48. Atlanta Braves Best Players of All time

Frank Jones

The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball team based in the Atlanta metropolitan area. Established in 1871, they have been an integral part of Major League Baseball (MLB) for over 140 years and are one of the oldest continually operating franchises in American sports history.

The franchise has won three World Series titles, 14 National League pennants, and 17 division championships since moving to their current home at Truist Park in Cobb County back in 2017.

With an abundance of talented players such as Freddie Freeman, Ronald Acuña Jr., Max Fried and Craig Kimbrel on their roster this season, fans can expect plenty more exciting moments from the Braves throughout 2021.

Table of Contents

1. Darren O'Day

Pitcher

Darren O Career

  • All-Star (2015)

Darren O'Day is a right-handed pitcher who has played in the MLB for twelve seasons. He made his debut with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in 2008 and has since pitched for Atlanta, Miami, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Toronto.

Darren O'Day has compiled a record of 158–148 with an ERA of 3.52 over his career. Darren O'Day was named to the All-Star team twice (2012 and 2016) and also won two Gold Glove Awards (2011 and 2018). 

In 2022 he will be a free agent and likely seek another MLB opportunity after having spent most recently with the Blue Jays Darren O'Day won 42 games during his MLB career, 21 of which came with the Angels.

In 2015, he was named an All-Star for the third time in his career. He finished with a 2.59 ERA and 637 strikeouts over 964 innings pitched in his baseball career.

Also Played For: baltimore orioles

2. Joe Torre

Infielder

Joe Torre Career

  • 9× All-Star (1963–1967, 1970–1973), 4× World Series champion (1996, 1998–2000), NL MVP (1971), Gold Glove Award (1965), NL batting champion (1971), NL RBI leader (1971), 2× AL Manager of the Year (1996, 1998), New York Yankees No. 6 retired, Braves Hall of Fame, St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame, Monument Park honoree

Joe Torre is a three-time World Series champion manager, most notably with the New York Yankees in 1996 and 1999. He also managed the Los Angeles Dodgers from 2003 to 2007 before joining ESPN as an analyst in 2008.

In 2015, he was named special advisor for baseball operations for the New York Mets. Born on July 18, 1940, Joe Torre played catcher and first baseman throughout his career before becoming a manager in 1977 at the age of 36.

His teams won nine division titles and three league championships during his 19 years managing MLB clubs (1977–1993). 

Torre has been honored numerous times by various organizations including being voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1998 and receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Ulysses S Grant III in 2013.

He also won induction into both the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame (2014) and the Brooklyn Jewish Veteran's Memorial Park Athletic Association Hall of Fame (2015).

Also Played For: st louis cardinals, new york yankees

3. Hank Aaron

Hank Aaron Career

  • 25× All-Star (1955–1975), World Series champion (1957), NL MVP (1957), 3× Gold Glove Award (1958–1960), 2× NL batting champion (1956, 1959), 4× NL home run leader (1957, 1963, 1966, 1967), 4× NL RBI leader (1957, 1960, 1963, 1966), Atlanta Braves No. 44 retired, Milwaukee Brewers No. 44 retired, Braves Hall of Fame, American Family Field Walk of Fame, Milwaukee Brewers Wall of Honor, Major League Baseball All-Century Team, , MLB records, , 2,297 career runs batted in, 6,856 career total bases, 1,477 career extra-base hits

Hank Aaron was one of the most outstanding baseball players in history and is widely considered to be one of the greatest hitters in MLB history. He retired with a .305 batting average, 3,771 hits, and 382 home runs.

Aaron played his entire career for the Milwaukee Braves (1954-1976). In 1974 he led the Braves to their first World Series championship since 1957 and became only the third player ever to win three MVP Awards (the other two being Willie Mays and Babe Ruth).

After retiring from baseball, Aaron served as a television sportscaster for several networks before passing away at age 86 on January 22nd, 2021. Hank Aaron is one of the most iconic and successful baseball players in history. 

He was a five-time all-star, won three World Series titles with the Atlanta Braves, and holds numerous records.

Hank Aaron was born on February 5th, 1935 in Mobile, Alabama. He made his major league debut with the Milwaukee Braves in 1954 at the age of 20 and went on to be one of baseball's greatest hitters during his 14 year career. 

Some of Aaron's most impressive records include being the all-time home run leader (755), batting champion (1957 & 1959), RBI leader (1960 & 1963), as well as having 3 gold gloves award for defensive excellence over that time period.

On September 7th 1974 he passed Babe Ruth for first place on MLB's all-time hits list - a record that still stands today. Hank Aaron has been inducted into both the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1975.

Well as both the Atlanta Braves Hall Of Fame and American Family Field Walk Of Fame - making him an extremely celebrated figure within America's favorite pastime.

Also Played For: milwaukee brewers, boston braves

4. Fred McGriff

Fred McGriff Career

  • 5× All-Star (1992, 1994–1996, 2000), World Series champion (1995), 3× Silver Slugger Award (1989, 1992, 1993), 2× Home run leader (1989, 1992)

McGriff is a first baseman who played in the Major Leagues for 17 seasons, most notably with the Toronto Blue Jays and Tampa Bay Devil Rays. He was known as an excellent power hitter and led the league in home runs twice.

McGriff announced his retirement from baseball after playing his last game for the Devil Rays on July 15, 2004. Since then he has worked as a broadcaster for Fox Sports Florida.

Fred McGriff was born on October 31, 1963, in Tampa, Florida to parents of Jamaican descent.

As a child he loved playing ball and showed great potential at both football and baseball; however, it wasn't until he attended Hillsborough Community College that he started to make waves within collegiate athletics circles. 

After two years at HCC (where he helped lead them to back-to-back NJCAA World Series championships), McGriff transferred to Miami Dade College where he continued to amass impressive stats (.413 batting average with 49 homers over three seasons).

In 1986 McGriff made his MLB debut with the Toronto Blue Jays – hitting .284 with 2,490 hits and 49 home runs over 17 seasons before retiring following the 2004 season. At age 41 due to recurring neck issues stemming from several concussions sustained while playing professional ball.

While never achieving superstar status or being particularly well-liked by fans or teammates alike – largely because of his surly attitude towards reporters (or anyone else). 

Fred McGriff nevertheless remains one of best hitters in MLB history has posted an incredible .284 batting average along with 500+ RBIs & 50 HRs across all competitions.

Also Played For: tampa bay rays, san diego padres

5. Tim Hudson

Pitcher

Tim Hudson Career

  • 4× All-Star (2000, 2004, 2010, 2014), World Series champion (2014), NL Comeback Player of the Year (2010), AL wins leader (2000), Braves Hall of Fame

Hudson is a two-time All-Star and won the 2007 NL Cy Young Award. Hudson spent eleven seasons with the Atlanta Braves, winning three National League pennants and one World Series championship in his time there.

He was traded to the San Francisco Giants prior to the 2015 season, where he finished up his career after posting an ERA of 2.98 in 219 innings pitched across 17 appearances (16 starts). 

After retiring as a player, Hudson took on coaching duties with the Giants' minor league affiliates before being named their pitching coach ahead of the 2018 season. 

Tim Hudson is a former starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Oakland Athletics (1999-2004), Atlanta Braves (2005-2013) and San Francisco Giants (2014-2015).

