Star Atlanta Braves player Ronald Acuña recently announced his departure due to…
Before all of the position players arrive this week and the Grapefruit League season opens on Saturday, let’s take a look back at some of the early stories that have come out of Braves camp.
Ronald Acuña Jr. shows up with a smile.
It’s possible that you did not get this information from other media outlets. If you’re a Braves fan, though, the current MVP of the National League stated precisely what you wanted to hear.
After the game in Philadelphia, Acuña apologized to the media for not speaking to them about his troubles throughout the National League Division Series. He didn’t have to do it. He also expressed his excitement for the next season. In response to the question of whether he would like to play for the Braves for the rest of his career, he said, “It’s no secret I’d like to be a Brave for life.”
Even though Acuña’s current deal with the Braves has five years remaining, some people misconstrued his request for a new one. There was only one reference of his contract. All he was saying was that he wanted to work for Atlanta as long as he could. But as long as aggregation persists, there’s always a chance for this kind of irritation in the media environment.
Sports fans debating any topic that interests them is quite acceptable. Talking about Acuña’s team-friendly contract, which will pay him $85 million ($17 million annually) over the next five seasons, is okay for supporters. But Acuña showed no signs of discontent when she arrived at camp. Unhappy players almost seldom appear more than three days ahead of their scheduled report time.
Pitchers like Chris Sale have undergone Tommy John surgery in the thousands. Some might have gone through what Sale went through before the 2022 season—a stress fracture in their rib cage—while taking part in live batting practice. In other people, a comebacker has also fractured a finger. And there may have been another pitcher or two who had crushed wrists after falling off a bike.
Without doing any research, though, I can say with confidence that Sale is the only pitcher in baseball history to have these specific experiences with each of these circumstances over the course of four seasons.
But based on your interview with the aggressive and intensely competitive pitcher, it appears like his confidence hasn’t been affected by this unfortunate streak. His innings may be shorter this year, but his effort will not. This is the impression that his opening line in this story should give you.
Decades from now, Braves fans will still be talking about Justice’s home run, Sid’s tumble, and Matzek’s outrageous look. Postseason series or full names will not be mandatory. For as long as the franchise has existed, these will always be among the most unforgettable postseason moments.
Tyler Matzek spoke enthusiastically about possibly getting another chance to shine in October, which was heartening. Tommy John surgery was necessary in 2022 after an injury-plagued season. He was in good health when he got to camp. However, it’s probable that he will make a few rehab appearances in April before returning to the Atlanta bullpen in a formal capacity.
