The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Infielders (7, including catchers)

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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.

 ?? ?? Orlando Arcia, coming off a solid season with the Braves (.244, 9 HR, 30 RBIs), provides infield depth. He’ll be ready to step in if any of the starters are injured or taking a day off to rest. Arcia, a seven-year veteran, spent the first 5½ years of his career with the Brewers.
Orlando Arcia, coming off a solid season with the Braves (.244, 9 HR, 30 RBIs), provides infield depth. He’ll be ready to step in if any of the starters are injured or taking a day off to rest. Arcia, a seven-year veteran, spent the first 5½ years of his career with the Brewers.

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