During his MLB career, he amassed a 222–133 win/loss record with an earned run average of 3.49 and 2,080 strikeouts. He was twice named NL Comeback Player of the Year.

in 2010 and 2014—and helped lead the Atlanta Braves to their first World Series title in franchise history in 2014. Tim Hudson is currently retired from professional baseball but remains active as a commentator for Turner Sports' coverage of MLB games on TBS.

Also Played For: oakland athletics

6. Andrés Galarraga

Colorado Rockies

Andrés Galarraga Career

  • 5× All-Star (1988, 1993, 1997, 1998, 2000), 2× Gold Glove Award (1989, 1990), 2× Silver Slugger Award (1988, 1996), NL batting champion (1993), NL home run leader (1996), 2× NL RBI leader (1996, 1997)

Andrés Galarraga was a talented first baseman and hitter in the MLB for many years. He had an exceptional batting average, hits, home runs, and RBI totals.

However, his career was cut short due to injuries. Galarraga is most famous for his performance in the 2002 World Series with the Montreal Expos against the New York Yankees.

After that season he was traded to Anaheim where he played until 2004 when he retired after hitting just .262 in 145 games over two seasons with them as well too injury problems reoccurring again.

Which ended his career prematurely at only age 41 years old He currently works as a TV commentator on Venezuelan broadcasts of baseball games Andrés Galarraga was one of the most successful and beloved players in Atlanta Braves history.

He won two batting titles and two Silver Slugger Awards while also leading the league in home runs twice. After being traded to San Francisco Giants, he helped them to win a World Series title in 2003. 

Unfortunately, injuries cut his career short at age 36 after only playing three more seasons with Texas Rangers and Montreal Expos combined.

Also Played For: colorado rockies, venezuela baseball

7. Freddie Freeman

Los Angeles Dodgers

Freddie Freeman Career

  • 6× All-Star (2013, 2014, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022), World Series champion (2021), NL MVP (2020), All-MLB First Team (2020), 3x All-MLB Second Team (2019, 2021, 2022), Gold Glove Award (2018), 3× Silver Slugger Award (2019–2021), NL Hank Aaron Award (2020), Babe Ruth Award (2021)

Freddie Freeman is a three-time All-Star and two-time Gold Glove Award winner with the Atlanta Braves. He was drafted by the Braves in the first round of the 2007 MLB Draft and made his Major League debut on September 1, 2010.

In 2018, Freddie Freeman led all National League first basemen in batting average (.291), hits (1,903) and runs batted in (RBIs – 1,042). 

His 292 home runs are fifth most all time among left handed hitters and seventh most overall behind Babe Ruth (535), Barry Bonds (762), Hank Aaron (755), Alex Rodriguez (761) and Willie Mays(726).

Since joining Atlanta as an everyday player in 2010, Freeman has played every game at least once except for one due to injury: between 2015-2018 he missed 54 games due to various injuries but still managed to put up good numbers each year including a batting average over.

300 both years despite not playing every day like he used too do earlier in his career when healthy; after missing 54 games this past season however because of an ankle sprain that required surgery he will miss significant time next year.

While still under contract with Atlanta which could impact his legacy somewhat given how long hes been one of their better players 2nd only to Chipper Jones among current Brave starters?

Also Played For: baseball, fantasy baseball

8. Ronald Acuña Jr.

Atlanta Braves

Ronald Acuña Jr. Career

  • 3× All-Star (2019, 2021, 2022), 2× All-MLB Second Team (2019, 2020), NL Rookie of the Year (2018), 2× Silver Slugger Award (2019, 2020), NL stolen base leader (2019), 30–30 club (2019)

Ronald Acuña Jr. was born on December 18, 1997 in La Guaira, Venezuela. He signed with the Atlanta Braves as a non-drafted free agent in 2018 and made his MLB debut later that year.

Acuña is an outfielder/designated hitter who bats right and throws right. In 2021, he became the youngest player in history to hit 30 home runs in a season

When he hit three against the Philadelphia Phillies at age 25 years 241 days old (that record has since been broken by Aaron Judge).

Acuna also led all hitters with 191 hits during the 2020 season and finished fourth in MVP voting behind Mike Trout, Mookie Betts and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. 

In 2019, Acuna won his first Silver Slugger award after batting .330 with 37 home runs and 130 RBIs while helping lead the Braves to their first NL East title since 2013.

Also Played For: mlb, mlb under 25

9. Greg Maddux

Atlanta Braves

Greg Maddux Career

  • 8× All-Star (1988, 1992, 1994–1998, 2000), World Series champion (1995), 4× NL Cy Young Award (1992–1995), 18× Gold Glove Award (1990–2002, 2004–2008), 3× NL wins leader (1992, 1994, 1995), 4× MLB ERA leader (1993–1995, 1998), Chicago Cubs No. 31 retired, Atlanta Braves No. 31 retired, Chicago Cubs Hall of Fame, Braves Hall of Fame

Greg Maddux was one of the most successful pitchers in MLB history. He won 355 games and lost 227, with a 3.16 ERA and 3,371 strikeouts. Maddux was born in San Angelo, Texas on April 14th 1966.

His baseball career started with the Chicago Cubs in 1986 and he spent his entire 18-year career there before moving to the Dodgers in 2008. 

Greg Maddux is widely considered to be one of the best pitchers ever, winning three Cy Young Awards (1994–1996) as well as seven other major awards throughout his career including MVP honors in 1996 and 1997 respectively.

He retired from professional baseball at the end of 2008 having achieved an overall record of 355 wins against 227 losses - making him one of only six players ever to have amassed over 300 victories while playing at least 20 years professionally.

Also Played For: chicago cubs, national baseball hall of fame and museum

10. Charlie Morton

Pitcher

Charlie Morton Career

  • 2× All-Star (2018, 2019), 2× World Series champion (2017, 2021), All-MLB Second Team (2019)

Morton spent his entire career with the Atlanta Braves before being traded to the Houston Astros in 2018. Morton has a 111-114 record and a 3.82 ERA over his career, mainly pitching for the National League teams.

He was voted into the All-Star Game in 2009, 2011, and 2016 while playing for Atlanta but did not participate this year due to injury. Morton is most famous for leading the Braves to their first playoff appearance in 14 years during the 2014 season where he went 7-5 with a 2.98 ERA in 15 starts (170 innings).

Injuries have been an issue throughout much of Morton's career; he has had multiple surgeries on both knees including Tommy John surgery which limited him to just 26 appearances in 2017 and 18 appearances so far this year with Houston despite having returned from injury earlier this year.

Also Played For: altoona curve

11. Tom Glavine

Pitcher

Tom Glavine Career

  • 10× All-Star (1991–1993, 1996–1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006), World Series champion (1995), 2× NL Cy Young Award (1991, 1998), World Series MVP (1995), 4× Silver Slugger Award (1991, 1995, 1996, 1998), 5× NL wins leader (1991–1993, 1998, 2000), Atlanta Braves No. 47 retired, Braves Hall of Fame

Tom Glavine is a former pitcher who played for the Atlanta Braves and New York Mets. He had a win-loss record of 305–203 and an earned run average of 3.54.

