2012 Atlanta Braves season
Encyclopedia
The 2012 Atlanta Braves
season is the Braves' 16th season of home games at Turner Field
, 47th season in Atlanta, and 137th season of the franchise. After a late season collapse in 2011
kept the Braves from the playoffs, the team is attempting to return to the postseason for the second time in three seasons.
, Braves general manager
Frank Wren
highlighted several important points of interest for the offseason. With most players contractually due to return to the team in 2012, few major changes are likely to be made. One area that may see a major overhaul is the shortstop position, where Alex González has played since the Yunel Escobar
trade with Toronto
in July 2010. González enters the offseason as a free agent. If he proves too expensive for the team, Wren will seek other options on the free agent or trade markets. While center fielder Michael Bourn
will return to his position in 2012, the corner outfield positions are areas of contention. In 2011, the Atlanta outfielders finished the season last in the National League
in on-base plus slugging
and slugging percentage. Wren has stated that right fielder Jason Heyward
and left fielder Martín Prado
have no guarantee of getting the starting jobs in 2012. On the day after they were eliminated in 2011, Wren was quick to state that veteran starter Derek Lowe
was not likely to have a spot in the starting rotation in 2012, due his poor performance in 2011 and a plethora of rookie pitching talent in the Braves farm system. With Lowe guaranteed $15 million in 2012, Wren projected that any of Lowe's salary picked up by another team would significantly assist his efforts to find a shortstop or outfielder.
from playoff contention, Frank Wren
announced that manager Fredi González
and the entire coaching staff from 2011 would return to their respective roles in 2012. The following day, however, after having a meeting with hitting coach Larry Parrish
, Wren announced that Parrish would not return to the coaching staff in 2012. He stated that he would spend this offseason seeking a successor to Parrish. With Parrish's departure, the Braves will now have a third hitting coach in three seasons after removing Terry Pendleton
from the role after the 2010 season
.
October 21: Three weeks after firing Larry Parrish
from his hitting coach duties, the Braves announced that Parrish would be succeeded in 2012 by Greg Walker
, the former hitting coach for the Chicago White Sox
from 2003 to 2011. Walker had stepped down as the White Sox hitting coach immediately following the end of the 2011
season. In the nine seasons Walker served as hitting coach, the White Sox offense ranked third in the Majors in home runs
and seventh in slugging percentage. On the other hand, in 2011 the White Sox offense only ranked eleventh in the American League
in runs
, eighth in average
, and seventh in on-base percentage. In an accompanying move, the Braves hired Scott Fletcher to assist Walker in his duties and to serve as an on-site advance scout.
October 31: Three days following the conclusion of the 2011 World Series
, the Braves began to make some organizational roster moves. In the first trade of the offseason in the Major Leagues, the Braves traded struggling starting pitcher Derek Lowe
to the Cleveland Indians
in return for High-A lefty reliever Chris Jones. In addition, the Indians agreed to pay $5 million of Lowe's guaranteed $15 million salary in 2012. Lowe served as the Atlanta Braves' Opening Day starter in 2009, 2010, and 2011. Due to his struggles in 2011, however, Lowe likely would have merely served in a middle relief role for the bullpen in 2012. On the same day, the Braves announced that they had declined the $10.65 million option for center fielder Nate McLouth
, effectively ending his lackluster tenure as an Atlanta Brave. Additionally, the Braves decided to exercise the $1.5 million option for utility man Eric Hinske
, assuring his return for the 2012 season.
, right-handed pitcher Stephen Marek
, and outfielders Antoan Richardson
and Wilkin Ramírez
to the triple-A affiliate Gwinnett Braves
. In addition, the Braves filled one roster spot with starting pitcher Todd Redmond
, who has spent the previous three seasons pitching for Gwinnett. Accumulating a record of 10–8 with a 2.92 ERA
in 2011, Redmond is unlikely to have playing time with the Major League club due to existing pitching depth.
