Spencer Strider’s move to the rotation.

Max Fried

Max Fried contract extension

– D. Castle

Hey, I’m right there with you. See #7.

Charlie Morton

For Charlie Morton to go back to being a sub-1 HR/9 IP pitcher

– D. Short

I kind of love this one, because it feels like Morton is a huge wild card. If Morton is close to what he’s done in the recent past – under 1 home run per 9 innings, under 3 walks per 9 innings – the whole rotation looks a lot more solid.

Michael Soroka

Mike Soroka comes back and wins 10 games

– A. Sparks

Michael Soroka comes back and is “The Maple Maddux 🍁” that we know he can be.

– G. Weaver

I third the Soroka wish. I hope he returns to form, that would be a huge asset

– P. Summers

Soroka full comeback.

– @heysaraaaaa

Can’t wish for someone to stay healthy? Fine, World Series MVP award for Michael Soroka.

– @MattMan2003

Michael Soroka to have a great year

– @raybatch36

Soroka to pitch at least 100 innings in the big leagues this year

– A. Herbert

I saved the big one for last. Braves fandom really, really wants Michael Soroka to come all the way back from the Achilles tendon tear (x2)/line drive shot off the shin/shoulder inflammation/strained hamstring that has kept off a major league mound since 2020. Part of it of course is that Soroka himself is so affable. Part of it also is that people remember just how good he was in 2019, and how close he seemed to being that dominant homegrown ace that fans had been wanting on for so long. Fortunately for Atlanta, Soroka’s injury seemed to awaken something in Max Fried, who took the mantle of staff ace on his shoulders had has borne it spectacularly.

If I had exactly one wish myself, it would be something along these lines.