Monday, September 15

ATLANTA -- Nacho Alvarez Jr. spent the past two months as Atlanta’s third baseman. Once the regular season ends, the 21-year-old prospect will be among the players representing the Braves in this year’s Arizona Fall League.

Alvarez missed most of Spring Training with a left wrist ailment and remained sidelined into June. Two weeks after joining Triple-A Gwinnett, he suffered an oblique strain that sidelined him for another two weeks. He has remained healthy since the middle of July. But the Braves want him to make up for lost time by collecting at-bats in the AFL, which primarily consists of top prospects from each MLB franchise.

The Braves’ Top 30 prospects competing this year are RHP Drue Hackenberg (No. 10) and RHP Luke Sinnard (No. 16). Atlanta’s other representatives include OF Patrick Clohisy, INF Jim Jarvis, LHP Jacob Kroeger, RHP LJ McDonough and RHP Cory Wall.

All of Atlanta’s representatives will play for the Glendale Desert Dogs.

Alvarez has made a combined 247 plate appearances between Triple-A and the Major League level during what has been a chaotic season. One day after returning from the oblique injury, he was sent to the Majors because Austin Riley had just been sidelined by an abdominal strain. 

After returning to Gwinnett’s lineup on July 26, with the hope of finally finding some continuity, he was again rushed back to the Majors. His return was necessitated when Riley suffered a season-ending abdominal injury on Aug. 2.

Alvarez has impressed with his defense, but he hasn’t shown enough power to confidently project him as an everyday corner infielder at the big league level. He has hit .232 with no homers and a .612 OPS over 168 plate appearances for Atlanta. 

While Alvarez’s future might be as a utility player, the plan is for him to primarily play third base while playing for Glendale.

• Here are the 2025 Arizona Fall League rosters

• Hackenberg was coached by Hall of Famer Billy Wagner during his high school years. The 23-year-old right-hander has struggled since the Braves took him in the second round of the 2023 Draft. He showed some promise late last year, posting a 1.52 ERA over four starts at Triple-A. But he had a 6.99 ERA over 18 starts at Double-A Columbus this year.

A two-month stint on the injured list didn’t alter the trajectory of his season. He posted a 6.97 ERA over 10 starts (41 1/3 innings) after being activated.

• Sinnard had a 4.19 ERA over nine starts for High-A Rome. Taken in the third round of the 2024 Draft, the 22-year-old righty completed 72 1/3 innings combined with Rome and Single-A Augusta this year.

Who leads the Braves in strikeouts this year?

A. Bryce Elder

B. Grant Holmes

C. Chris Sale

D. Spencer Strider

The Braves still have time to celebrate Brian Snitker’s career throughout this season’s final homestand. It would be great to see him showered with appropriate love as he nears the end of his 49th year with the organization.

But the thing about retirement celebrations is they become awkward if the potential retiree isn’t ready to retire.

The assumption throughout this season has been that Snitker will end his managerial duties when his contract ends at the conclusion of this season and assume one of those coveted advisor roles. But having not heard anything from the Braves about his future, Snitker took time last week to say he may want to continue in his current role for at least one more year.

If he reaches the end of the season with the desire to remain the Braves manager and the front office wants to go in a different direction, then we truly will have an awkward situation.

That would be incredibly unfortunate given the incredible loyalty and dedication Snitker has shown while becoming one of the most influential figures in Braves history.

The first 15,000 fans in attendance for the Sept. 22 game against the Nationals will receive a Ronald Acuña Jr. "Red Carpet" Bobblehead featuring this iconic red carpet look. A handful of lucky fans will be surprised with an Acuña-signed bobblehead.

C. Chris Sale

Despite missing more than two months with a left rib fracture, Sale leads the Braves with 141 strikeouts. Holmes, who has been out since late July, ranks second with 123 and Elder (118) and Strider (114) follow.

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