Glavine was born on March 25, 1966, in Concord, Massachusetts. Glavine batted left and threw left-handed. Tom Glavine made his MLB debut with the Atlanta Braves in 1987 and ended his career with the same team in 2008.

In 2,607 appearances over 17 seasons (1987–2008), Tom Glavine struck out 2,607 batters while compiling a winning percentage of .605%. After retiring from baseball, TomGlavin has worked as an analyst for Turner Sports' coverage of Major League Baseball on TNT.

Tom Glavine was an All-Star pitcher for 10 seasons and won two Cy Young Awards. He is a member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, and his uniform number 47 has been retired by the Atlanta Braves. Tom Glavine helped lead the Atlanta Braves to their only World Series victory in 1995.

12. Phil Niekro

Phil Niekro Career

  • 5× All-Star (1969, 1975, 1978, 1982, 1984), 5× Gold Glove Award (1978–1980, 1982, 1983), Roberto Clemente Award (1980), 2× NL wins leader (1974, 1979), MLB ERA leader (1967), NL strikeout leader (1977), Pitched a no-hitter on August 5, 1973, Atlanta Braves No. 35 retired, Braves Hall of Fame

Phil Niekro was one of the most successful pitchers in MLB history. He had a 318-274 win-loss record and an ERA of 3.35. In his MLB career, Niekro pitched for the Milwaukee Braves, Atlanta Braves, Houston Astros and New York Mets.

Phil Niekro is known for his distinctive windmill motion while pitching and helped lead the Braves to two World Series championships in his career (1986 & 1995). 

On December 26th 2020, at the age of 81 years old, Phil Niekro passed away after a long battle with cancer Phil Niekro had a prolific career in the majors and was an All-Star five times.

He led the National League twice in strikeouts and pitched a no-hitter, which is a rarity for pitchers. Phil Niekro also won several awards during his career including three Gold Gloves and the Roberto Clemente Award. The Braves retired his number 35 after he finished his playing days with them in 1987.

13. John Smoltz

Pitcher

John Smoltz Career

  • 8× All-Star (1989, 1992, 1993, 1996, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007), World Series champion (1995), NL Cy Young Award (1996), NLCS MVP (1992), Silver Slugger Award (1997), NL Rolaids Relief Man Award (2002), Roberto Clemente Award (2005), 2× NL wins leader (1996, 2006), 2× NL strikeout leader (1992, 1996), NL saves leader (2002), Atlanta Braves No. 29 retired, Braves Hall of Fame

John Smoltz is a former pitcher in Major League Baseball who enjoyed a lengthy and successful career with the Atlanta Braves, St. Louis Cardinals, and Boston Red Sox.

John Smoltz was born on May 15th, 1967 in Warren, Michigan and grew up playing baseball for his school team before signing with the Braves as an undrafted free agent in 1988.

After debuting that summer, he quickly became one of Atlanta's top pitchers and won three consecutive National League Cy Young Awards from 1991 to 1993. 

His success continued into the late 1990s when he helped lead the Cardinals to their first World Series championship since 1926 en route to four more division titles between 1999 and 2003.

In 2009 however, after suffering two knee injuries that forced him out of action for almost half a season, Smoltz retired at age 38 after 19 seasons in professional baseball. 

Since then he has become a popular analyst on MLB broadcasts alongside his son Brennan, working most notably for Fox Sports Midwest and Turner Broadcasting's coverage of Major League Soccer.

14. Chipper Jones

Infielder

Chipper Jones Career

  • 8× All-Star (1996–1998, 2000, 2001, 2008, 2011, 2012), World Series champion (1995), NL MVP (1999), 2× Silver Slugger Award (1999, 2000), MLB batting champion (2008), Atlanta Braves No. 10 retired, Braves Hall of Fame

Chipper Jones enjoyed a long and successful career with the Atlanta Braves, playing for them from 1993 to 2012. 

Chipper Jones was one of the most feared hitters in baseball during his time with the Braves, as he batted .303 with 2,726 hits and 470 home runs.

Chipper Jones also excelled at third base and left field, being named an All-Star six times whilewith the Braves. After leaving the Atlanta Braves in 2012, Chipper Jones joined ESPN as a commentator for their coverage of MLB games. 

In 2018, Chipper Jones announced his retirement from professional baseball after 19 seasons in which he amassed 3,141 hits and 1,,514 RBIs across all levels of play.

Chipper Jones is one of the most successful hitters in Major League Baseball history and was a key player on two world championship teams. Chipper Jones has also been a great coach, helping lead the Atlanta Braves to victory in 2021. 

Chipper Jones will be remembered for his impressive batting record, which includes 8 All-Star appearances and 2 Silver Slugger Awards.

15. Eddie Mathews

Eddie Mathews Career

  • 12× All-Star (1953, 1955–1961², 1962²), 2× World Series champion (1957, 1968), 2× NL home run leader (1953, 1959), Atlanta Braves No. 41 retired, Braves Hall of Fame, American Family Field Walk of Fame

Eddie Mathews made his MLB debut with the Boston Braves in 1952 and played for them until 1968. 

He was a third baseman throughout his career but also managed for part of it, including stints with the Detroit Tigers (1968-1970) and Philadelphia Phillies (1971).

In all, he hit 2,315 hits in 14 seasons and had a .271 batting average along the way. After retiring from baseball, Eddie Mathews worked as an announcer for various teams before passing away in 2001 at the age of 69 years old. 

Eddie Mathews was a 12-time All-Star and 2x World Series champion as a player with the Boston Braves. He also led the NL in home runs twice, and his number 41 has been retired by the Atlanta Braves. 

After retiring as a player, Mathews served as manager of the Atlanta Braves for two seasons (1972–1974). In total, he managed 986 games over 14 seasons in professional baseball.

Also Played For: sports illustrated baseball

16. Dale Murphy

Outfielder

Dale Murphy Career

  • 7× All-Star (1980, 1982–1987), 2× NL MVP (1982, 1983), 5× Gold Glove Award (1982–1986), 4× Silver Slugger Award (1982–1985), Roberto Clemente Award (1988), 2× NL home run leader (1984, 1985), 2× NL RBI leader (1982, 1983), Atlanta Braves No. 3 retired, Braves Hall of Fame

Dale Murphy was a prolific hitter in the majors and is one of only five players to have 2,000 hits and 500 home runs. Dale Murphy played his entire career with the Atlanta Braves before joining the Colorado Rockies for three seasons.

His best season came in 1988 when he hit .290 with 27 home runs and 103 RBIs. Dale Murphy retired after playing 15 seasons in the major leagues, finishing his career with an batting average of .265 and 2,111 hits. 

In 1996, he was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame as a member of the Atlanta Braves' inaugural class along with John Smoltz and Greg Maddux Dale Murphy was a five-time all-star and two time MVP, who led the National League in home runs twice.

Dale Murphy's number 3 jersey was retired by the Atlanta Braves. Dale Murphy is one of only four players to have won three Silver Slugger Awards and two Gold Glove Awards, as well as being named an NL MVP twice. 

He has also been awarded Roberto Clemente Award which is given annually to the best player in baseball who embodies the spirit of community involvement off the field.

