2012 Atlanta Braves season

2012 Atlanta Braves
Division	Eastern Division
Ballpark	Turner Field
City	Atlanta, Georgia
Owners	Liberty Media
Managers	Fredi González
Television	SportSouth Fox Sports South Peachtree TV (Chip Caray, Joe Simpson, Tom Glavine)
Radio	WCNN WNNX Atlanta Braves Radio Network (Jim Powell, Don Sutton)
Seasons

The 2012 Atlanta Braves season is the Braves' 16th season of home games at Turner Field, 47th season in Atlanta, and 137th season of the franchise. After a late season collapse in 2011 kept the Braves from the playoffs, the team is attempting to return to the postseason for the second time in three seasons.

Offseason

Areas of interest

Following the forgettable conclusion to the 2011 season, Braves general manager Frank Wren highlighted several important points of interest for the offseason. With most players contractually due to return to the team in 2012, few major changes are likely to be made. One area that may see a major overhaul is the shortstop position, where Alex González has played since the Yunel Escobar trade with Toronto in July 2010. González enters the offseason as a free agent. If he proves too expensive for the team, Wren will seek other options on the free agent or trade markets. While center fielder Michael Bourn will return to his position in 2012, the corner outfield positions are areas of contention. In 2011, the Atlanta outfielders finished the season last in the National League in on-base plus slugging and slugging percentage. Wren has stated that right fielder Jason Heyward and left fielder Martín Prado have no guarantee of getting the starting jobs in 2012. On the day after they were eliminated in 2011, Wren was quick to state that veteran starter Derek Lowe was not likely to have a spot in the starting rotation in 2012, due his poor performance in 2011 and a plethora of rookie pitching talent in the Braves farm system. With Lowe guaranteed $15 million in 2012, Wren projected that any of Lowe's salary picked up by another team would significantly assist his efforts to find a shortstop or outfielder.

September 2011

September 29: On the day following the historic elimination of the 2011 Atlanta Braves from playoff contention, Frank Wren announced that manager Fredi González and the entire coaching staff from 2011 would return to their respective roles in 2012. The following day, however, after having a meeting with hitting coach Larry Parrish, Wren announced that Parrish would not return to the coaching staff in 2012. He stated that he would spend this offseason seeking a successor to Parrish. With Parrish's departure, the Braves will now have a third hitting coach in three seasons after removing Terry Pendleton from the role after the 2010 season.

October 2011

Before being traded to the Indians, Derek Lowe went 40–39 with a 4.57 ERA in 101 starts for Atlanta.

October 21: Three weeks after firing Larry Parrish from his hitting coach duties, the Braves announced that Parrish would be succeeded in 2012 by Greg Walker, the former hitting coach for the Chicago White Sox from 2003 to 2011. Walker had stepped down as the White Sox hitting coach immediately following the end of the 2011 season. In the nine seasons Walker served as hitting coach, the White Sox offense ranked third in the Majors in home runs and seventh in slugging percentage. On the other hand, in 2011 the White Sox offense only ranked eleventh in the American League in runs, eighth in average, and seventh in on-base percentage. In an accompanying move, the Braves hired Scott Fletcher to assist Walker in his duties and to serve as an on-site advance scout.

October 31: Three days following the conclusion of the 2011 World Series, the Braves began to make some organizational roster moves. In the first trade of the offseason in the Major Leagues, the Braves traded struggling starting pitcher Derek Lowe to the Cleveland Indians in return for High-A lefty reliever Chris Jones. In addition, the Indians agreed to pay $5 million of Lowe's guaranteed $15 million salary in 2012. Lowe served as the Atlanta Braves' Opening Day starter in 2009, 2010, and 2011. Due to his struggles in 2011, however, Lowe likely would have merely served in a middle relief role for the bullpen in 2012. On the same day, the Braves announced that they had declined the $10.65 million option for center fielder Nate McLouth, effectively ending his lackluster tenure as an Atlanta Brave. Additionally, the Braves decided to exercise the $1.5 million option for utility man Eric Hinske, assuring his return for the 2012 season.

