The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Infielders (7, including catchers)
Matt Olson
Ozzie Albies
Austin Riley
Vaughn Grissom
Sean Murphy
Travis d’Arnaud
Orlando Arcia
Olson at first base, Albies at second, Riley at third and Murphy behind the plate. You know the drill. No questions there.
I’ve thought a lot about the shortstop competition in camp, and I landed on Grissom — at least for this projection. Braden Shewmake, an outstanding defender whose bat has looked good in camp, has turned heads. For now, it seems Grissom hasn’t done anything to weaken his case.
With Shewmake, the Braves could see whether his offensive adjustments are real by evaluating him over the first stretch of the season at Triple-A Gwinnett. Spring training is a small sample size, and Shewmake’s track record at the plate in the minors isn’t great.
Or maybe the Braves end up believing he’s the best shortstop to take north.
The two players are interesting opposites. Grissom, a high school signee a few years ago, is 22. He didn’t have much time in the minors before the Braves called him up. Shewmake, on the other hand, is a 25-year-old drafted in the first round out of college in that same draft.
The Braves have a week and change to make a decision. Unlike with pitchers, you can go down to the wire with position players because they can play every day, giving the club more opportunities to evaluate and more answers. But right now, despite a great spring from Shewmake, I don’t think he’s done enough to jump Grissom just yet.
Remember this: Opening day is an arbitrary date. Everyone knows and accepts this. You can win a job, but you must keep it. I think Shewmake has pleasantly surprised the Braves — who are giving him a legitimate opportunity to showcase his improvement — but at this point, I predict Grissom makes the opening-day roster, with Arcia as a backup infielder.