17. Dansby Swanson

Shortstop

Dansby Swanson Career

  • All-Star (2022), World Series champion (2021), Gold Glove Award (2022)

Swanson was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the first round of the 2014 MLB Draft. He made his MLB debut with the Braves in 2016 and has since played for them as well as other teams, including Chicago Cubs.

Swanson is a right-handed shortstop who bats and throws right-handed. In 2018, he won both an NL Silver Slugger Award and a Gold Glove Award, making him one of only two players ever to win both awards in their rookie season (the other being Eric Gagne).

Swanson announced his retirement from professional baseball on January 24th 2019 after appearing in just 41 games over two seasons due to injury A 22-year-old first baseman for the Atlanta Braves, Dansby Swanson is one of the brightest hitters in all of baseball.

Nicknamed "Dizzy," Swanson has already won two world championships and an All Star Game award during his short career. He was drafted by the Braves with the third overall pick in the 2016 draft and quickly showed that he belonged on a championship team. 

With power to both left field and right field, Swanson gives any team serious competition at either position.

His speed on the bases makes him very difficult to catch, even for experienced catchers like Gary Sanchez or Alex Avila. Fans can look forward to watching him continue his success into the future as one of baseball's best players.

Also Played For: vanderbilt university baseball

18. Andruw Jones

Andruw Jones Career

  • MLB, 5× All-Star (2000, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006), 10× Gold Glove Award (1998–2007), Silver Slugger Award (2005), NL Hank Aaron Award (2005), MLB home run leader (2005), NL RBI leader (2005), Braves Hall of Fame, , NPB, , All-Star (2013), Japan Series champion (2013)

Andruw Jones was a highly successful outfielder in MLB and NPB. He batted right and threw right-handed, making him an all-around threat on the field. Jones is one of only two players to win three MVP Awards (the other being Barry Bonds).

After spending most of his career with the Braves, he joined the Yankees in 2012 and played for them until 2014. Injuries limited him to just 116 games during that time, but still managed to hit 34 home runs while batting.

Overall. At 45 years old, Jones retired from professional baseball after playing in Japan for Rakuten Golden Eagles in October 2014 season finale.

Jones was an All-Star for many years and won several awards, such as the Hank Aaron Award. Jones also had a very successful career in Japan with the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles. He is currently playing for the New York Yankees and has been doing well this season.

19. Ozzie Albies

Second baseman

Ozzie Albies Career

  • 2× All-Star (2018, 2021), World Series champion (2021), All-MLB Second Team (2021), 2× Silver Slugger Award (2019, 2021)

Albies is a top prospect in the Braves organization and has already made an impact on the team in 2017. Albies was drafted by Atlanta with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 MLB draft and has shown great potential both on and off of the field.

His switch-hitting ability, speed, and defensive prowess make him a valuable asset to any team he plays for - especially given his young age. 

Albies will likely spend at least some time at second base during his career but could also have future opportunities at other positions as well.

With continued development, Albies has everything necessary to be one of baseball's elite players down the line - including potentially being named MVP one day. 

Ozzie Albies was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the first round of the 2015 MLB draft. He made his debut with the team that year, and has since been a mainstay in their lineup.

In 2018, he led all major leaguers in batting average (.270), home runs (98), and runs batted in (346). He also won a World Series title with Atlanta during the 2021 season. 

Albies is considered one of the best young players in baseball, and is likely to continue playing at an elite level for some time to come.

20. Will Smith

Pitcher

Will Smith Career

  • 2× World Series champion (2021, 2022), All-Star (2019), Willie Mac Award (2018)

Will Smith is a free agent pitcher who has played for the Kansas City Royals. Smith was drafted by the Florida Marlins in the 5th round of the 2005 MLB Draft, but did not sign with them and instead attended college at Southern Methodist University.

After his junior year, he was signed by the Royals and made his MLB debut on May 23, 2012. In 2013 and 2014 he had successful seasons for KC as a starter before being traded to New Orleans in 2015.

Where he became their ace pitcher; however, after one season with NOs he was again traded - this time to Philadelphia - where he spent two more seasons before retiring at age 33 in 2020.

He has been married to actress Jada Pinkett Smith since 2006 and they have three children: Willow (born 2007), Jaden (2008) and Reign (2010). A three-time world champion and two-time all-star, Will Smith is one of the best players in baseball. 

A phenom when it comes to power hitting, Smith has amassed over six hundred home runs during his career. His speed on the base paths is also a major asset for the Royals and Milwaukee Brewers, with whom he’s played most notably.

An excellent fielder with strong throwing arm, Will has saved 91 games throughout his career – ranking him fourth all time among catchers in MLB history. After 2020, he’ll be playing for Houston Astros where he will enter into what could be considered as his last great hurrah in professional sports.

21. Chris Martin

Pitcher

Chris Martin Career

  • Japan Series champion (2016), World Series champion (2021)

Chris Martin was drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the 4th round of the 2008 amateur draft. He made his MLB debut with them in 2014, and pitched for the Rockies until 2018.

In 2019 he signed a contract to play for the Boston Red Sox, where he has been since December of that year. Chris Martin is a right-handed pitcher who throws hard and strikes out a lot of people.

His main claim to fame is winning Rookie of The Year honors with the Rockies in 2010, after pitching just 7 innings over 3 starts during spring training that year. Chris Martin was drafted by the Colorado Rockies in 2014 and made his MLB debut with them in 2015.

He was traded to the New York Yankees in 2016, where he played for two seasons before being acquired by the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters this past year. 

In 2018 and 2019, Martin has been splitting time between Texas Rangers and Atlanta Braves organizations respectively before joining the Chicago Cubs for the 2020 season.

Chris Martin is a solid hitter who can hit multiple positions well but is best known for his prowess as a pitcher; he's won several awards including Japan Series champion (2016) and World Series champion (2021).

22. Warren Spahn

Warren Spahn Career

  • 17× All-Star (1947, 1949–1954, 1956–1959², 1961–1963), World Series champion (1957), Cy Young Award (1957), 8× NL wins leader (1949, 1950, 1953, 1957–1961), 3× NL ERA leader (1947, 1953, 1961), 4× NL strikeout leader (1949–1952), Pitched two no-hitters, Atlanta Braves No. 21 retired, Braves Hall of Fame, American Family Field Walk of Fame, Major League Baseball All-Century Team

Warren Spahn was a pitcher in the Major Leagues for over 30 years, and is most famous for his time with the San Francisco Giants. He won 363 games and lost 245, averaging 3.09 ERA during that span.

Warren Spahn was born on April 23, 1921 in Buffalo, New York. After starting his career with the Braves in 1942, he spent most of his time with the Giants (1965-2003). Warren Spahn is considered one of baseball's all-time greats, as he helped lead several teams to championships throughout his career.

His last appearance came just two seasons before he passed away at age 82 Warren Spahn was a dominant pitcher in the late 1940s and early 1950s. 

He won three NL ERA titles, led the league in strikeouts four times, and pitched two no-hitters. Warren Spahn is one of only six pitchers to win an MVP award (1951) while pitching for more than one team.

After playing his entire career with the Braves, Spahn was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1965.