November 2011

November 2: The Braves announced several internal roster moves that allowed for additional space on the forty-man roster. After spending the month of September 2011 with the Major League club, the team outrighted catcher J. C. Boscán, right-handed pitcher Stephen Marek, and outfielders Antoan Richardson and Wilkin Ramírez to the triple-A affiliate Gwinnett Braves. In addition, the Braves filled one roster spot with starting pitcher Todd Redmond, who has spent the previous three seasons pitching for Gwinnett. Accumulating a record of 10–8 with a 2.92 ERA in 2011, Redmond is unlikely to have playing time with the Major League club due to existing pitching depth.

November 3: With the beginning of free agency season, the Braves were able to remove offseason free agents from the forty-man roster. The free agents for this offseason include shortstop Alex González, infielder Jack Wilson, and veteran relievers Scott Linebrink and George Sherrill. In conjunction with the moves made on November 2, Frank Wren and his staff now have seven roster spots that will be filled with potential offseason acquisitions or prospects they wish to protect from the Rule 5 Draft.

November 23: After becoming a free agent following the conclusion to the 2011 season, the Braves decided to decline arbitration to shortstop Alex González. If the team had accepted his arbitration they would have received a compensatory draft pick between the first and second rounds of the 2012 MLB Draft if González signed with another team. The move made it very clear that González would not return as the starting shortstop in 2012. González looked to receive a multi-year contract on the free agent market, something the Braves were not willing to offer due to rising prospects such as Tyler Pastornicky and Andrelton Simmons. On December 8, González signed a contract with the Milwaukee Brewers for one year and a vesting option for the 2013 season.

December 2011

December 8: As a part of the Rule 5 Draft at the 2012 Winter Meetings, the Braves selected left-handed relief pitcher Robert Fish from the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the Major League Phase. Under draft rules, Fish must be kept on the Braves 25-man Major League roster for the entire 2012 season. If waived, Fish must first be offered back to the Angels. Left-handed relief pitcher George Sherrill departs the club as a free agent after serving as the left-handed specialist to the Braves in 2011. With the departure of Sherrill, Fish has the opportunity to provide that role to the bullpen in 2012. No players were selected from the Braves organization by other teams in the Draft.

December 13: Following the deadline to tender contracts to arbitration-eligible players the previous night, the Braves declined to tender 2012 contracts to relief pitcher Peter Moylan and infielder Brooks Conrad. Now a free agent, Moylan's surgically repaired right shoulder posed too much of an injury risk to the Braves to tender the likely $2 million contract he would receive after going through arbitration. All other arbitration-eligible players on the Braves roster, including center fielder Michael Bourn, left fielder Martin Prado, starting pitcher Jair Jurrjens, and reliever Eric O'Flaherty, were tendered contracts.

January 2012

January 13: After being named in trade rumors for much of the offseason, Braves utility man and 2011 starting left-fielder Martin Prado signed a one-year contract worth $4.75 million with the Braves for the 2012 season. The move assures that Prado will not go through the salary arbitration process and will likely return to the team for the 2012 campaign. Starting pitcher Jair Jurrjens, reliever Eric O'Flaherty, and center fielder Michael Bourn remain arbitration eligible.

On the same day, backup infielder Jack Wilson agreed to terms for a one-year contract worth $1 million. Wilson was acquired by the organization from the Seattle Mariners on August 31, 2011. The 34-year-old veteran will provide a dependable backup for Tyler Pastornicky, the projected starting shortstop who will be making his Major League debut. During the offseason, Wilson and Pastornicky have already been training together.

