The Atlanta Braves were supposed to be one of the best teams in baseball last season.

They certainly weren’t supposed to be worse than the Miami Marlins.

But that’s where the Braves found themselves, fourth place in the NL East Division, closer to the basement-dwelling Washington Nationals than they were to even an NL Wild Card spot.

The Braves have plenty of talent, but none of it came together in the way it was supposed to in 2025.

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That makes the season ahead feel that much more crucial in Atlanta. The Braves can’t afford another underwhelming season with so many impressive players in their primes.

They’ve got a good roster to bounce back, for sure, but there is one major question.

ESPN’s Bradford Doolittle, in a new article on Friday, wonders if the Braves have a good enough shortstop to be a true contender. It’s just one spot, yes, but it’s also a big one.

“Such talents aren’t easy to find and acquire, first and foremost,” Doolittle writes. “The Braves have been in an awkward spot at shortstop ever since Dansby Swanson departed, and for all the roster juggling GM Alex Anthopoulos has done, the picture here remains murky. That description might be a product of comparing the Braves’ forecast at shortstop (27th) with their outlook at basically every other position on the field, which ranges from good to excellent. Still, it’s not a great hole to have for a contending team and championship aspirant.”

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The Braves did sign Ha-Seaong Kim this offseason, but an off-the-field injury means Kim won’t be ready for Opening Day.

Mauricio Dubon seems to be the fill-in choice until Kim is back.

“Kim is down with a hand injury, pushing Dubon into an awkward fit as an everyday shortstop,” Doolittle writes. “Kim will likely return in late May or early June, so the arrangement is temporary. That doesn’t change the fact that the Braves really need to make a splash at this spot, especially as their highest-ranked shortstop prospects are a long way from helping in Atlanta. As the in-season trade market takes shape, this is a situation to keep an eye on.”

The Braves might be strong enough elsewhere that this spot doesn’t matter. But a season ago, that didn’t turn out to be the case.

This time around, Atlanta will need its players to reach their potential, or it could be another uncomfortably bumpy season ahead.

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