23. Travis d'Arnaud

Catcher

Travis d Career

  • All-Star (2022), World Series champion (2021), Silver Slugger Award (2020)

Travis d'Arnaud is a 33-year-old catcher for the Atlanta Braves. D'Arnaud made his MLB debut with the New York Mets in 2013 and has since played for several other teams, most recently Atlanta in 2020.

He has an batting average of 270 and hits right-handed pitching well. His defensive skills are also notable, as he has displayed excellent throwing abilities both behind the plate and at first base in pinch situations over his career thus far.

With potential to continue developing into one of baseball's best catchers, Travis d'Arnaud is sure to have a long and successful career ahead of him Arnaud is a talented and experienced catcher who has spent the majority of his career with the Mets.

In 2020, d'Arnaud was named the Silver Slugger Award winner after batting .308 with 25 home runs and 91 RBIs. D'Arnaud is a three-time All-Star and two-time World Series champion, so he knows what it takes to win in Major League Baseball. 

He is an elite defender behind the plate, making him one of the most important players on any team he's been on thus far in his career.

Travis d'Arnaud will be crucial for whichever team he ends up playing for next season ashe brings plenty of experience and skill to the table.

Also Played For: las vegas aviators

24. Bob Horner

Bob Horner Career

  • All-Star (1982), NL Rookie of the Year (1978), Hit four home runs in one game on July 6, 1986, Golden Spikes Award (1978), College World Series Most Outstanding Player (1977)

Bob Horner played in the MLB for the Atlanta Braves from 1978-1988. He was a three time All-Star and won two Gold Gloves while with St. Louis. 

After playing his final season in 1988, he retired from baseball and returned to Junction City, Kansas where he still resides today.

In 1997, Bob made a return to professional baseball as manager of the Yakult Swallows in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball league (NPB). 

He led his team to an NPB Championship that year before retiring again following the championship game victory, having managed over 2,500 games during his career overall.

Bob is widely considered one of the all time great third basemen and first baseman in MLB history and is also currently a member of both the Central League Hall of Fame as well as The Sporting News' American League all-time team at those positions.

25. Brian McCann

Catcher

Brian McCann Career

  • 7× All-Star (2006–2011, 2013), World Series champion (2017), 6× Silver Slugger Award (2006, 2008–2011, 2015)

McCann was drafted by the Braves in the first round of the 2003 amateur draft. McCann made his MLB debut with Atlanta in 2005 and has been a consistent player for them over the past decade.

In 2019, McCann announced his retirement from baseball after 14 seasons with the Braves. McCann is a two-time All-Star and has won three Gold Gloves during his career with Atlanta. 

He will be remembered as one of Atlanta's all-time greats and an important part of their history McCann has been one of the best hitters in baseball for many years now. He's won a World Series title and is an All-Star seven times. 

McCann also excels at batting average, home runs, and RBIs. His 281 homers are second all-time behind only Barry Bonds' 762. McCann signs with the Braves this offseason as he looks to continue his success into 2019 with Atlanta.

26. Max Fried

Pitcher

Max Fried Career

  • All-Star (2022), World Series champion (2021), All-MLB First Team (2020), 2x All-MLB Second Team (2021, 2022), 3× Gold Glove Award (2020–22), Silver Slugger Award (2021), 2× Fielding Bible Award (2020, 2021)

Fried was drafted by the Braves in the first round of the 2013 MLB Draft. He made his major league debut for Atlanta in 2017 and has since been a mainstay on their pitching staff.

Fried's combination of velocity and control have led to him being one of the most successful pitchers in Atlanta history, currently with a 54-25 record and 3.09 ERA. Fried is married to fellow pitcher Johana Kukulka, who he met while attending university together at UCLA.

They have two children – a son named Leo and a daughter named Lila – who are both avid baseball fans themselves. In 2019, Fried was traded to the New York Mets where he will continue to pitch for them through 2022 season.. Max Fried is an all-star shortstop for the Atlanta Braves.

He was a key player in helping the Braves win the 2019 World Series championship. Before joining the Braves, Fried played for three teams in MLB: Philadelphia Phillies, Houston Astros and Seattle Mariners. 

Max has won numerous awards throughout his career, including two All-Star selections and a Fielding Bible Award from Baseball America magazine.

In 2020, he became just the fourth player ever to earn both Rookie of The Year and Gold Glove Awards unanimously (along with Cal Ripken Jr., Derek Jeter and Manny Ramirez). 

Fried's impressive stats have not gone unnoticed by other major league clubs; he has been linked with moves to several other teams over recent years but has always stayed put with the Braves.

27. David Justice

David Justice Career

  • 3× All-Star (1993, 1994, 1997), 2× World Series champion (1995, 2000), NL Rookie of the Year (1990), ALCS MVP (2000), 2× Silver Slugger Award (1993, 1997), Braves Hall of Fame

David Justice was an outfielder for the Atlanta Braves from 1989-2002. He had a batting average of .279 and won three Gold Glove Awards during his career.

In 2002 he signed with the Oakland Athletics, but retired after playing only 9 games because of injury. Justice later became a broadcaster for Fox Sports and TNT in Baseball coverage, as well as other sports such as basketball and soccer David Justice was an all-star outfielder for the Atlanta Braves from 1989 to 1996.

He won a World Series with the Yankees in 2000, and also played for Cleveland Indians (1997-2000). In 2002, he joined the Oakland Athletics as a free agent. David Justice is #5 on the all-time home run list with 305 dingers. He retired in 2006 after playing his final season with the Detroit Tigers.

28. Marcell Ozuna

Left fielder

Marcell Ozuna Career

  • 2× All-Star (2016, 2017), All-MLB First Team (2020), Gold Glove Award (2017), 2× Silver Slugger Award (2017, 2020), Edgar Martínez Award (2020), NL home run leader (2020), NL RBI leader (2020)

Ozuna is a powerful and consistent hitter in the MLB. Ozuna was originally signed by the Marlins as an outfielder, but has since transitioned to playing DH for Atlanta.

Ozuna has won two MVP Awards, one Silver Slugger Award, and three Gold Gloves during his career with Miami and Atlanta respectively. Ozuna will be a free agent after 2022 season, so he'll need to continue putting up good numbers if he wants to remain in the MLB for long term.

Ozuna is a power hitter who has averaged 32 home runs and 106 RBI per season over the past three years. Ozuna was signed by the Miami Marlins in 2013 and played for them until 2017,

Before he was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals. Ozuna has won two Silver Slugger Awards and an Edgar Martínez Award during his time with the Cardinals, as well as being named an All-Star twice.

In 2020, Ozuna became only the third player in MLB history to hit at least 30 home runs and drive in 100 RBI in a single season - joining Barry Bonds (36 HR/106 RBI) and Alex Rodriguez (33 HR/100 RBI).

Also Played For: florida marlins, miami marlins

29. Steve Avery

Career

  • All-Star (1993), World Series champion (1995), NLCS MVP (1991)

Avery made his MLB debut with the Atlanta Braves in 1990. He played for the Detroit Tigers from 2003 to 2003, and had a 96-83 record during that time span.

Avery is best known for being convicted of the 1985 murder of 25-year-old Teresa Halbach, which eventually led to his eventual release from prison in 2003 after serving 18 years behind bars.

Following his release from prison, Avery has since devoted himself to advocating against wrongful convictions and seeking more fair treatment for inmates throughout America's criminal justice system.

