Atlanta Braves Spring Training: 5 Players with the Most to Prove Before Opening

At the moment, the Atlanta Braves aren’t looking so hot. Thus far, Spring Training has been ugly for the Braves. At 2-11, they have the worst record in the majors this spring.

Hardly anyone is hitting, and the Braves are struggling to score runs. With 21 spring games left, the Braves need to turn it around, and fast.

In 2011, the Braves were hot and cold during the spring and more on the cold side going into Opening Day.

The regular season got off to a slow start for the Braves. They finished April two games below .500, but they started to heat up, winning six in a row to start May. They went into the summer with 1.5 game lead in the NL Wild Card standings.

The Braves had an excellent summer, going a combined 50-29 in June, July and August, but that gave way to a September collapse that saw the Braves give up a 7.5-game lead in the NL Wild Card standings by losing 18 of their last 27 games.

In a perfect world, the Braves would turn a win against the Nationals into a winning streak and end the spring over .500. Though it’s possible, it’s unlikely.

They are adding new players to the lineup by alternating rookies at shortstop, so growing pains are to be expected. They have new pitchers competing for a spot in the rotation; they’re going to give up some runs.

Things are going to happen; it’s Spring Training, but 2-11 is miserable. From here, finishing 17-16 or better would show that the Braves are getting to where they need to be.

It is up to the entire team to prove they can turn around the start to this season, but here are five Braves who have even more to prove this spring. 

Jason Heyward

Jason Heyward was a star in the making back when he made his debut in 2010. Heyward was supposed to be a godsend for the Braves and he had a solid rookie campaign, hitting .277 with 18 home runs and 72 RBI.

After all of the hype from his rookie season, he failed to live up to expectations last year. He had a disappointing 2011 season, hitting .227 with 14 home runs and 42 RBI. Some of that decline can be attributed to a shoulder injury that kept him out of the lineup and forced him to alter his swing.

Heyward is coming off the dreaded sophomore slump. He is dropping weight for the 2012 season (from 256lbs. to 235lbs.) coming into the spring in better shape.

In 11 games this spring, Heyward is a lackluster 6-for-34 (.176).

Heyward is supposed to be a franchise player. He needs to step up and show that he can be a leader for the Braves.

All stats are courtesy of Braves.com

Martin Prado

The Braves considered dealing Martin Prado during the winter. If he doesn’t produce early in the season, the Braves may look to move him before the All-Star break.

Prado has been solid with a .293 career average with 42 home runs and 216 RB, but his 2011 season was shortened because of a staph infection.

Now that he should be fully healed, Prado will be expected to immediately return to form. This spring, Prado is hitting .367 with 11 hits in 30 at bats.

Over the years, Prado has proven to be a reliable hitter. The Braves will need solid production out of him at the top of the order so the big bats of Chipper Jones, Brian McCann and Dan Uggla can knock in runs.

All stats are courtesy of Braves.com

Tyler Pastornicky

Tyler Pastornicky is expected to start at shortstop on Opening Day, but thus far he has struggled in Spring Training on going 3-for-33 at the plate. 

If Pastornicky continues to struggle, he may lose his projected starting spot to veteran Jack Wilson. Wilson is expected to serve as Pastornicky’s backup and a mentor to the young shortstop.

Pastornicky made arrangements to stay with Wilson for a few weeks before Spring Training and workout.

Pastornicky had an excellent Minor League season last year, hitting .314 in 117 combined games with the AA Mississippi Braves and AAA Gwinnett Braves. In 2011, he hit seven homers and had 45 RBI, but it remains unclear if his swing will translate to the Majors.

Pastornicky was less spectacular in the field. He committed 26 errors and had a .942 fielding average.

Pastornicky will have to get his bat going, and improve his fielding through the rest of Spring Training to keep his starting spot, because at the moment, it is certainly up for grabs.

All stats are courtesy of Braves.com

Mike Minor

Mike Minor is the likely candidate to jump into the starting rotation in a spot previously held by perennial starter Derek Lowe.

Minor is 8-5 in two years as a Braves relief pitcher with a 4.74 ERA, 120 strikeouts and 41 walks. He is a decent strikeout pitcher, averaging just over six a game in the Minors, and five a game since he’s been in the Majors.

Thus far into Spring Training, Braves opponents have been held scoreless for the five innings Minor has pitched in his first two outings. Minor has looked sharp, striking out batters and pitching his way out of trouble.

He is well on his way to proving he will be a suitable (and cheaper) replacement for Lowe in the rotation. 

All stats are courtesy of Braves.com

Brian McCann

With Chipper Jones nearing the end of his career, the team will need a leader to step up, and McCann is the senior member of the Braves roster.

Jason Heyward is still years away from assuming this role, if ever. This has to be the year that McCann makes this his team.

McCann is an excellent hitter. He has a .286 career average with 136 home runs and 537 RBI averaging 25 home runs and 99 RBI a season. There is more to the game than just swinging the lumber.

With that being said, McCann hasn’t exactly been the best defensive catcher in the league. In fact, McCann has finished the season as a league leader in every defensive stat you don’t want to lead in as a catcher (errors, steals allowed and passed balls).

Over the last two seasons, McCann has allowed the most stolen bases of any catcher (2010: 84, 2011: 104), though in 2010 he threw out the most base runners (36) as well.

McCann will have to stop opposing teams from running at will if the Braves want to keep runners out of scoring position.

So far this spring, McCann is 5-for-21 in seven games. Hopefully his bat will continue to come around, and he’ll be hitting near .300 by opening day.

All stats are courtesy of Braves.com