November 3: With the beginning of free agency season, the Braves were able to remove offseason free agents from the forty-man roster. The free agents for this offseason include shortstop Alex González, infielder Jack Wilson, and veteran relievers Scott Linebrink
and George Sherrill
. In conjunction with the moves made on November 2, Frank Wren
and his staff now have seven roster spots that will be filled with potential offseason acquisitions or prospects they wish to protect from the Rule 5 Draft
.
November 22: The team announced the signing of eleven Minor League free agents and have invited them all to the Major League Spring Training camp. Four of these players spent significant time at the Major League level in 2011, including relief pitchers Adam Russell
and Dusty Hughes
. Russell pitched in 36 games for the Tampa Bay Rays
while Hughes pitched in 15 games for the Minnesota Twins
. Infielder Drew Sutton
batted .315 in 54 at-bats for the Boston Red Sox
and infielder Josh Wilson served as a backup infielder for the Milwaukee Brewers
during the second half of the season. With the Braves in need of a backup infielder who is capable of playing the shortstop position, Sutton and Wilson will compete in Spring Training for a spot on the Major League roster. Other players signed include pitchers Jason Rice
and Yohan Flande, catchers J. C. Boscan
and Jose Yepez
, outfielders Luis Durango
and Jordan Parraz
, and infielder Ernesto Mejia.
November 23: After becoming a free agent following the conclusion to the 2011 season, the Braves decided to decline arbitration to shortstop Alex González. If the team had accepted his arbitration they would have received a compensatory draft pick between the first and second rounds of the 2012 MLB Draft if González signed with another team. The move makes it very clear that González will not return as the starting shortstop in 2012. González will likely receive a multi-year contract on the free agent market, something the Braves are not willing to offer due to rising prospects such as Tyler Pastornicky
and Andrelton Simmons.
in Champion Stadium at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista
. Champion Stadium has been the Braves' Spring Training home in Florida for the past fifteen seasons. Instead of finishing Spring Training with two games at Turner Field
against a Major League team as had been the tradition in previous seasons, the Braves will conclude Spring Training on April 3 at Coolray Field, the regular season home of the Triple-A affiliate Gwinnett Braves
. The Future Stars game will provide an opportunity to highlight upcoming prospects.
†Split-squad game
‡Game played at Coolray Field in Lawrenceville, Georgia
.
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! style="background:#ddf; width:16%;"| Player
! style="background:#ddf; width:9%;"| G
! style="background:#ddf; width:9%;"| AB
! style="background:#ddf; width:9%;"| R
! style="background:#ddf; width:9%;"| H
! style="background:#ddf; width:9%;"| AVG
! style="background:#ddf; width:9%;"| HR
! style="background:#ddf; width:9%;"| RBI
|- style="text-align:center;"
|-
! style="background:#ddf; width:16%;"| Player
! style="background:#ddf; width:9%;"| G
! style="background:#ddf; width:9%;"| IP
! style="background:#ddf; width:9%;"| W
! style="background:#ddf; width:9%;"| L
! style="background:#ddf; width:9%;"| ERA
! style="background:#ddf; width:9%;"| SO
! style="background:#ddf; width:9%;"| WHIP
|}
|-
! style="background:#ddf; width:16%;"| Player
! style="background:#ddf; width:9%;"| G
! style="background:#ddf; width:9%;"| W
! style="background:#ddf; width:9%;"| L
! style="background:#ddf; width:9%;"| SV
! style="background:#ddf; width:9%;"| HLD
! style="background:#ddf; width:9%;"| IP
! style="background:#ddf; width:9%;"| ERA
! style="background:#ddf; width:9%;"| SO
! style="background:#ddf; width:9%;"| WHIP
|- style="text-align:center;"
|}
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
season is the Braves' 16th season of home games at Turner Field
Turner Field
Turner Field is a stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, home to Major League Baseball's Atlanta Braves since 1997. Turner Field was originally built as Centennial Olympic Stadium, it was completed in 1996 to serve as the centerpiece of the 1996 Summer Olympics...