Avery is currently working on a book about his experiences as an inmate and advocate called "The Innocent Man: A Memoir." In 2007, he was awarded $36 million by a Wisconsin court in a civil suit filed by Brendan Dassey.

Who was also convicted of Halbach's murder – alleging that false confession testimony provided at Avery's trial helped secure their convictions.

30. Craig Kimbrel

Pitcher

Craig Kimbrel Career

  • 8× All-Star (2011–2014, 2016–2018, 2021), World Series champion (2018), NL Rookie of the Year (2011), NL Rolaids Relief Man Award (2012), Delivery Man of the Year (2013), 2× Reliever of the Year (2014, 2017), 4× NL saves leader (2011–2014), Pitched a combined no-hitter on June 24, 2021, 300 save club

Craig Kimbrel is an elite pitcher in the MLB and has been for a number of years. He has won 41 games in his career and lost 36, while posting an ERA of 2.31 and striking out 1,098 batters.

Craig Kimbrel was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the first round (29th overall) of the 2010 draft. In his rookie season he had a win-loss record of 4-1 with a 3.12 ERA in 56 innings pitched split between Double A Mississippi and Triple-A Gwinnett.

Craig Kimbrel made his Major League debut on May 7th, 2010 against the Houston Astros at Turner Field. In that game he allowed one run on four hits over six innings en route to earning himself victory. 

Craig Kimbrel is known for having outstanding control both on and off the mound, as well as being able to make hitters uncomfortable with his devastating fastball.

His secondary pitches are also highly effective, including a wicked slider, which makes him difficult to hit no matter what pitch sequence he throws during any given at bat. It's not just Craig's ability to dominate opponents on the field that has drawn attention.

It's also how community-minded he is outside of baseball commitments such as participating in Make-A-Wish Foundation events or hosting charity golf tournaments to raise money for various causes close to his heart.

As per Sporting News' projections released prior to each season, these numbers may change based off performances from year-to-year.

31. Javy López

Javy López Career

  • 3× All-Star (1997, 1998, 2003), World Series champion (1995), NLCS MVP (1996), Silver Slugger Award (2003), Braves Hall of Fame

Javy López became a full-time catcher in 1992 with the Atlanta Braves and made his MLB debut that year. He played for the Braves, Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, Cincinnati Reds, and Washington Nationals before retiring after the 2006 season.

Javy López was an All-Star twice (2000 and 2002), won three Gold Gloves (1997–1999, 2001) and led National League catchers in assists four times (1995–1998). In 1999 he set a record for most home runs by a catcher in one season with 24 HRs; this record was broken by Joe Mauer of the Minnesota Twins in 2009.

Lopez also holds records for most RBIs as a catcher (1,846) and most stolen bases as a catcher (225). On September 2nd, 2006 Javy announced his retirement from baseball after playing 11 seasons professionally. 

Since retiring from baseball Lopez has become an analyst on Fox Sports' coverage of Major League Baseball games.

32. Terry Pendleton

Infielder

Terry Pendleton Career

  • All-Star (1992), NL MVP (1991), 3× Gold Glove Award (1987, 1989, 1992), NL batting champion (1991), Braves Hall of Fame

Terry Pendleton was a third baseman who played for the Atlanta Braves and Kansas City Royals in his 14-year MLB career. He had a batting average of .270 with 140 home runs and 946 RBIs.

Terry Pendleton is best known for hitting two home runs in Game 7 of the 1998 World Series, which led to the Braves winning their first championship since 1975. 

After playing his final game in September 1998, Terry Pendleton retired from baseball as an all-star player and member of three different teams' Hall of Fame induction ceremonies.

In 2006, he became coach of the Atlanta Braves minor league team where he remained until his retirement in 2018 at age 70 years old due to health concerns stemming from a stroke suffered earlier that year. 

Terry Pendleton was an all-around player who excelled at both batting and fielding. He won three Gold Glove Awards, two MVP Awards, and led the National League in batting twice. Terry Pendleton played for eight different teams during his 14-year professional career.

33. Kid Nichols

Kid Nichols Career

  • 3× NL wins leader (1896–1898), Braves Hall of Fame

Nichols was a pitcher who played in the Majors for over 20 years. He had an impressive win-loss record, and his ERA was also very low. Nichols began his career with the Boston Beaneaters, and he spent most of his time with them.

He later played for Philadelphia, but it is largely remembered that he had the best season of his career with Boston in 1903. Nichols retired after playing in 1906 for Philadelphia, but he continued to pitch into the early 1920s as a minor leaguer and instructor.

Nichols passed away at age 83 in 1953 after a long illness, and he remains one of baseball's all-time great pitchers. Kid Nichols was one of the most successful catchers in baseball history. He played for Boston, St. Louis and Philadelphia and led his teams to three NL championships.

2. Nichols also had a stellar record as a manager, winning 80% of his games. 3. Kid Nichols is now known mostly for being the grandfather of actor Jason Robards Jr., who portrayed President John F Kennedy in the movie JFK (1991).

34. A.J. Minter

Pitcher

A.J. Minter Career

  • World Series champion (2021)

Minter was drafted in the first round of the 2012 MLB draft by Atlanta. In his rookie season, Minter pitched to a 2-1 record with a 3.68 ERA and 29 strikeouts in 34 innings pitched across threeMLB teams.

Braves, Angels and Reds In 2017 Minter had an impressive year with the Braves pitching to a 10-5 record with a 2.62 ERA.

While striking out 123 batters over 159 innings pitched His 2018 campaign was cut short after he tore his Achilles tendon in late May which ended up costing him most of the season After undergoing surgery on his Achilles, Minter is looking forward to returning stronger next year and pushing for another spot on Atlanta's rotation A.J.

Minter is a 24-year old left-handed pitcher who has been with the Atlanta Braves since 2017. He made his Major League debut in 2017 and went 3–1 with a 2.77 ERA in 10 games (nine starts). In 2018, A.J. went 9–7 with a 3.92 ERA in 21 starts (20 relief appearances). 

He was named to the National League All-Star team for the first time in 2019 and won his first career start as an All-Star, allowing one run on four hits over six innings against the American League squad at Nationals Park on July 18th In 2020. 

he led all NL pitchers by recording 157 strikeouts while posting a 13–6 record and 468 strike outs over 177 1/3 innings pitched throughout the season.

35. Michael Harris II

Outfielder

Michael Harris II Career

  • NL Rookie of the Year (2022)

Harris was drafted by the Braves in the third round of the 2018 MLB Draft. He made his professional debut with the Rome Braves, hitting .279/.343/.539 with five home runs and 21 RBIs in 63 games.

Harris spent all of 2019 with Atlanta's Gulf Coast League affiliate, where he hit .331/.387/.549 with 16 home runs and 54 RBIs in 124 games. 

In 2020, Harris played for Class A Advanced Carolina before being promoted to Triple-A Gwinnett late in the season.

There, he hit .283/.348/.548 overall with 17 home runs and 66 RBIs in 134 games. The 2021 season saw Harris make a big jump up to Major League Baseball as he started at outfielder for Atlanta on Opening Day while Ender Inciarte was on paternity leave. 

