After last year’s disappointing season, the Atlanta Braves are already making necessary changes. First-year manager Walt Weiss will be joined by a host of new coaching staff members in an effort to guide the Braves back into contention.
While much of the team will remain in place for the 2026 campaign, these three areas of focus could produce much better results on the field next season.
Braves simply must make these changes if they want to turn things around in 2026
This list isn’t meant to be exhaustive, but instead a look at some of the bigger changes that the Braves need to make. There are a number of paths Atlanta can take to get back into contention, but these would be a great place to start.
Emphasize speed more
The Braves ranked 26th in the Majors in stolen bases in 2025 and 28th in 2024. Of course, some of this was due to Ronald Acuña Jr.’s knee surgeries and hamstring injuries, but the team also has elite speed in Eli White and Michael Harris II. Even Austin Riley is spry for a third baseman.
In a league with a growing emphasis on speed – five of the top eight teams in steals made the postseason – the Braves should take more chances on the basepaths in 2026. The hiring of first-base coach Antoan Richardson is a first step in this direction. Acuña getting back to full health may be step No. 2 since he has stolen just 25 bases since his 73-steal season in 2023. The last piece could be the new shortstop that the Braves are predicted to sign this winter. Ha-Seong Kim, for example, contributed eight baserunning runs between 2022-24, ranking in the top 25 players in that span.
Injury-proof the rotation
This one may not actually be doable. After all, injuries can crop up seemingly out of nowhere, but with the Braves’ emphasis on velocity, sore arms can quickly pile up. Among players who have pitched at least 400 plate appearances in any of the last four seasons, Spencer Strider (in 2022 and ‘23) and Spencer Schwellenbach (in 2025) hold three of the top 40 fastest fastballs by average velocity. Had Hurston Waldrep pitched enough this year, his fastball would fall just shy of the top 50.
In the Braves’ most successful recent seasons, the rotation featured a healthy blend of firepower and craftiness. Take the 2021 World Series staff: Huascar Ynoa and Charlie Morton were the hardest throwers of the bunch. (Ironically Ynoa’s subsequent Tommy John surgery has effectively ended his big league career.) If new pitching coach Jeremy Hefner can emphasize the importance of consistency and depth over velocity, the Braves may dodge a few injuries in the coming season.
Turn the attention to young stars
It sounds wild to say that the Braves need to refocus on their prospect development. After all, the club has claimed three Rookie of the Year awards in the past decade. But that wave of prospects seems to be coming to its end. 19 of MLB Pipeline’s Top 30 Braves prospects are projected to be at least a full season away from the big leagues. That means now is the time to invest in the farm system and player development.
By the time top prospect Cam Caminiti is ready to take the mound in Atlanta, Acuña will be in the final year of his contract. His successor, whether it be Diego Tornes or Conor Essenburg or someone not even drafted yet, may still be in the minors at that point. To preserve the integrity of the squad, the Braves need to start finding the pieces that will bridge the gap between generations of players.
This article was originally published on housethathankbuilt.com as 3 changes Braves must make after disappointing 2025 season.