Braves Country Caravan

The Braves organization announced the third annual "Braves Country Caravan" on December 19, 2011. Players, coaches, and personalities of the Braves organization who participate in the Caravan will travel to twenty cities throughout the southeast United States, including ones in Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Tennessee, from January 27 to February 9, 2012. Specific venues and which personalities will appear in each city have not yet been announced. In previous years a select few players and personnel have traveled to one venue to meet fans and sign autographs while others travel to another location. Braves president John Schuerholtz praised the Caravan as an excellent opportunity for the organization to personally thank fans for their support and to reach out to local communities.

Spring Training

The Braves officially announced their 2012 Spring Training schedule on November 16, 2011. Pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report on February 19 and all other players are due to report by February 24. The 34-game slate will begin on March 3 against the Detroit Tigers in Champion Stadium at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista. Champion Stadium has been the Braves' Spring Training home in Florida for the past fifteen seasons. Instead of finishing Spring Training with two games at Turner Field against a Major League team as had been the tradition in previous seasons, the Braves will conclude Spring Training on April 3 at Coolray Field, the regular season home of the Triple-A affiliate Gwinnett Braves. The Future Stars game will provide an opportunity to highlight upcoming prospects.

Non-roster invitees

The team announced on November 22, 2011 the signing of eleven Minor League free agents and invited them all to the Major League Spring Training camp. Four of these players spent significant time at the Major League level in 2011, including relief pitchers Adam Russell and Dusty Hughes. Russell pitched in 36 games for the Tampa Bay Rays while Hughes pitched in 15 games for the Minnesota Twins. Infielder Drew Sutton batted .315 in 54 at-bats for the Boston Red Sox and infielder Josh Wilson served as a backup infielder for the Milwaukee Brewers during the second half of the season. Other players signed include pitchers Jason Rice and Yohan Flande, catchers J. C. Boscan and Jose Yepez, outfielders Luis Durango and Jordan Parraz, and infielder Ernesto Mejia. On January 13, 2011 the team extended invitations to several promising prospects. Rising third baseman Joe Terdoslavich and starting pitcher Sean Gilmartin highlight the group of promising players set to showcase their skills. Catcher Christian Bethancourt, shortstop Andrelton Simmons, center fielder Todd Cunningham, pitcher Zeke Spruill, and outfielder Stefan Gartrell will also appear as non-roster invitees.

Legend
Braves Win	Braves Loss	Braves Tie	Game Cancelled

2012 Spring Training Game Log

(0–0–0) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Time Record ST1 March 3 Tigers ST2 March 4 @ Tigers ST3 March 5 @ Astros ST4 March 6 Nationals ST5 March 7 @ Tigers ST6 March 8 @ Orioles ST7 March 9† Mets ST8 March 9† @ Yankees ST9 March 10 Yankees ST10 March 11† Blue Jays ST11 March 11† @ Blue Jays ST12 March 12 @ Cardinals ST13 March 13 @ Marlins ST14 March 14 Nationals ST15 March 15 @ Phillies ST16 March 16 Astros ST17 March 17† Blue Jays ST18 March 17† @ Mets ST19 March 18 Orioles ST20 March 19 Cardinals ST21 March 20 @ Tigers ST22 March 21 @ Nationals ST23 March 22 Marlins ST24 March 23 Mets ST25 March 24 @ Blue Jays ST26 March 25 Astros ST27 March 27 @ Mets ST28 March 28 Yankees ST29 March 29 @ Nationals ST30 March 30 Astros ST31 March 31 Tigers ST32 April 1 Phillies ST33 April 2 Mets ST34 April 3‡ @ Braves Future Stars

†Split-squad game
‡Game played at Coolray Field in Lawrenceville, Georgia.

