The Braves have gotten major contributions from players that they signed during the 2024 offseason, as injuries to players like Spencer Strider, Ronald Acuna Jr, & Tyler Matzek have left the team scrambling for answers at times during the 2024 season.
Enter players like Reynaldo Lopez, Jarred Kelenic, and Jesse Chavez to name a few. These guys have provided not only great value based on the financial aspects of their contracts, but fantastic production that has exceeded expectations to boot.
In other words, where would the Braves be without these key players this season?
Reynaldo Lopez
Who could’ve anticipated that converted reliever-turned-starter Reynaldo Lopez would be leading the majors in starting pitcher ERA (1.70) during the 2024 season? His 3-year, $30M contract will be a bargain if he keeps up his production like this.
He’s been arguably the team’s best starting pitcher, and he has been needed in the absence of starter Spencer Strider who was lost for the year in April to a torn UCL. The team has managed his innings all season long in an effort to keep him healthy as a starting pitcher so that he will be available for a run through the postseason.
Jarred Kelenic
Jarred Kelenic’s career renaissance has been the story of the season for the Braves. The former first round pick of the Mets who played for the Mariners the past three seasons was traded to the Braves this offseason for Jackson Kowar and Cole Phillips. As part of the deal, the team took on the loaded contracts of LHP Marco Gonzalez and 1B Evan White, but Kelenic has been well worth all that it took to acquire him.
He went from being the team’s platoon LF to their starting CF in a few short months. Offensively, he’s moved up in the batting order from the No. 9 spot to hitting leadoff. On the season, he’s hitting .278/.324/.781 while providing Gold Glove-caliber defense. He’s been nothing short of spectacular despite key injuries to his fellow outfielders.
Jesse Chavez
Okay, so Chavez has been with us before, but the team did re-sign him this offseason to another minor league deal before he inevitably joined their roster in mid-March.
Injuries to relievers Tyler Matzek, AJ Minter, & Ray Kerr have put a ton of pressure on Chavez, who has responded with another All-Star caliber season in the bullpen. He’s been simply sensational with a 1.32 ERA & 29 strikeouts in 34 innings pitched.
Honorable mentions
Where would this team be without veteran pitchers Chris Sale and Aaron Bummer?
Sale has bounced back in a major way this season after suffering three consecutive ineffective, injury-plagued seasons with the Boston Red Sox from 2021 through 2023. The Braves gave up quite a haul to get Bummer, but he’s been solid if unspectacular with a 3.72 ERA and 33 strikeouts in 29 innings pitched coming out of the bullpen.
Lopez, Kelenic, Chavez, Sale, and Bummer have all made a huge impact this season. Win or lose, these guys have shown up ready to play at a high level every single day. The Braves success in 2024 is measurable in the form of their offseason acquisitions.
The Sports Beacon 