The Atlanta Braves’ quiet offseason has placed general manager Alex Anthopoulos under increased scrutiny.
His response to critics of the team’s lack of aggressive moves is straightforward: the Braves are getting back an MVP candidate in Ronald Acuña Jr. and a Cy Young candidate in Spencer Strider, both of whom dealt with injuries last season. While this is a valid point, the Braves watched as key players like Juan Soto (Mets), Jesus Luzardo (Phillies), and Blake Snell (Dodgers) joined new teams—moves that weren’t ideal for Atlanta’s aspirations.
The Braves also lost two significant pitchers in Max Fried and Charlie Morton. Fried, a perennial All-Star and one of the top left-handed pitchers in MLB, was always likely to leave, as Anthopoulos doesn’t typically overpay. However, Fried was a homegrown All-Star with a World Series title, and letting him walk without attempting to replace him felt like a missed opportunity. The Braves are built to contend now, so standing still doesn’t make sense.
That being said, what if the Braves can replace Fried from within? It seems that’s what Anthopoulos is hoping for. The Braves have been having this conversation for a few years now, with the expectation that one of their promising minor league pitchers will eventually break through. Spencer Schwellenbach showed promise last season, and now the Braves are hoping another young talent will step up.
Enter Bryce Elder, who made a strong impression in his spring training debut for Atlanta.
Bryce Elder is emerging as a strong candidate to replace Max Fried in the Braves’ rotation during spring training.
Atlanta boasts an impressive number of young pitchers who are “almost ready,” including Ian Anderson, A.J. Smith-Shawver, and Hurston Waldrep. While the Braves would love to rely on them, many aren’t quite ready for a full-time role just yet.
Elder, however, stands out as the most promising of the bunch. He earned an All-Star selection in 2023, but his production took a sharp downturn later in the season. He finished with a solid 3.81 ERA and 128 strikeouts in 31 starts, which gave Atlanta confidence that it had a reliable fifth starter for the future. Unfortunately, in 2024, Elder struggled to recover from his late-season slump, posting a disappointing 6.52 ERA in 10 starts.
This has shaken fan confidence in Elder, but at just 25 years old, he’s still young. It’s common for pitchers to experience growing pains before finding their rhythm in the majors. His strong All-Star first half of 2023 is still a reminder of his potential, and his spring training debut shows early signs of progress. In Saturday’s game, Elder allowed just one hit, struck out two, and kept a clean sheet over two innings.
While it’s too early to get carried away with expectations after just two innings, Elder remains the most likely candidate for a quick promotion within the Braves’ system. In 2023, he generated a lot of soft contact and kept the ball on the ground, showing there’s still potential in his game. While the Braves should remain open to external upgrades, if Elder finally delivers on his promise, Alex Anthopoulos might not face as much scrutiny at his press conferences.
