The Braves have given Walt Weiss plenty to like in his first season running the club. He’s tried different things, handled the spotlight well, and appears to have the full backing of the organization. Just as important, Atlanta has climbed well beyond last year’s disaster, which ought to keep Weiss safe.
But the offense keeps dragging the conversation back to a familiar and frustrating place.
Atlanta’s lineup finished with a 101 wRC+ last season, a number that was merely average. This year, despite the team’s much better record, the offense has slipped to a 98 wRC+. That kind of drop is hard to brush aside, especially when the same issues keep showing up.
Some of that regression belongs to the hitters themselves. Injuries have played a part, and several core bats have fallen off.
Ronald Acuña Jr., Austin Riley, and Ozzie Albies have all seen their production dip. At the same time, there’s not much evidence that hitting coach Tim Hyers has sparked real improvement across the group.
That’s the uncomfortable part for Atlanta. Baseball doesn’t work like football, where coaches are scripting and calling the action every snap.
Hitting coaches have a narrower lane: prep work, communication, and helping shape the plan before and during games. They’re not out there taking the at-bats.
Still, since Hyers replaced Kevin Seitzer, it’s fair to ask which Braves hitter has clearly taken a step forward. Injuries explain some of the decline, but you’d expect at least one of those established names to rebound if the messaging was landing.
Matt Olson has had stretches that look close to his usual level, but even that is not a clean success story. Beyond Michael Harris II, who was abysmal last year, there just haven’t been many obvious wins on offense.
Maybe the bigger issue is that the old idea of a hitting coach driving a lineup’s results just doesn’t carry the same weight anymore. Maybe Atlanta needs a broader overhaul in how it builds and prepares its offense. What’s happening now clearly isn’t working.
The hitters deserve their share of the blame, and adding better bats at key spots would help the most. But the longer this pattern continues, the harder it is to avoid the conclusion that Hyers may not be the one to get the Braves’ offense pointed in the right direction.
In Other News...
Tyler Mahle Just Forced A Braves Decision They Didn't Expect
Tyler Mahle arrived at the trade deadline as rotation depth, the kind of move the Braves hoped would steady things without becoming a headline. Instead, he has done more than fill innings. In his first 23.2 innings with Atlanta, Mahle has turned in a 1.52 ERA, a 3.00 FIP, 23 strikeouts and just five walks, giving the club the sort of unexpected boost that can quickly change how a front office views a deadline pickup.
What now makes him more than a short-term patch is the way he has fit into the picture as Atlanta looks ahead to the coming offseason and the uncertainty around collective bargaining agreement negotiations. Retaining Mahle beyond this season was never supposed to be the point, but his early work has at least forced the Braves to consider whether a useful depth add has become something closer to a priority. [Read more 🡒]
Braves Danny Young Gamble Leaves His Future In Doubt
Danny Youngs season with the Braves has taken another turn, with the left-hander outrighted to Triple-A Gwinnett after clearing waivers. Young had been designated for assignment earlier, and while he retains the right to refuse the assignment and test free agency, he has opted to stay in the organization for now. For Atlanta, it is another reminder of how quickly a pitchers job can change once the roster squeeze begins.
Young returned this year after recovering from Tommy John surgery and made 16 appearances for the Braves, but his control issues put him on shaky ground. The move keeps him in the system and gives him a chance to work his way back, yet it also leaves his longer-term future unsettled as he tries to reestablish himself in the minors. [Read more 🡒]
Braves Shortstop Problem Just Got Harder To Ignore
The Braves have kept tinkering at shortstop, and the latest roster move only underscored how unsettled the position remains. Rookie infielder Jim Jarvis was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett, while outfielder Brewer Hicklen stayed on the active roster as the 27th man for a recent game, a small transaction on paper that still speaks to how Atlanta is sorting through its infield picture.
Mauricio Dubn is effectively handling the everyday shortstop duties, but the depth chart behind him has not settled into anything close to a clean solution. Ha-Seong Kim has seen limited starts since returning from injury and has gone through a prolonged hitless stretch, leaving the Braves to keep adjusting on the fly as they try to find steadier production at a spot that has become harder to ignore. [Read more 🡒]