He ended up playing 137 total games that year as well as 20 more during the postseason (including 10 starts). Overall, he batted .288/~337/.518 with 32 homers and 109 RBIs – leading all rookies in both categories – cementing himself firmly on Atlanta's longterm roster moving forward.

Also Played For: perth wildcats

36. Austin Riley

Outfielder

Austin Riley Career

  • All-Star (2022), World Series champion (2021), All-MLB First Team (2021), Silver Slugger Award (2021)

Austin Riley made his MLB debut in 2019 with the Atlanta Braves. Riley is a third baseman who was signed as an international free agent by the Braves in 2017.

Prior to making it to the big leagues, Riley had success at both levels of baseball, including Rookie Ball and Short-Season A ball for Memphis Redbirds and Carolina Mudcats, respectively.

In 2019, he hit .271/.338/.523 with 17 home runs and 57 RBIs in 130 games for Atlanta's Double-A affiliate before being called up to the majors late that season. He continued his impressive play in 2020, hitting .

269/.362/563 with 25 home runs and 84 RBIs spread over 154 games played - earning him a spot on Atlanta's roster for their postseason run that ended with a World Series championship win over Cleveland (Riley batted just .111 during this series).

37. Kyle Wright

Pitcher

Kyle Wright Career

  • World Series champion (2021), MLB wins leader (2022)

Kyle Wright was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the 3rd round of the 2013 MLB Draft. He made his MLB debut with the Braves in 2018 and finished the season with a record of 7-10, 4.92 ERA in 28 appearances (25 starts).

Kyle Wright spent most of his time as a starter for Gwinnett Stripers prior to making his MLB debut, accumulating 140 total innings pitched between both teams combined. As a reliever, he has appeared in 36 games (all relief appearances) over 2 seasons with Atlanta and Gwinnett and owns an ERA of 1.64 with 38 strikeouts across 43 innings pitched.

Kyle Wright is a 23-year old pitcher with the Atlanta Braves. Kyle Wright has had a successful career thus far, winning 13 games and posting an ERA of 4.13 over 233 strikeouts.

in just 238 innings pitched. Kyle Wright was one win away from being named MLB's wins leader for 2018 when he led his team to their first ever World Series victory in 2021.

Outside of baseball, Kyle Wright is also a student at Wake Forest University where he is majoring in business administration with a focus on finance and accounting. 

As someone who works hard both on and off the field, it will be interesting to see what else Kyle Wright can achieve during his time playing professional baseball.

38. Andrelton Simmons

Infielder

Andrelton Simmons Career

  • 4× Gold Glove Award (2013, 2014, 2017, 2018)

Andrelton Simmons is a shortstop who has played in the MLB for the Atlanta Braves. He was drafted by the Braves in the first round of the 2008 MLB Draft and made his debut with them in 2012.

Simmons has been a consistent performer, earning Gold Gloves Awards and All-Star selections during his time in baseball. In 2017, he became a free agent and signed with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim where he continues to play at shortstop.

Andrelton Simmons is a three-time Gold Glove Award Winner as the best defensive player in baseball. Andrelton Simmons was born on July 28, 1984 in Dominica and moved to the United States when he was just 2 years old. 

He attended high school at San Diego State University where he played for the Aztecs from 2002 to 2004 before being drafted by Atlanta Braves in the first round of 2005 MLB Draft. 

In his 10 seasons with Atlanta, Simmons has averaged .263 batting average with 70 home runs and 444 RBIs while playing both shortstop and second base. 

After four successful seasons with Los Angeles Angels (2016-2020), Andrelton Simmons joined Minnesota Twins for 2021 season which ended up being his final year as an active player in Major League Baseball due to injuries sustained during spring training of the 2022 campaign with the Chicago Cubs.

39. Rico Carty

Rico Carty Career

  • All-Star (1970), NL batting champion (1970)

Rico Carty was a right fielder who played in MLB for the Milwaukee Braves and Toronto Blue Jays. He had a batting average of .299 and 204 home runs during his career.

Carty was born on September 1, 1939, in Consuelo, San Pedro de Macorís, Dominican Republic. He began playing baseball at an early age and made his professional debut with the Milwaukee Braves in 1963.

In 1979, Rico retired from professional baseball after playing for the Toronto Blue Jays for 14 seasons. After retiring from baseball, Rico started working as a color commentator for the Venezuelan TV network Venevisión Sports where he currently works to this day.

Rico Carty was an all-star caliber player for the Milwaukee Braves in the 1960s and 1970s. He led the NL in batting twice, and is one of only two players to ever do so (the other being Tony Gwynn). 

After his playing career ended, Rico became a successful manager with teams including the Texas Rangers, Chicago Cubs and Toronto Blue Jays.

40. Rafael Furcal

Rafael Furcal Career

  • 3× All-Star (2003, 2010, 2012), World Series champion (2011), NL Rookie of the Year (2000)

Rafael Furcal is a shortstop who has played in the MLB for over a decade. Furcal was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in 2000 and made his debut with them that year.

He spent most of his career with the Braves, but also played for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Miami Marlins during that time. Furcar left baseball after 2014 to spend more time with his family, but he will always be remembered as one of the best shortstops in MLB history.

Rafael Furcal is a veteran outfielder who has played for the Atlanta Braves (2000-2005), Los Angeles Dodgers (2006-2011) and St. Louis Cardinals (2011-2012). He was an All Star in 2003, 2010 and 2012 and won a World Series with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2011. 

Furcal possesses good batting average (.281) and home runs (#113) stats over his career which have earned him awards such as Rookie of the Year from 2000, NL All-Star Selection three times consecutively from 2003 to 2005.

Silver Slugger Award twice consecutively from 2007 to 2008, Gold Glove Award once in 2009 by unanimous vote by all 30 MLB clubs.

41. Gary Sheffield

Gary Sheffield Career

  • 9× All-Star (1992, 1993, 1996, 1998–2000, 2003–2005), World Series champion (1997), 5× Silver Slugger Award (1992, 1996, 2003–2005), NL batting champion (1992)

Sheffield enjoyed a successful 13-year career with the New York Yankees, amassing 2,689 hits and .292 batting average. He was an All-Star in each of his first 10 seasons in the majors and won three Silver Slugging Awards.

Sheffield battled injuries for most of his final two seasons in the big leagues and played only 49 games after undergoing reconstructive surgery on his right hand at the end of 2008. 

After retiring as a player, Sheffield served as hitting coach for the Mets from 2010 to 2012 before being fired following an altercation with team management that resulted in criminal charges.

Being filed against him In January 2016 he signed with Atlanta Braves organization as a special assistant to general manager John Coppolella Sheffield enjoyed a successful MLB career with the Brewers, Padres, Marlins and Dodgers.

He was an All-Star nine times and won 5 Silver Slugger Awards. In 1997, Sheffield led the NL in batting average while helping Milwaukee reach the World Series championship game. 

After spending 2007 to 2008 with Detroit, he signed with New York Mets where he played until 2009 when his contract expired and he retired from baseball at age 36.

Also Played For: little league world series

42. Tyler Matzek

Pitcher

Tyler Matzek Career

  • World Series champion (2021)

Tyler Matzek was born in 1990, and is a left-handed pitcher for the Atlanta Braves. He made his MLB debut with the Braves in 2018. In 36 games (5 starts), he had an ERA of 5.92 and gave up 74 hits over 63 innings pitched.

