1 position battle for spring training that could shape the Braves’ season

The Atlanta Braves they feature one of the best rosters in Major League Baseball. If they can overcome their injury woes in 2026, they are a front-runner for the postseason, despite playing in the competitive National League East.

The Braves missed the postseason last year because they could never get into a rhythm when it mattered. They actually started the season 0-7 after being swept by the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers in April 2025. They found a way to recover at times, but eventually finished 76-86. The Miami Marlins even finished with a better record than the Braves, and if 2026 goes in Miami’s favor, then four teams will be competing for the playoffs from the NL East. We all know the Philadelphia Phillies will be close, and the new look New York Mets should be very good.

The Braves have players on the roster with a lot of experience, especially in 2021 when they won it all. Ronald Acuna Jr. is one of the best players on the planet, and if he stays healthy throughout 2026, he’ll be an MVP contender again.

Matt Olson, Ozzie Albis, Austin Riley, Michael Harris Jr., Mike Jastrzemski, Jurickson Profar and Eli White are other notable players. Marcell Ozuna is currently a free agent and it does not appear that a return to Atlanta is in the cards.

The Braves have a bevy of catchers who will compete for a roster spot this season. 2025 Rookie of the Year winner Drake Baldwin will likely be the starter with Sean Murphy as the backup when healthy. however, Jonah Heim signed last week. Heim will be the backup while Murphy is on the injured list. Sandy Leon is also a player on the rise. It will be a position to watch in 2026; however, the short-term position will have this fight for position spring training.

Mauricio Dubon and Jorge Mateo will fight for the starting spot. Let’s break down both players and discuss why the starter could shape the entire season for the Braves. Ha-Seong Kim will be out until May with an injury. If healthy, he would compete for a spot and be a likely starter on his defense.

Maurizio Dubon

Dubon is an excellent player who can play any position on the diamond if needed. He had a decent career with the San Francisco Giants and Houston Astros, becoming a strong bench player and filling in when needed. He also started his fair share of games. Dubon is a career .257 hitter with a .669 OPS. He’s not much of a power threat. His speed and defense will be the main reasons why many games start at shortstop.

Dabon doesn’t have the ceiling that Jorge Mateo has; however, his experience should give him an advantage early in the season. Dubon can be a great leader for this Braves team and a k-factor in case the injuries start piling up again. They could move him to other positions if necessary.

Jorge Mateo

If Jorge Mateo beats out Dubon for the starting job at shortstop, then that means he must have had a great spring training offensively. Matteo is one of the fastest players in the league, even faster than Dubon, which is saying something. Mateo excelled at times with the Baltimore Orioles after starting his career with the Padres as Kim’s teammate.

In 2022, Mateo had a decent season with the Orioles, hitting just .221; however, he smashed 13 home runs, drove in 50 RBIs and stole 35 bases. His hitting was a big problem as he struck out 147 times in 494 at-bats. Those numbers really never improved over the years, so the Orioles declined his option, making him a free agent.

ATL brought in Mateo to compete with Dubon and fill in until Kim returned. The Braves need Mateo to improve at the plate and become an extra bat when needed. Batting at the bottom of the lineup, Matteo could serve as another leadoff hitter in front of the top of the order. He has a chance to become a starter if his offense proves to be better than Dubon’s.

Ha-Seong Kim

Kim is currently injured and will start the season at IL with Murphy. Kim is an incredible defensive player who won a Gold Glove with the Padres. He is also a three-time KBO Gold Glove winner, as his defensive strength is among the best in the league. Injuries derailed a strong start to his MLB career.