, 47th season in Atlanta, and 137th season of the franchise. After a late season collapse in 2011
2011 Atlanta Braves season
The 2011 Atlanta Braves season was the Braves' 46th season in Atlanta, and the 136th of the franchise. For the first time since the 1990 season, Bobby Cox did not manage the club, having retired following the 2010 season. He was succeeded by Fredi González, the former third-base coach for the...
kept the Braves from the playoffs, the team is attempting to return to the postseason for the second time in three seasons.
Areas of interest
Following the forgettable conclusion to the 2011 season2011 Atlanta Braves season
The 2011 Atlanta Braves season was the Braves' 46th season in Atlanta, and the 136th of the franchise. For the first time since the 1990 season, Bobby Cox did not manage the club, having retired following the 2010 season. He was succeeded by Fredi González, the former third-base coach for the...
, Braves general manager
General manager
General manager is a descriptive term for certain executives in a business operation. It is also a formal title held by some business executives, most commonly in the hospitality industry.-Generic usage:...
Frank Wren
Frank Wren
Franklin E. Wren is an American front office executive in Major League Baseball. Since the end of the baseball season, he has been the general manager of the Atlanta Braves....
highlighted several important points of interest for the offseason. With most players contractually due to return to the team in 2012, few major changes are likely to be made. One area that may see a major overhaul is the shortstop position, where Alex González has played since the Yunel Escobar
Yunel Escobar
Yunel Almenares Escobar is a professional baseball shortstop with the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball.-Early life:Escobar was born in Havana, Cuba...
trade with Toronto
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
in July 2010. González enters the offseason as a free agent. If he proves too expensive for the team, Wren will seek other options on the free agent or trade markets. While center fielder Michael Bourn
Michael Bourn
Michael Ray Bourn is a professional baseball outfielder with the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball. He serves as the Atlanta Braves leadoff hitter. He has also been a member of the United States national baseball team....
will return to his position in 2012, the corner outfield positions are areas of contention. In 2011, the Atlanta outfielders finished the season last in the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
in on-base plus slugging
On-base plus slugging
On-base plus slugging is a sabermetric baseball statistic calculated as the sum of a player's on-base percentage and slugging percentage. The ability of a player to both get on base and to hit for power, two important hitting skills, are represented. An OPS of .900 or higher in Major League...
and slugging percentage. Wren has stated that right fielder Jason Heyward
Jason Heyward
Jason Alias Heyward , nicknamed J-Hey and J-Hey-Kid, is a Major League Baseball right fielder for the Atlanta Braves. He throws and bats left-handed....
and left fielder Martín Prado
Martín Prado
Martín Manuel Prado is a professional baseball player who currently plays for the Atlanta Braves....
have no guarantee of getting the starting jobs in 2012. On the day after they were eliminated in 2011, Wren was quick to state that veteran starter Derek Lowe
Derek Lowe
Derek Christopher Lowe is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Cleveland Indians. He throws and bats right-handed. He is 6'6" and 230 pounds.-Early years:...
was not likely to have a spot in the starting rotation in 2012, due his poor performance in 2011 and a plethora of rookie pitching talent in the Braves farm system. With Lowe guaranteed $15 million in 2012, Wren projected that any of Lowe's salary picked up by another team would significantly assist his efforts to find a shortstop or outfielder.
September 2011
September 29: On the day following the historic elimination of the 2011 Atlanta Braves2011 Atlanta Braves season
The 2011 Atlanta Braves season was the Braves' 46th season in Atlanta, and the 136th of the franchise. For the first time since the 1990 season, Bobby Cox did not manage the club, having retired following the 2010 season. He was succeeded by Fredi González, the former third-base coach for the...
from playoff contention, Frank Wren
Frank Wren
Franklin E. Wren is an American front office executive in Major League Baseball. Since the end of the baseball season, he has been the general manager of the Atlanta Braves....
