Braves' $30M high-velocity arm showing hidden red flags despite lethal 1-2 punch with Chris Sale
This Braves veteran might be flirting with some dangerousness.
Braves' $30M high-velocity arm showing hidden red flags despite lethal 1-2 punch with Chris Sale originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here . The Atlanta Braves pitching staff is looking to make adjustments after a rough 2025 season.
Atlanta hired Walt Weiss as manager, and he brought in Jeremy Hefner as pitching coach. “Braves hired Jeremy Hefner as pitching coach. Hefner, 39, spent past 6 seasons with Mets, who had MLB's 6th-best ERA in that span.
They also hired Antoan Richardson, 42, as 1st-base coach. He spent past 2 seasons in that role with Mets and was also OF & baserunning instructor,” former Braves writer David O’Brien wrote. The Braves’ biggest challenge last season was keeping the rotation healthy, and that issue has started to resurface this spring.
Even the pitchers who are healthy appear to be experiencing a dip in velocity, which is concerning. “I've noticed a lot of Braves starters aren't throwing as hard as usual in spring, even Chris Sale. (Grant Holmes is the exception here).