Opening Day for Major League Baseball is quickly approaching. The Atlanta Braves will begin their season on April 3 against the New York Mets. There is a growing sense of anticipation regarding the current Braves team. The rotation has been revamped through the signings of Bartolo Colon and R.A. Dickey, while the team returns players at some key positions. Here is a breakdown of how Atlanta’s outfield should look come Opening Day.
Atlanta Braves Position Preview: Outfield
Centerfield
Ender Inciarte is the key to Atlanta’s defense in the outfield and a table setter offensively. Inciarte had a nice bounce back from an early hamstring injury in 2016. He hit .291/.351/.381 with 85 runs scored, 152 hits, 24 doubles, and seven triples. Inciarte does not display a lot of power, but that is a non-issue for him as a leadoff hitter.
His sparkling defense earned him a Gold Glove award and entrenched him as a fan-favorite moving forward. Inciarte’s 3.8 WAR last season ranked second for a Braves position player, behind Freddie Freeman. The front office rewarded Inciarte with a five-year extension this offseason.
Left Field
A lot will be asked of last year’s midseason acquisition, Matt Kemp. Kemp hit 35 home runs between his time with the Braves and the San Diego Padres. He appeared in 56 games for the Braves last season, and early indications are that Kemp brings a much-needed power bat to Atlanta’s lineup. Kemp posted a .280/.336/.519 triple-slash in Atlanta, with a .855 OPS, 12 home runs, 39 RBI, 35 runs scored, and a 126 OPS+.
The issue with Kemp is that he was simply atrocious on defense last year. Despite his impressive offensive performance, Kemp went on to post a WAR of zero for 2016, thanks in part to a -1.5 dWAR in Atlanta. It is worth noting that Kemp is cutting down his weight this offseason; the hope is that he will display improved mobility on defense.
Right Field
Nick Markakis will be the longest-tenured outfielder in Atlanta this season. He will be entering the third year of a four-year contract, and his time in Atlanta has been a mixed bag. Markakis has certainly been a consistent, serviceable veteran, as he has appeared in 314 games over two seasons. That said, his numbers have not been great. Markakis increased his home run total by 10 last season (from three in 2015 to 13 in 2016), but his OPS+ came in at the league average of 100. His OBP fell 24 points, and he finished with the lowest batting average of his career (.269).
Markakis did manage to post a 1.7 WAR last season, so he can still produce. However, he needs to have a better season for Atlanta to compete for a spot in the postseason.
Reserves
The biggest concern for Atlanta’s outfield has to be the lack of a dedicated fourth outfielder. Mallex Smith was a capable outfielder with strong potential, but he was traded away this offseason. Outfield prospect and organizational Player of the Year Dustin Peterson was competing for a roster spot before a broken hand sidelined him.
Jace Peterson and Chase d’Arnaud will likely be on Atlanta’s bench, and both have the ability to play multiple outfield positions. The issue is that those two players posted OPS+ figures of 94 and 76, respectively. Peterson has displayed the most potential of the two, with seven home runs and a .350 OBP in 115 games last season. Atlanta would still probably feel better with another outfielder moving forward. Two guys getting long looks this spring are Micah Johnson and Emilio Bonifacio. It is also not out of the realm of possibility that the front office may sign a fourth outfielder as the season gets closer.
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