Braves Country has another Hall of Fame name to watch this offseason.
Former Atlanta Braves owner Ted Turner has been added to the Contemporary Baseball Era ballot for the 2027 class of the Baseball Hall of Fame, joining a field of eight candidates that is loaded with familiar baseball names. The group includes Dusty Baker, Lou Pinella, Bruce Bochy and Bill White, along with Sandy Alderson, Brian Sabean and Joe Maddon.
Turner’s case is tied closely to the way he changed the Braves’ reach during his ownership. He was the driving force behind getting Atlanta on TBS, which put Braves games on cable across the country and helped fuel the “America’s Team” label during that era. He also had a reputation for colorful, unusual behavior as a hands-on owner before later stepping back more and allowing the franchise to grow into the perennial contender it became.
That transformation happened while Turner still owned the club, and the Hall of Fame connection from that period is already strong. Bobby Cox, Chipper Jones, Andruw Jones, Tom Glavine, Greg Maddux and John Smoltz are already in Cooperstown from that Braves run, which makes Turner’s candidacy feel like a natural next step.
If Turner gets in, it would come posthumously, but it would still fit as recognition for one of baseball’s most distinctive and forward-thinking owners. To be elected, a candidate needs 75 percent support from the 16-person panel, and the expectation is that this ballot could produce more than one inductee.
The votes will be revealed on December 6.
In Other News...
Braves Defense Just Earned A National Stamp Of Approval
Matt Olson and Mauricio Dubn gave the Braves a little extra shine on the national awards stage, earning Rawlings Gold Glove honors for their work in the 2026 season. Olson was recognized again at first base, while Dubn was honored for his all-around defensive value as a utility player, a reminder that Atlantas best teams tend to be built on more than just the bats that usually grab the headlines.
The recognition also says something about the way the Braves have been able to stack quality defenders across the roster. It marked the first time a pair of Atlanta players took home Gold Gloves in the same year since 2022, a small but meaningful sign that the clubs defensive reputation is still very much intact. [Read more 🡒]
Braves Enter A Crucial Week As One Young Outfielder Heats Up
The Braves are heading into a pivotal stretch with free agency opening Monday at 5 p.m. EST, and the front office is set to watch several familiar names test the market. Mauricio Dubon, Raisel Iglesias and Tyler Mahle are among the players who will be available, adding another layer of uncertainty to an offseason that already figures to demand some careful roster balancing. There was at least some good news on the awards front, with Matt Olson and Dubon both recently earning Gold Glove recognition.
Amid all that major-league business, one of the organizations younger outfielders is drawing attention in the Arizona Fall League. Isaiah Drake has put together a strong run there, including a week that featured multiple hits and a home run, and it is the kind of performance that can help a prospect keep his name in the conversation as the winter moves along. For a club sorting through both present-day decisions and future depth, that kind of surge is worth noting. [Read more 🡒]
Braves Are Making An Aggressive Push At One Thin Position
The Braves have been busy trying to shore up one of the thinnest spots in their system, and the latest move shows how seriously they view the task. Atlanta added a young catcher from Cuba in international free agency, continuing a broader effort that has already included multiple catchers through the 2023 draft and other international signings as the organization looks to build real depth behind its current catching prospects.
Anthony Calderon is still only 17, but the Braves are clearly betting on the upside in his bat and glove. He brings a reputation for power, hitting ability and defense, and the clubs willingness to commit significant bonus money to him underscores how aggressively it is chasing help at a position that can take years to develop. [Read more 🡒]