It will be interesting to see how 2022 is remembered by Braves fans many years from now. The year introduced us to Michael Harris II and Spencer Strider, the incredible rookies who helped the team overcome a 10 1/2-game division deficit at the end of May and eventually win a fifth consecutive National League East title.

Other than 1993, Braves fans have never experienced a division race like the one that unfolded this year. Atlanta passed the Mets during the regular season’s final weekend to win the NL East crown. Injuries and ailments suffered by Strider and Max Fried influenced an NL Division Series loss to the Phillies.

Along with experiencing an immediate postseason exit, the Braves also said goodbye to both Freddie Freeman and Dansby Swanson this past year. Both will continue to be missed over the next few years. But here are three reasons the Braves are heading into 2023 as legit World Series threats.

1) A healthy Acuña and Albies

The Braves won 101 games with Ozzie Albies missing most of the season’s final four months and with Ronald Acuña Jr. nowhere near 100 percent. Now these two young difference makers will be back together on the field to serve as one of MLB’s most exciting duos.

Acuña seemed to be himself for about a month after returning from right knee surgery, and then we saw just moments of his excellence over the last three-plus months of the season. Having a full offseason and being further distanced from the ACL tear, the 25-year-old outfielder has the potential to immediately regain his status as an annual MVP candidate.

Albies broke his left foot in June and then fractured his right pinkie one day after spending three months on the injured list. It was essentially a lost season for the second baseman. His return will impact the Braves both offensively and defensively. And it just feels like Acuña and Albies bring out the best in each other when they are on the field together.

2) An improved rotation

Yeah, the faces are similar, but the minds and bodies of the young arms are more mature and experienced. Strider excelled over his four months as a starter this year, and he should be physically prepared to be a frontline piece over the entirety of next season. Some question whether Kyle Wright will match his 21-win season. Well, the win total really doesn’t matter. But if he’s at least somewhere between the 3.19 ERA and 3.89 expected ERA he produced in 2022, he’ll remain a solid No. 2 or No. 3 starter.

As long as Fried and Strider are healthy, the Braves can feel good about having Wright and Charlie Morton fill the rotation’s next two spots. The big question is who will fill the fifth spot if the Braves don’t add another experienced starter before the season starts. Ian Anderson and Mike Soroka will battle for the spot. We don’t know how effective Soroka will be as he comes back after tearing his right Achilles for a second time.

Questions also surround Anderson. He missed time in 2021 because of a sore shoulder and he just never got on track last year. Still, given some of his past success, especially during the postseason, there’s certainly reason to believe he could at least be a serviceable No. 5 starter.

3) Top catching duo

Today’s catchers have a lot more power than the shortstops of the 1980s and early 1990s. So the comparison isn’t perfect. But teams are currently assessing catchers much like they assessed shortstops a few decades ago. If you are great defensively, you don’t have to be much more than an average offensive contributor.

Well, with Sean Murphy and Travis d’Arnaud, the Braves have a pair of veteran catchers who can provide significant value both offensively and defensively. Yeah, William Contreras’ power will be missed. But this duo can compensate for his loss and also provide enough behind the plate to ensure the catching position will be upgraded in 2023.

Who holds the Braves' record for most 10-strikeout games recorded in a single season at 24 years old or younger?

A) Kevin Millwood
B) Julio Teheran
C) Tommy Hanson
D) Spencer Strider

Mike Dunn and his staff at the Braves’ Spring Training site deserve a lot of appreciation for the countless hours they have spent repairing the fields and facilities damaged by Hurricane Ian in September. Some of the buildings were damaged by flooding and much of the infield dirt on the fields was lost.

But everything should be ready to go when the Braves arrive in February for the start of Spring Training. If you haven’t visited since the Braves moved to this North Port, Fla., location in 2020, do yourself a favor and plan a visit.

It’s a much different atmosphere than Disney provided from 1998-2019.  But the laid-back beach lifestyle that currently surrounds the Braves during Spring Training seems much more appealing to me.

D) Spencer Strider

Strider recorded six 10-strikeout games this year to set a new single-season record for Braves pitchers 24 or younger. He also matched Hanson and Teheran for the most such games (six) totaled by any Braves pitcher before their age-25 season. John Smoltz, Tony Cloninger and Millwood were the club’s only other pitchers to do this five times before their age-25 seasons.

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