1. Austin Riley: After a breakout 2023, Riley’s production dipped significantly. His batting average dropped, and his once-consistent power became sporadic, leaving the Braves without the middle-of-the-order threat they’ve relied on.
2. Marcell Ozuna: Despite moments of brilliance, Ozuna’s inconsistency has plagued the lineup. His streaky hitting, combined with defensive struggles, made him a liability in key situations.
3. Kyle Wright: Expected to anchor the rotation, Wright’s season was derailed by injuries and underperformance. His ERA ballooned, and he struggled to find the form that once made him a Cy Young candidate.
4. A.J. Minter: The once-reliable left-handed reliever saw a sharp decline in effectiveness, leading to multiple blown saves and lost leads in tight games.
5. Michael Soroka: Though Soroka made a heroic comeback from multiple injuries, his velocity and command were noticeably off. He struggled to regain his pre-injury dominance, leading to inconsistent outings.
6. Sean Murphy: While his defense remained solid, Murphy’s bat cooled off significantly in the second half of the season, disappointing fans after a strong start.T
hese struggles played a role in the Braves’ underwhelming 2024 campaign.
