Well folks, it’s March. That means regular season games will take place later this month and hopefully we’ll have meaningful games for the next seven months.
But there are still nearly four weeks of Spring Training games left, meaning there is still time for the Atlanta Braves 2026 Opening Day roster to evolve.
On Valentine’s Day we published the first selection of the Spring Training roster. Now that the Braves are weeks into the Grapefruit League, there are a few changes from the initial projection. Part of this is due to subtraction and addition that must be taken into account.
As a reminder, this projection is based on who is currently on the Braves’ 40-man roster or in camp with the team, and assumes everyone is “healthy” when opening day arrives. All usual caveats apply regarding injuries, takeovers and the like.
Second base: Ozzie Albies
Short stop: Mauricio Dubón
Right field: Ronald Acuña, Jr.
Midfielder: Michael Harris II
Left field: Mike Yastrzemski
Designated hitter: Jurickson Profar
Bench: Jonah Heim, Eli White, Jorge Mateo, Kyle Farmer
The only change here is catcher Sandy León, who leaves the original roster in favor of non-roster invitee Kyle Farmer. Farmer, a local product who attended Marist High School and then UGA, turns 36 on August 17 and brings nine years of big-league experience to the Braves. León will likely go to Triple-A to provide depth, but more importantly, to help develop the pitching staff.
Farmer is on the roster thanks to 300 career games at shortstop, more than 200 games at second base, more than 160 appearances at third base — and most importantly for the Braves roster construction — 19 games behind the plate. Although he hasn’t played a game since his 15 starts in 2019, he would be the team’s third catcher and third shortstop and slot into the 26th man spot, allowing Atlanta to use fleet-footed backup shortstop Jorge Mateo as a pinch-runner without risking two key defensive positions if something incredibly fortuitous were to happen.
Wild Cards: Dominic Smith, Luke Williams, Chadwick Tromp, Nacho Alvarez, Jr., Ben Gamel
Big League veteran Dominic Smith was a late addition to the Braves camp as a depth option at first base. If he stays with the organization, he will likely be the latest veteran to provide some insurance for the team at Triple-A should Matt Olson miss time. It seems unlikely he’ll make the Opening Day roster at this point, but things could change if his bat heats up over the next three weeks.
Nacho Alvarez Jr. and Chadwick Tromp are both headed to the World Baseball Classic and have been decamped and transferred, respectively. Both are headed to Gwinnett to get regular playing time as the likely first man-up when the team needs an infielder or catcher. Luke Williams can’t be counted out because he can cover shortstop and pinch run and has proven to be a very effective position player pitcher, which could be important since the Braves are starting the year with thirteen straight games, but it also seems most likely that he will be a Striper when the season starts.
Outfielder Ben Gamel enters the chat, although he would likely only be on the roster if Atlanta needs to replace one of their corner outfielders for Opening Day. He’s also a longtime big-league player who will likely add depth to the Stripers.
Starting Pitchers: Chris Sale, Spencer Strider, Reynaldo Lopez, Grant Holmes, Bryce Elder, Joey Wentz
Bullpen: Raisel Iglesias, Robert Suarez, Dylan Lee, Tyler Kinley, Aaron Bummer, Joel Payamps, James Karinchak
Dylan Dodd was left on the roster last time due to the mistaken belief that he was out of options. With Dodd still left with an option, James Karinchak makes the 26-man roster as he appears to have returned to the form he had when he was an elite reliever for Cleveland before dealing with injuries. If Karinchak makes the roster, it would be his first big league spot since 2023.
This projection continues to maintain the belief that the Braves will open the season with a six-man rotation – more on that below.
Wild Cards: JR Ritchie, Jose Suaréz, Martín Peréz, Hayden Harris, Dylan Dodd
Unfortunately, Hurston Waldrep’s elbow issues will force him to miss at least the first few months of the season, meaning JR Ritchie will be the starting pitcher most likely to find his way onto the Opening Day roster. Ritchie has looked good early in camp and Atlanta could be tempted to bring him north to Atlanta for the regular season – even if the game leaves him with a few starts, as the Braves won’t have an off day until a fortnight into the season.
Martín Perez and Jose Suaréz could both fill the sixth starter/tall man role, but at this point it seems like only injury could do that.
Two weeks into Spring Training and the two pitchers who could potentially force their way onto the Opening Day roster are Dodd and Hayden Harris. Both lefties have been effective in camp thus far, but Harris and his unusual pitch mix landed on a list of top reliever prospects this offseason and has nothing left to prove below the big league level after a spectacular 2025 season in the minors.
Will this new coaching staff believe in Harris enough to give him a chance to prove himself in Atlanta to start the season? Time will tell if Harris continues to have a strong camp.
Barring an injury or trade, both Harris and Dodd should be factors for Atlanta in 2026, but those pesky options could keep them from seeing Opening Day with the Braves if Atlanta chooses to maximize their roster flexibility.
Finally, neither of these first two projections include reliever Ian Hamilton, who is on the 40-man roster and was very effective out of the New York Yankees bullpen a few seasons ago. That wasn’t a mistake, but he could factor into the Opening Day roster, but as of now Joel Payamps retains the final right-handed reliever spot in the bullpen, thanks in part to a $2.5 million commitment through 2026.
Things could change again in two weeks, and hopefully it will only be because of excellent performance and not because of anything negative.
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