Why Braves Fans Shouldn’t Sweat (or Celebrate) Spring Training Records
Every February, as pitchers and catchers report and the Florida sun starts warming up the fields in North Port, Braves fans get that familiar itch. Baseball’s back. The box scores start rolling in, and suddenly, a 3-1 win over the Marlins in a Grapefruit League game feels like the start of something big - or a 1-7 stretch has folks wondering if the wheels are already wobbling.
But here’s the thing: spring training isn’t built to be a crystal ball. Not for the Braves, not for anyone.
Wins and losses in March don’t always line up with what happens when the games actually count. And if history tells us anything, it’s that Atlanta’s spring record is more of a fun footnote than a reliable forecast.
A Look Back: Spring Records vs. Regular Season Reality
Let’s rewind to 2021. The Braves went 15-13 in spring training - a perfectly average showing.
Then came a regular season full of injuries, lineup shuffling, and uncertainty. But we all know how that story ended: with a parade and a World Series trophy.
That spring record? It didn’t hint at the chaos or the championship to come.
Now contrast that with 2016. Atlanta stumbled to a brutal 5-20 spring, and unfortunately, that one did carry over - they finished the regular season 68-93.
But before you start thinking there’s a pattern, let’s throw in 2009. The Braves were red-hot that spring, going 21-12.
A sign of dominance ahead? Not quite.
The regular season saw them finish 86-76, good for third in the NL East and no playoff berth.
Since 2009, the Braves have gone 272-295 in spring training. That’s a solid sample size, and it tells a pretty clear story: there’s no consistent link between March results and October dreams.
Why Spring Training Is Its Own Animal
Part of the reason spring records are so unpredictable is that teams - including the Braves - use this time for very different goals than just winning games. For some players, it’s about shaking off rust.
For others, it’s about making a case for a roster spot. And for the coaching staff, it’s about managing workloads, evaluating talent, and avoiding unnecessary injuries.
Take this spring, for example. One of the big storylines will be the health of arms like Grant Holmes.
The team wants to know how he’s bouncing back, and that means giving him innings - even if he’s not in midseason form. Then there are new faces like Mauricio Dubón and Robert Suarez.
Spring is when the Braves will get their first real look at how those pieces fit into the puzzle.
And don’t forget the prospects. Spring training is often a showcase for the next wave of talent.
The Braves might give extended run to some of their top minor leaguers just to see how close they are to being big-league ready. That’s great for development - but it doesn’t always translate to wins on the scoreboard.
The Bottom Line
It’s always more fun to win than to lose, even in spring. No one’s saying fans shouldn’t enjoy a walk-off in March or get excited when a young pitcher carves up a veteran lineup. But when it comes to predicting how the Braves will fare in the regular season, spring training records are more noise than signal.
So as the games get underway, keep your eyes on the stories that do matter - like how the rotation is shaping up, how the bullpen arms are progressing, and how the new guys are meshing with the core. Those are the things that will carry weight when the standings start to count.
In the meantime, enjoy the sunshine, the sound of the bat, and the return of Braves baseball. Just don’t let a 10-5 start (or a 5-10 stumble) fool you - the real season starts in April.