Atlanta Braves Prospect’s Dominant Spring Propels to Roster

Didier Fuentes Could be Effective in the Atlanta Braves’ Bullpen

A starter by trade, Fuentes’s stuff could play up in the bullpen, with his fastball topping out at 98mph. On a 20-80 grade scale for his pitches, his fastball (60) ranks above-average.

Fuentes also complements his arsenal with a slider (average, 50), a curveball (below-average, 45), and a splitter (below-average, 45). Fuentes’s curveball and splitter are a “work in progress,” but his fastball/slider combination should get him by in the bullpen. However, Fuentes has never worked out of the bullpen in his young professional career.

Given all the Braves’ injuries to the starting staff, Fuentes does offer another starter to eat innings. As it stands, the Braves’ rotation will likely be:

1. Left-hander Chris Sale — Opening Day starter

2. Right-hander Spencer Strider

3. Right-hander Grant Holmes

4. Right-hander Reynaldo Lopez

5. Left-hander Martin Perez/right-hander Bryce Elder

Elder struggled this spring — 4.73 ERA and walked five in 13.1 innings — and could be on a short leash. Perez had a 2.84 ERA and struck out 10 in 12.2 innings.

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Also, putting together decent enough springs to make the roster are first baseman Dominic Smith and infielder Kyle Farmer. Smith batted .242 with a .706 OPS, while Farmer hit .400 with a .931 OPS. The Braves officially signed both to one-year split contracts for 2026.

Smith will likely be one of the Braves’ designated hitters after Jurickson Profar officially was suspended. Farmer will be a solid bench bat and could be an option to play shortstop until Ha-Seong Kim returns.