Predicting the Braves Bench
With no blockbuster moves (yet?) to address shortstop or left field, Vaughn Grissom & Eddie Rosario look to be the Opening Day starters; which is fine. Their spots in the starting nine aren’t going to invoke a preseason ticker tape parade from corporate baseball pundits at large, but who cares?
What we do care about is how their starter status affects the bench brigade. The marathon that is an MLB season is about depth & the production drop-off on rest days as much as it is who started for your favorite team on Opening Day. The past few Braves seasons provide some of the best evidence for that reality, that there ever was.
So the bench…right off the top the three names I have are Orlando Arcia, Kevin Pillar, & Sam Hilliard.
Orlando’s spot on this roster is the most secure, by a country mile. He’s basically the ONLY infielder on the roster other than the four starters. He’ll surely serve as a roving dog-out (rotating relief) between shortstop, second base, & third base on rare occasion/if Riley is fatigued at all down the stretch.
Kevin Pillar earning a roster spot as a Spring Training non-roster invitee is made possible by Matzek & Ynoa landing on the 60-day IL by Opening Day. Pillar’s the type of player Anthopoulos loves: experienced guy who adds to the clubhouse vibe that can play multiple positions (corner OF in this instance).
Sam Hilliard will earn the final bench spot, I predict. He brings a left-handed power bat that is a defensive upgrade over Eddie Rosario should he be called upon to pinch-defend in the ninth inning. Luplow could’ve had this spot but he’s currently hurt & Eli White has two options left while Hilliard has none.