announced that manager Fredi González
Fredi González
Fredi Jesus González is the current manager of the Atlanta Braves in Major League Baseball. Gonzalez is also the former manager of the Florida Marlins 2007–2010. For the four years prior to 2007, he was third base coach for the Atlanta Braves.-Biography:Gonzalez grew up in Miami, Florida, where he...
and the entire coaching staff from 2011 would return to their respective roles in 2012. The following day, however, after having a meeting with hitting coach Larry Parrish
Larry Parrish
Larry Alton Parrish is a former Major League Baseball third baseman and right-handed batter who played with the Montreal Expos , Texas Rangers and Boston Red Sox...
, Wren announced that Parrish would not return to the coaching staff in 2012. He stated that he would spend this offseason seeking a successor to Parrish. With Parrish's departure, the Braves will now have a third hitting coach in three seasons after removing Terry Pendleton
Terry Pendleton
Terry Lee Pendleton is a former third baseman in Major League Baseball, and a former hitting coach and current first base coach of the Atlanta Braves. He played primarily for the St. Louis Cardinals and Atlanta Braves, but he also spent time with the Florida Marlins, Cincinnati Reds, and Kansas...
from the role after the 2010 season
2010 Atlanta Braves season
The 2010 Atlanta Braves Season featured the Braves' attempt to reclaim a postseason berth for the first time since 2005. The Braves once again were skippered by Bobby Cox, in his 25th and final season managing the team. It was their 45th season in Atlanta, and the 135th of the franchise...
.
October 2011
October 21: Three weeks after firing Larry Parrish
Larry Parrish
Larry Alton Parrish is a former Major League Baseball third baseman and right-handed batter who played with the Montreal Expos , Texas Rangers and Boston Red Sox...
from his hitting coach duties, the Braves announced that Parrish would be succeeded in 2012 by Greg Walker
Greg Walker
Gregory Lee Walker is a former power-hitting first baseman in Major League Baseball and the former hitting coach of the Chicago White Sox, the team for which he played all but the last 14 games of his career. As a player for 9 years, Walker hit 113 home runs and drove in 444 runs, while scoring...
, the former hitting coach for the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
from 2003 to 2011. Walker had stepped down as the White Sox hitting coach immediately following the end of the 2011
2011 Chicago White Sox season
The 2011 Chicago White Sox season was the club's 112th season in Chicago and 111th in the American League. The 2011 White Sox schedule was revealed at 7:00 pm CT on September 14, 2010 along with every other team in Major League Baseball.-Offseason:...
season. In the nine seasons Walker served as hitting coach, the White Sox offense ranked third in the Majors in home runs
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
and seventh in slugging percentage. On the other hand, in 2011 the White Sox offense only ranked eleventh in the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
in runs
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
, eighth in average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
, and seventh in on-base percentage. In an accompanying move, the Braves hired Scott Fletcher to assist Walker in his duties and to serve as an on-site advance scout.
October 31: Three days following the conclusion of the 2011 World Series
2011 World Series
The 2011 World Series was the 107th edition of Major League Baseball's championship series. The best-of-seven playoff was played between the American League champion Texas Rangers and the National League champion St...
, the Braves began to make some organizational roster moves. In the first trade of the offseason in the Major Leagues, the Braves traded struggling starting pitcher Derek Lowe
Derek Lowe
Derek Christopher Lowe is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Cleveland Indians. He throws and bats right-handed. He is 6'6" and 230 pounds.-Early years:...
to the Cleveland Indians
2012 Cleveland Indians season
The 2012 Cleveland Indians season marks the 112th season for the franchise. The team will play all of its home games at Progressive Field, which will be in its 19th season, starting with a series against the Toronto Blue Jays.-Game log:...
in return for High-A lefty reliever Chris Jones. In addition, the Indians agreed to pay $5 million of Lowe's guaranteed $15 million salary in 2012. Lowe served as the Atlanta Braves' Opening Day starter in 2009, 2010, and 2011. Due to his struggles in 2011, however, Lowe likely would have merely served in a middle relief role for the bullpen in 2012. On the same day, the Braves announced that they had declined the $10.65 million option for center fielder Nate McLouth
Nate McLouth
Nathan Richard McLouth is a Major League Baseball player. Primarily a center fielder, McLouth bats from the left side and throws from the right. He is 5' 11" tall and weighs 185 pounds...
