2025 MLB Season Recap: Atlanta Braves

The Pitching

The Good

In what was a very tough season for the Braves, it certainly didn’t end bad. Atlanta won 30 games from August 1 onward, as the Braves went 30-13 over the final two months. Much of that had to do with their offense coming together.

Atlanta’s offense in 2025 fell well short in the home run category, compared to 2024. But, it didn’t result to fewer runs. The Braves scored 724 total runs, 20 more than last season.

Matt Olson missed out on another 30-home run season but was one of the hottest hitters over the final few weeks. Over the final two months, Olson tied Nico Hoerner for the fourth-most hits (63) in the league, as well in the top-20 in wOBA (.390). He finished with 29 home runs, 11 of which came over the final third.

Aside from Olson, the Braves’ home run leader, Atlanta had three other 20+ home run hitters: Michael Harris II, Ronald Acuna Jr., and Marcell Ozuna.

Harris II had another back-loaded campaign. After a .551 OPS in the first, the 24-year-old hit 14 home runs and posted a .845 OPS in the second half, largely buoyed by his power. It was another strange year for the former NL Rookie of the Year, who walked just three times over the final two months and chased at outside pitchers north of 43%.

Still, it was another effective season for Harris II, who can change games with his power and defensive prowess.

Acuna Jr., meanwhile, hit 21 home runs in only 95 games. The former NL MVP came off yet another major knee injury in 2025. But this time, Acuna Jr. returned to form far quicker than he did years after his last significant knee injury in 2021.

As for Ozuna, the designated hitter played through a tear in his hip. No, it was far from his best season; his .756 OPS was the lowest he had had since 2022. Nonetheless, Ozuna continued to hit for power in what was a streaky campaign.

Lastly, Jurickson Profar, the Braves’ big add this offseason, was suspended a week into the year for 80 games after a positive PED test. His return in July helped Brian Snitker get creative with lineup construction. Rather than have Acuna Jr. in the leadoff spot, Profar shifted to leadoff work.

What did Profar do over the final two months? Twenty-one extra base hits and a .379 on-base percentage. Not bad at all.

Atlanta’s offense also saw the rise of rookie catcher Drake Baldwin. Baldwin hit .274 with 19 home runs and 39 extra-base hits, all while barely striking out (15.2% K%).

The Bad

Atlanta got back Spencer Strider, who missed most of 2024 after undergoing elbow surgery, this past year. But, he was far from the ace who diced up hitters in 2022 and 2023.

Strider’s 2025 season was…interesting. On paper, it wasn’t anywhere close to what he did pre-elbow surgery. Strider conceded 20 home runs and walked 51 over 125.1 IP. Two seasons ago, the righty gave up 22 home runs and 58 walks over 186.2 innings.

On top of that, Strider’s stuff wasn’t as eye-popping. Yes, Strider had success with the curveball (.156 AVG, 53.7% Whiff%) that he was working on in 2024 before the injury. On the other hand, the arm slot dropped, and Strider’s fastball velocity was down almost two MPH compared to 2023.

Strider’s production drop was one of several major plotlines this season. The big one was injuries.

AJ Smith-Shawver and Grant Holmes both went down to major injuries. Smith-Shavwer had Tommy John surgery, while Holmes — dealing with a partially torn UCL — opted for rehab rather than surgery.

The loss of Holmes ended what was a breakout campaign for the 2014 first-rounder, who didn’t debut in the Majors until 2024. Holmes struck out 123 over 115 innings and ate innings for a team that needed it.

Aside from those two, Chris Sale and Spencer Schwellenbach also missed significant time. And Reynaldo Lopez, thanks to a shoulder injury, pitched in only one game this year.

Those injuries led to the Braves getting creative. Atlanta claimed multiple pitchers off waivers, including Erick Fedde and Cal Quantrill, to replace their injured arms. Ten Braves made at least four starts this year.

As for the offense, the Braves didn’t get much from their middle infield. Ozzie Albies slashed just .240/.306/.365. Nick Allen, meanwhile, was a Gold Glove-caliber defender at short. Allen, though, didn’t hit much at all this year. Eleven extra-base hits, no home runs, and the lowest wOBA (.245) in the league.

The Braves’ third baseman, Austin Riley, missed most of the final third after core surgery.

Early Projected Lineup for 2026

• C: Sean Murphy
• 1B: Matt Olson
• 2B: Ozzie Albies
• 3B: Austin Riley
• SS: Ha-Seong Kim
• OF: Jurickson Profar (LF), Michael Harris II (CF), Ronald Acuna Jr. (RF)
• DH: Drake Baldwin
• SP: Chris Sale, Spencer Strider, Hurston Waldrep, Spencer Schwellenbach, Reynaldo Lopez
• RP: Joe Jimenez, Aaron Bummer, Pierce Johnson, Tyler Kinley, Jhancarlos Lara, Dylan Lee, Daysbel Hernandez, Joey Wentz

The Braves’ offseason could look different depending on certain factors. One, Raisel Iglesias, and Marcel Ozuna are free agents. Two, Atlanta has club options on Chris Sale ($18MM), Ozzie Albies ($7MM), Pierce Johnson ($7MM), and Tyler Kinley ($5.5MM). Even though Albies had a down year, a second baseman at that salary is hard to turn down.

Additionally, Ha-Seong Kim — claimed off waivers late in 2025 — has a player option for 2026 worth $16MM. The safe bet would be on him exercising it, as Kim missed most of the year.

Atlanta saw AJ Smith-Shawver and Grant Holmes go down to season-ending elbow injuries this past year, complicating things for 2026. The Braves don’t have a ton of depth to spare as far as starting pitching is concerned. Although, the mini-breakout of Hurston Waldrep does make him a likely rotation arm for next year.

So, it would make sense for the Braves to add one to pair with Alek Manoah, a project for Atlanta after he was also claimed off waivers.

If the Braves want to get to contender status, though, Atlanta will need things to go right. This is still a very talented roster. But, injuries and circumstances limited them immensely in 2025.