Position Players Reporting Early Shows Atlanta's Hunger for A Different Finish to 2024

The Atlanta Braves may not be happy with how 2023 ended, but they're already hard at work on the 2024 season

The Atlanta Braves welcomed pitchers and catchers to North Port, FL today for the start of spring training. 

And, it turns out, quite a few position players as well. 

Per multiple reports, Austin Riley, Matt Olson, Michael Harris II, and newcomer Jarred Kelenic were among the hitters that came to Cool Today Park well in advance of Monday's reporting date for position players. 

And it's because no one's satisfied with the status quo. 

We've heard from Spencer Strider and A.J. Minter about how the goal of the Atlanta Braves is to win a World Series, and anything less than achieving that goal isn't acceptable. 

And multiple position players - including last year's home run leader in all of baseball (Matt Olson), a two-time Silver Slugger and two-time All Star coming off of three consecutive top seven MVP finishes (Austin Riley), and the 2022 NL Rookie of the Year - demonstrated that point, by showing that they're doing even more work to ensure a different outcome in 2024. 

Day 1 at #BravesST 🌴

Pitchers and catchers reported.

Baseball things happened. pic.twitter.com/rHz5eDqaLw

— Bally Sports: Braves (@BravesOnBally) February 14, 2024

Harris confirmed as much when he voluntarily spoke to the media. 

"We’ve got to keep doing what we’ve been doing and try to fix some little things to give us that extra push." 

That extra push includes extra, voluntarily work, something that opened the eyes of newcomer Kelenic, who was acquired via trade from the Seattle Mariners on the eve of the Winter Meetings. 

"You see the talent in [the clubhouse] and you see the people in there,” Kelenic said. “I think anytime you put somebody new in there, they’re just going to adapt to that environment. It’s already a winning atmosphere. So to come from a different organization and now to this, I couldn’t be more excited.”

Austin Riley demonstrated that winning atmosphere when he agreed with Harris that working more and harder, finding every edge to get better, was the only way forward. “You could sit there and feel sorry for yourself, or you could try to learn from what happened and try to get better,” Riley told reporters. “That’s the way I’ve looked at it this offseason. I’m just trying to improve some stuff from the hitting side and defensive side. That’s the mindset of a lot of the guys. We want to continue to try to win the division and get to that point where we know what we have to do to take care of business.”

Expect more of this from the Braves - they're not happy with how last season ended. No one is. And so far, they're not only saying the right things, but doing them too. 

Spencer Strider: "No acceptance of anything less than winning a World Series"

Important Braves Today Offseason Stories
2023 MLB Free Agent Rankings
Current Atlanta Braves prospect rankings
Current Atlanta Braves 40-man roster
Everything You Need to Know About Atlanta Braves Spring Training

Check out Braves Today on Socials!
Follow Braves Today on Twitter!
Like Braves Today on Facebook!
Check out the homepage for more Atlanta Braves News!
Subscribe to Braves Today on YouTube!
Get Exclusive Braves Merchandise