, effectively ending his lackluster tenure as an Atlanta Brave. Additionally, the Braves decided to exercise the $1.5 million option for utility man Eric Hinske
Eric Hinske
Eric Scott Hinske is a Major League Baseball outfielder, first baseman, and third baseman currently an Atlanta Braves organization...
, assuring his return for the 2012 season.
November 2011
November 2: The Braves announced several internal roster moves that allowed for additional space on the forty-man roster. After spending the month of September 2011 with the Major League club, the team outrighted catcher J. C. BoscánJ. C. Boscan
Jean Carlos "J.C." Boscan is a right-handed Major League Baseball catcher who is currently a free agent...
, right-handed pitcher Stephen Marek
Stephen Marek
Stephen Andrew Marek is a right-handed pitcher who was once on the Atlanta Braves 40 man roster.Marek attended McNeil High School and San Jacinto College....
, and outfielders Antoan Richardson
Antoan Richardson
Antoan Edward Richardson is a Major League Baseball outfielder and is currently a free agent.-Professional career:Richardson was drafted in the 2001, 2002, 2004 and 2005 Major League Baseball Drafts. The San Francisco Giants signed him after they took him in the 2005 Draft, and he played in the...
and Wilkin Ramírez
Wilkin Ramírez
Wilkin Emilio Ramírez is Dominican professional baseball outfielder for the Minnesota Twins of Major League Baseball.-Minor Leagues:...
to the triple-A affiliate Gwinnett Braves
Gwinnett Braves
The Gwinnett Braves are a minor league baseball team in the International League, the Triple-A affiliate of the major league Atlanta Braves. The team was previously the Richmond Braves for 43 seasons . On January 14, 2008, it was announced that the Richmond Braves would move from Richmond,...
. In addition, the Braves filled one roster spot with starting pitcher Todd Redmond
Todd Redmond
Todd Richard Redmond is a right-handed pitcher in the Atlanta Braves organization.Redmond was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 39th round of the 2004 MLB Draft. Prior to the 2008 season, he was traded to the Braves for Tyler Yates.Redmond threw a no-hitter against the Louisville Bats on...
, who has spent the previous three seasons pitching for Gwinnett. Accumulating a record of 10–8 with a 2.92 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
in 2011, Redmond is unlikely to have playing time with the Major League club due to existing pitching depth.
November 3: With the beginning of free agency season, the Braves were able to remove offseason free agents from the forty-man roster. The free agents for this offseason include shortstop Alex González, infielder Jack Wilson, and veteran relievers Scott Linebrink
Scott Linebrink
Scott Cameron Linebrink is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher, who is a free agent. He attended Texas State University.-Career:...
and George Sherrill
George Sherrill
George Friederich Sherrill , also known as "The Brim Reaper", "Flat Breezy", and "Duckbill" , is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher, who is a free agent-College and independent baseball:Sherrill was not drafted after graduating from Austin Peay State...
. In conjunction with the moves made on November 2, Frank Wren
Frank Wren
Franklin E. Wren is an American front office executive in Major League Baseball. Since the end of the baseball season, he has been the general manager of the Atlanta Braves....
and his staff now have seven roster spots that will be filled with potential offseason acquisitions or prospects they wish to protect from the Rule 5 Draft
Rule 5 draft
The Rule 5 draft is a Major League Baseball player draft that occurs each year in December, at the annual Winter Meeting of general managers. The Rule 5 draft aims to prevent teams from stockpiling too many young players on their minor league affiliate teams when other teams would be willing to...
.
