I would love to be wrong.

As an avid Atlanta Braves fan that grew up during the team’s reign over the National League’s East and West divisions, it’s tough for me to ever admit that I think the team is going to have an unsuccessful season.

But, after trading away big names like Jason Heyward and Justin Upton in a busy and undoubtedly controversial offseason, the 2015 version of the
Braves probably isn’t going to be one that competes for a playoff spot, and I don’t think you will meet many people who would adamantly argue that assertion.

Atlanta is currently projected to win just over 73 games this season, a far cry from the .500 mark and a number that fans with a “win now” attitude won’t be pleased with. But with several everyday lineup spots still up for grabs and a bullpen that, to put it nicely, is a long way past its prime, it’s easy to see why money isn’t pouring in on the Braves to win the World Series.

Despite the understandably tempered expectations for Atlanta in 2015, I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that the Braves’ future is brighter than it has been in a long time, and there are two one major reasons why.

First, manager Fredi Gonzalez and the Braves’ front office managed to do what the vast majority of major league teams wouldn’t be able to: replenish the farm system without completely ridding itself of top talent.

There wouldn’t be many instances that the term “rebuilding” would be used to describe a team with the likes of Freddie Freeman, Andrelton Simmons, Julio Teheran and Craig Kimbrel on its big league roster, but that’s exactly what the Braves are doing. Atlanta’s front office has managed to completely restore the failed efforts of past MLB drafts while simultaneously keeping the team’s top talent, and that is a feat that isn’t being discussed enough in the national media. In just a few seasons, the Braves could have the perfect mix of young talent and veteran leadership that it takes to make a deep run in October.

Second, the team is known for developing young pitchers into MLB stars. Even the most casual of Braves fans will recall the 1990’s when pitchers Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine and John Smoltz turned Atlanta into a perennial contender. With the plethora of top talent that flooded the Braves’ farm system via trades this offseason, there is a great chance that at least one of the recently-acquired players becomes a household name. The player who has the greatest chance at accomplishing this feat, in my opinion, is pitcher Max Fried.

Fried, the 21-year-old currently ranked as the number 53 prospect in the game by Baseball America, was acquired by Atlanta from the Padres in the Justin Upton trade. According to RotoWorld.com, Fried has “top-of-the-rotation upside.” Obviously fans were disappointed when Upton was dealt out West, but the Braves received a potential star as part of its return. And Fried isn’t the only youngster acquired by Atlanta who can be dubbed a “potential star.” Obviously, things don’t always pan out the way they’re expected to, but Atlanta has a shot to be really good in a few years.

In a matter of months, Atlanta went from having one of Major League Baseball’s worst farm systems to having a farm system ranked in the league’s top six, according to ESPN senior writer and baseball guru Keith Law.
What the Braves tried to do the past few years didn’t work, as the team failed to make any sort of run into October. But I think it’s a testament to the direction and leadership of Atlanta’s front office that the team now has a bright future.

I would love to see the Braves exceed expectations in 2015 but, even as an avid fan, I know that it simply won’t happen. But I think Atlanta is on the verge of a long stretch of success, and one or two losing seasons is a small price to pay for a chance to return to the glory of years past.
Jacob Dennis