Braves Make Decision on Didier Fuentes’ Future After Elimination

Fuentes finished the regular season with a 7-2 record, a 2.45 ERA and 92 strikeouts across 73⅓ innings. He appeared in 58 games but made only one start, establishing himself primarily as a reliever while remaining a potential rotation option.

The young right-hander also featured in Atlanta’s postseason run, which ended with a 4-1 loss to the Dodgers in Game 4 of the NLDS. Los Angeles won the best-of-five series 3-1, leaving the Braves to turn their attention toward offseason roster decisions.

Anthopoulos also clarified a detail about Fuentes’ pitch repertoire. According to Crosby, the Braves executive said he had asked Fuentes about the pitch that had been identified as a splitter. Fuentes confirmed it was “100% a changeup.” The distinction corrects the pitch’s identification without changing the broader plan for his development.

Fuentes’ starting-pitcher preparation will give Atlanta a chance to assess whether he can handle a larger workload. His 2026 results provide a strong foundation, although the team has not committed to making him a full-time starter.

The Braves’ next step will be determining how their rotation fits together during spring training. For now, Fuentes is expected to prepare as a starter, with the flexibility to return to relief if the team decides that role better suits its needs.