At 4-2, the Atlanta Braves are off to a great start for a season that began with some bad luck.
The Braves lost starting pitchers Kris Medlen and Brandon Beachy to season-ending Tommy John surgeries. Another pitcher, Mike Minor, suffered an injury in the offseason that has forced him to miss some time. To replace them, young Atlanta pitchers needed to step up, and that’s exactly what they’ve done.
At age 23, pitcher Julio Teheran has taken the reins as the ace and is off to a good start with a 2.77 ERA after two starts.
The future also looks great for young pitcher Alex Wood. After a standout career at the University of Georgia, Wood has taken on responsibility as the Braves’ second starter. Wood has posted a 1.93 ERA after his first two starts.
But stellar young pitching isn’t the only thing that’s fueling Atlanta this early in the season.
At age 24, Andrelton Simmons has taken Atlanta by surprise after winning a Gold Glove last season. Having arguably the best fielding shortstop in the game never hurts, and Simmons is also hitting well with a .300 average so far this season.
Simmons isn’t the only 24-year-old leading the Braves in 2014. First baseman Freddie Freeman has become a household name in baseball and is now considered an MVP candidate. Freeman is one of the best hitters in the game and signed a big contract for the Braves in the offseason. Freeman is leading the Braves in average, batting .421 through the first six games.
Stud outfielder Jason Heyward is also 24 years old. Heyward is battling leadoff for Atlanta this season and hopes to have similar offensive production as Freeman had in 2013. Heyward, also a Gold Glove winner, is off to a slow start offensively this season, but the Braves don’t expect that to last for long.
With all the young offensive talent in Atlanta, it’s still a pitcher who may be the most impressive. At age 25, Craig Kimbrel is already considered the best closer in baseball. This season, he has already racked up three saves and has yet to give up a run. Kimbrel’s domination has fueled the Braves the past few seasons.
There is no doubt the Atlanta Braves have a bright future. But for the team’s veterans, it’s time for a championship. Fans in Atlanta hope the youthful Braves can get it done in 2014 and lead the team back into the postseason for a run in October. As it shows right now, they definitely have the talent to do so.