November 22: The team announced the signing of eleven Minor League free agents and have invited them all to the Major League Spring Training camp. Four of these players spent significant time at the Major League level in 2011, including relief pitchers Adam Russell
Adam Russell
Adam W. Russell is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball.In , Russell was selected by the Chicago White Sox in the sixth round as the 179th overall pick....
and Dusty Hughes
Dusty Hughes (baseball)
Dustin Robert "Dusty" Hughes is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball. On September 6, 2009 Hughes made his Major League debut against the Los Angeles Angels...
. Russell pitched in 36 games for the Tampa Bay Rays
2011 Tampa Bay Rays season
The Tampa Bay Rays 2011 season was the team's 14th season of baseball. Despite starting the season 0-6 and trailing the Boston Red Sox by 9 games as late in the season as September 1, the Rays captured the AL Wild Card and made consecutive playoff appearances for the first time in franchise history...
while Hughes pitched in 15 games for the Minnesota Twins
2011 Minnesota Twins season
The Minnesota Twins season was the 51st season for the franchise in Minnesota, and the 111th overall in the American League. The team drew 3,168,107 fans during the year...
. Infielder Drew Sutton
Drew Sutton
Stephen Drew Sutton is an American professional baseball infielder and outfielder for the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball....
batted .315 in 54 at-bats for the Boston Red Sox
2011 Boston Red Sox season
The Boston Red Sox 2011 season was the 111th in the team's history. The Red Sox opened their 2011 season playing away from Fenway Park against the Texas Rangers. Breaking from the traditional opening day of Sunday or Monday, Major League Baseball opened in 2011 on a Thursday, March 31, and the Red...
and infielder Josh Wilson served as a backup infielder for the Milwaukee Brewers
2011 Milwaukee Brewers season
The Milwaukee Brewers' 2011 season was their 42nd season for the franchise in Milwaukee, the 14th in the National League, and 43rd overall. The Brewers posted a franchise-best record of 96-66, winning their first-ever National League Central Division title...
during the second half of the season. With the Braves in need of a backup infielder who is capable of playing the shortstop position, Sutton and Wilson will compete in Spring Training for a spot on the Major League roster. Other players signed include pitchers Jason Rice
Jason Rice
Jason Rice is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball.-Professional career:Rice was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the 11th round of the 2005 Major League Baseball Draft...
and Yohan Flande, catchers J. C. Boscan
J. C. Boscan
Jean Carlos "J.C." Boscan is a right-handed Major League Baseball catcher who is currently a free agent...
and Jose Yepez
José Yépez
Jose Ricardo Yepez is a Venezuelan professional baseball catcher for the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball.He was called up by the Seattle Mariners on June 29, 2011...
, outfielders Luis Durango
Luis Durango
Luis A. Durango is a Panamanian professional baseball outfielder in the Atlanta Braves organization. He has also been a member of the Panama national baseball team....
and Jordan Parraz
Jordan Parraz
Jordan E. Parraz is a minor league baseball outfielder for the Atlanta Braves organization.Parraz attended Community College of Southern Nevada. He was selected by the Houston Astros in the third round of the 2004 amateur entry draft. He was signed June 21, 2004...
, and infielder Ernesto Mejia.
November 23: After becoming a free agent following the conclusion to the 2011 season, the Braves decided to decline arbitration to shortstop Alex González. If the team had accepted his arbitration they would have received a compensatory draft pick between the first and second rounds of the 2012 MLB Draft if González signed with another team. The move makes it very clear that González will not return as the starting shortstop in 2012. González will likely receive a multi-year contract on the free agent market, something the Braves are not willing to offer due to rising prospects such as Tyler Pastornicky
Tyler Pastornicky
Tyler B. Pastornicky is a Major League Baseball shortstop for the Atlanta Braves.-Professional career:Pastornicky was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the fifth round of the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft...
and Andrelton Simmons.