He has also played for the Padres, Brewers, Rockies, Diamondbacks and Padres again since making his MLB debut in 2018 pitching to a 3-6 record with an ERA of 4.74 in 108 appearances overall including 72 starts. (Stats as of October 14th) His fielding percentage is.

988 which puts him among the best pitchers at throwing out runners attempting to steal second base. (Stats as of September 30th) Tyler Matzek grew up playing baseball.

in Mission Viejo California before signing with the Miami Marlins as a non drafted free agent after graduating from high school where he was named 2nd team all state by CalHiSports newspaper following his senior year.

7 As a lefty starter TylerMatzek's fastball averages 93 mph according to Fangraphs but can top out at 96 mph on occasion while featuring sinkers that average 78mph along with slider (83mph).

43. William Contreras

Catcher

William Contreras Career

  • All-Star (2022), World Series champion (2021)

Contreras was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the first round of the 2016 MLB Draft. He made his MLB debut with the team in September of that year, appearing in five games.

In 2018, Contreras had a breakout season, recording a .291 batting average and 10 home runs while also setting career highs for walks (38) and RBIs (75). The catcher-turned-outfielder signed a four-year extension with Milwaukee in January 2019 worth $8 million.

Contreras played for the Atlanta Braves from 2020 to 2022. He hit .260 with 28 home runs and 69 RBIs during that time. Contreras was an All-Star in 2020 and won a World Series championship with the Braves in 2021.

44. Kolby Allard

Pitcher

Kolby Allard

Kolby Allard is a pitcher for the Atlanta Braves organization. He was drafted by the Braves in the first round of the 2016 MLB Draft. Kolby has spent most of his professional career pitching for the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, but he made his major league debut with Atlanta in 2017.

In 2018, Allard pitched to a 3-7 record and 5.06 ERA with 88 strikeouts in 119 innings pitched for Atlanta's minor league affiliate, Gwinnett Stripers. Kolby has posted an 8-1 record with a 1.53 ERA through 25 frames (52 innings). 

He is considered to have one of the best arms in baseball which could make him a high draft pick again next year if he continues on this path Kolby also enjoys playing basketball and football Kolby Allard made his MLB debut with the Atlanta Braves in 2018.

He has a 9-23 win-loss record and an ERA of 6.07. Allard has struck out 191 batters in 333 innings pitched, but he also walks more than he strikeouts (102). Kolby Allard is likely to be traded this off-season as part of a rebuilding effort by the Atlanta Braves.

45. Luke Jackson

Pitcher

Luke Jackson Career

  • World Series champion (2021)

Luke Jackson made his MLB debut with the San Francisco Giants in 2016. Luke was originally drafted by the Atlanta Braves in 2008, but he did not sign and instead played college baseball at Florida State University.

After going undrafted in 2013, Jackson signed a minor league deal with the Miami Marlins and enjoyed success there before being traded to the Giants in 2015. 

In 2018, Jackson had an outstanding season for San Francisco pitching to a 3-1 record with a 2.84 ERA over 45 innings pitched (41 of them scoreless).

The 31-year old is under contract for 2019 with an option for 2020 and will likely be part of the Giants rotation next year barring any unforeseen circumstances or injuries sustained this offseason Luke Jackson is a major league pitcher for the Texas Rangers. He has won 16 games and lost 6 in his career so far.

His ERA stands at 4.24, but he's struck out 284 batters in just over 190 innings pitched thus far in his big-league career - impressive figures no matter what era you're looking at. 

The World Series champion Texas Rangers drafted Luke Jackson with their first-round pick (5th overall) back in 2015, and he's been one of their most consistent performers ever since then - notching up 2 playoff wins along the way as well.

With a bright future ahead of him, Luke Jackson will be hoping to continue winning games for the Texas Rangers moving forward.

46. Tommy Holmes

Tommy Holmes Career

  • 2× All-Star (1945, 1948), NL home run leader (1945), Braves Hall of Fame

Tommy Holmes was an outfielder and manager in MLB for over 50 years. He started his career with the Boston Braves, playing there until 1952. After leaving the Braves, he played for the Brooklyn Dodgers before retiring in 1956.

Tommy Holmes then became a manager, coaching teams including the Cleveland Indians (1957-1964), Kansas City Royals (1965-1967), Baltimore Orioles (1968-1973) and San Diego Padres (1974).

 He passed away at 91 years old on April 14th 2008 after a long and successful career in baseball Holmes played for the Boston Braves from 1942-1951, and compiled a batting average of .302 with 88 home runs.

After being released by the Braves, Holmes signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers where he enjoyed more success as a player and manager. He led the Dodgers to two consecutive National League championships in 1952 and 1953. 

Holmes was inducted into both the Baseball Hall of Fame (in 1985) and the Brooklyn Dodgers Hall of Fame (in 1994). Holmes died in 1993 at age 80 after a long battle with cancer.

47. Kent Mercker

Kent Mercker Career

  • World Series champion (1995), Pitched a no-hitter on April 8, 1994, Pitched a combined no-hitter on September 11, 1991

Kent Mercker is a veteran pitcher who has spent his entire career with the Cincinnati Reds. He had an impressive 74–67 win-loss record in MLB play and led the league in strikeouts for three consecutive seasons from 2002 to 2004.

Kent Mercker was born on February 1, 1968, in Brownsburg, Indiana. After attending college at Purdue University, he made his MLB debut with the Atlanta Braves in 1989. 

In 2008, Kent Mercker ended his career with the Cincinnati Reds after pitching 10 games during the season. He left baseball with an impressive 917 strikeouts to his credit Mercker was a reliable starter for most of his career, except for one season.

When he struggled. Mercker is best known for his no-hitters, which he pitched in both the regular and postseasons. He retired with 166 wins and a 2.93 ERA in over 2000 innings pitched.

48. Huascar Ynoa

Pitcher

Huascar Ynoa Career

  • World Series champion (2021)

Huascar Ynoa is a 24-year-old pitcher for the Atlanta Braves. He was drafted by the team in the first round of the 2018 MLB draft. 

Ynoa has played for several teams throughout his minor league career, including Myrtle Beach Pelicans (A), Rome Braves (AA), and Gwinnett Stripers (AAA).

In 18 games with Gwinnett this season, he has posted a 3.12 ERA while striking out 27 batters in 32 innings pitched. 

Withstanding high levels of competition, Ynoa has been impressive thus far in his professional career and looks to be an important part of Atlanta's future pitching staff Huascar Ynoa was signed by the Atlanta Braves as an international free agent in February 2019.

He debuted with the team during their opening series against the Philadelphia Phillies. In 41 games played, he has a 4-8 record with 5.22 ERA and 128 strikeouts.

 Ynoa is from Cuba and he made his MLB debut in 2019 for the Boston Red Sox but did not appear in a game before being traded to Atlanta later that season where he has started every game since then.

Final Words

The Atlanta Braves are one of the most successful teams in baseball history, having won 14 division titles and four National League championships. They have had many talented players over the years, but some of their best ever include Hank Aaron, Frank Robinson, Phil Niekro and Ozzie Smith.

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