3 prospects that should make Braves’ Opening Day roster
By John Buhler
Pick Analysis. OF. 2. 17. Scouting Report. Atlanta Braves. Cristian Pache. player
He will almost certainly be the Opening Day starter in centerfield
Given how much he played for the Braves in the seven-game 2020 NLCS vs. the Los Angeles Dodgers, there was next to no chance Atlanta’s top prospect Cristian Pache was not going to make the big-league club out of camp. He projects as the starting centerfielder on Atlanta’s Opening Day roster, sliding in between left fielder Marcell Ozuna and with Ronald Acuña Jr. kicking over to right.
Pache only went 1-for-4 at the plate in two regular-season games last season, but filled in marvelously for an injured Adam Duvall in the NLCS. He went 4-for-22 at the plate for the Braves, knocking in four runs and scoring three more himself. This came against some of the very best pitching in all of baseball. Simply put, the stage was not too big for the Braves’ top prospect.
What could have kept him from making the Opening Day roster would have been the Braves re-signing Duvall after releasing him or bringing back savvy veteran Nick Markakis on a one-year deal. The idea is Pache will be at-worst the Braves’ fourth outfielder, as skipper Brian Snitker could place former NL All-Star outfielder Ender Inciarte and his Gold Glove defense in centerfield initially.
Ultimately, it would be shocking if Pache is not on the Braves’ Opening Day roster. The Braves do not need to be petty about service time when he can come in and make a big impact right away. They need him to become the All-Star player they were hoping for when they signed him out of the Dominican Republic. The best part is he has plenty of great teammates to learn from in 2021.