Spring Training
The Braves officially announced their 2012 Spring Training schedule on November 16, 2011. Pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report on February 19 and all other players are due to report by February 24. The 34-game slate will begin on March 3 against the Detroit Tigers2012 Detroit Tigers season
The 2012 Detroit Tigers season will be the team's 112th season. The Tigers will open their season at home against the Boston Red Sox. -Signings:On November 18, 2011, the Tigers signed catcher Gerald Laird to a one-year contract...
in Champion Stadium at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista
Lake Buena Vista, Florida
Lake Buena Vista is a city in Orange County, Florida, United States. It is mostly known for being home to the Walt Disney World Resort. It is one of two Florida municipalities controlled by The Walt Disney Company, the other being Bay Lake....
. Champion Stadium has been the Braves' Spring Training home in Florida for the past fifteen seasons. Instead of finishing Spring Training with two games at Turner Field
Turner Field
Turner Field is a stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, home to Major League Baseball's Atlanta Braves since 1997. Turner Field was originally built as Centennial Olympic Stadium, it was completed in 1996 to serve as the centerpiece of the 1996 Summer Olympics...
against a Major League team as had been the tradition in previous seasons, the Braves will conclude Spring Training on April 3 at Coolray Field, the regular season home of the Triple-A affiliate Gwinnett Braves
Gwinnett Braves
The Gwinnett Braves are a minor league baseball team in the International League, the Triple-A affiliate of the major league Atlanta Braves. The team was previously the Richmond Braves for 43 seasons . On January 14, 2008, it was announced that the Richmond Braves would move from Richmond,...
. The Future Stars game will provide an opportunity to highlight upcoming prospects.
| Legend | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Braves Win | Braves Loss | Braves Tie | Game Cancelled |
| 2012 Spring Training Game Log | |
|---|---|
†Split-squad game
‡Game played at Coolray Field in Lawrenceville, Georgia
Lawrenceville, Georgia
Lawrenceville is a city in and the county seat of Gwinnett County, Georgia, in the United States. The Census Bureau estimates the 2008 population at 29,258...
.
Game log
| Legend | ||
|---|---|---|
| Braves Win | Braves Loss | Game Postponed |
| 2012 Regular Season Game Log | |
|---|---|
Batting
Note: G = Games played; AB = At Bats; R = Runs scored; H = Hits; AVG = Batting average; HR = Home Runs; RBI = Runs Batted In{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! style="background:#ddf; width:16%;"| Player
! style="background:#ddf; width:9%;"| G
! style="background:#ddf; width:9%;"| AB
! style="background:#ddf; width:9%;"| R
! style="background:#ddf; width:9%;"| H
! style="background:#ddf; width:9%;"| AVG
! style="background:#ddf; width:9%;"| HR
! style="background:#ddf; width:9%;"| RBI
|- style="text-align:center;"
Pitching
Note: G = Games played; IP = Innings Pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned Run Average; SO= Strikeouts; WHIP = Walks and Hits Per Innings Pitched; HLD = HoldsStarting pitchers
{| class="wikitable sortable"|-
! style="background:#ddf; width:16%;"| Player
! style="background:#ddf; width:9%;"| G
! style="background:#ddf; width:9%;"| IP
! style="background:#ddf; width:9%;"| W
! style="background:#ddf; width:9%;"| L
! style="background:#ddf; width:9%;"| ERA
! style="background:#ddf; width:9%;"| SO
! style="background:#ddf; width:9%;"| WHIP
|}
Relief pitchers
{| class="wikitable sortable"|-
! style="background:#ddf; width:16%;"| Player
! style="background:#ddf; width:9%;"| G
! style="background:#ddf; width:9%;"| W
! style="background:#ddf; width:9%;"| L
! style="background:#ddf; width:9%;"| SV
! style="background:#ddf; width:9%;"| HLD
! style="background:#ddf; width:9%;"| IP
! style="background:#ddf; width:9%;"| ERA
! style="background:#ddf; width:9%;"| SO
! style="background:#ddf; width:9%;"| WHIP
|- style="text-align:center;"
|}