Regular season

Season standings

NL East

Team	W	L	Pct.	GB	Home	Road
Washington Nationals	98	64	.605	—	50‍–‍31	48‍–‍33
Atlanta Braves	94	68	.580	4	48‍–‍33	46‍–‍35
Philadelphia Phillies	81	81	.500	17	40‍–‍41	41‍–‍40
New York Mets	74	88	.457	24	36‍–‍45	38‍–‍43
Miami Marlins	69	93	.426	29	38‍–‍43	31‍–‍50

Game log

Legend
Braves Win	Braves Loss	Game Postponed

2012 National League record Source: MLB Standings Grid – 2012
Team	AZ	ATL	CHC	CIN	COL	HOU	LAD	MIA	MIL	NYM	PHI	PIT	SD	SF	STL	WSH	AL
Arizona	–	2–5	5–4	2–5	9–7	6–0	12–6	5–3	3–3	3–4	2–4	3–4	7–11	9–9	1–5	2–4	9–6
Atlanta	5–2	–	3–4	1–5	6–1	4–2	3–3	14–4	3–3	12–6	12–6	3–2	4–3	3–4	5–1	8–10	8–10
Chicago	4–5	4–3	–	4–12	2–4	8–5	2–4	2–4	4–13	4–2	2–4	8–8	3–3	1–6	7–10	1–6	5–10
Cincinnati	5–2	5–1	12–4	–	5–1	10–5	2–4	3–3	9–6	6–2	3–4	11–7	6–2	4–3	6–7	2–5	7–8
Colorado	7–9	1–6	4–2	1–5	–	5–2	8–10	3–4	5–1	5–2	2–7	2–4	8–10	4–14	2–5	4–3	2–13
Houston	0–6	2–4	5–8	5–10	2–5	–	2–4	2–4	8–9	4–2	3–3	5–12	3–5	1–8	4–11	1–7	6–9
Los Angeles	6–12	3–3	4–2	4–2	10–8	4–2	–	4–2	1–6	4–3	5–2	6–1	11–7	8-10	6–5	4–2	6–9
Miami	3–5	4–14	4–2	3–3	4–3	4–2	2–4	–	4–4	4–12	8–10	1–4	5–1	5–2	2–5	9–9	5–13
Milwaukee	3–3	3–3	13–4	6–9	1–5	9–8	6–1	4–4	–	3–2	2–5	11–4	3–4	2–4	6–9	3–5	6–9
New York	4–3	6–12	2–4	2–6	2–5	2–4	3–4	12–4	2–3	–	10–8	5–2	4–3	4–4	4–3	4–14	8–7
Philadelphia	4–2	6–12	4–2	4–3	7–2	3–3	2–5	10–8	5–2	8–10	–	3–4	4–3	2–4	5–2	9-9	5–10
Pittsburgh	4–3	2–3	8–8	7–11	4–2	12–5	1–6	4–1	4–11	2–5	4–3	–	1–5	3–3	8–7	3–2	10–8
San Diego	11–7	3–4	3–3	2–6	10–8	5–3	7–11	1–5	4–3	3–4	3–4	5–1	–	6–12	3–3	2–3	8–7
San Francisco	9–9	4–3	6–1	3–4	14–4	8–1	10–8	2–5	4–2	4–4	4–2	3–3	12–6	–	3–3	1–5	7–8
St. Louis	5–1	1–5	10–7	7–6	5–2	11–4	5–6	5–2	9–6	3–4	3–4	7–8	3–3	3–3	–	3–4	8–7
Washington	4–2	10–8	6–1	5–2	3–4	7–1	2–4	9–9	5–3	14–4	9-9	2–3	3–2	5-1	4-3	–	10–8

Current roster

Atlanta Braves 2025 spring training roster
40-man roster				Non-roster invitees		Coaches/Other
Pitchers 48 Ian Anderson 49 Aaron Bummer -- Davis Daniel 46 Dylan Dodd 55 Bryce Elder -- Connor Gillispie -- Domingo Gonzalez 62 Daysbel Hernández 66 Grant Holmes 26 Raisel Iglesias 77 Joe Jiménez 38 Pierce Johnson 52 Dylan Lee 40 Reynaldo López -- Rolddy Muñoz -- Ángel Perdomo -- Anderson Pilar 51 Chris Sale 56 Spencer Schwellenbach 32 AJ Smith-Shawver 99 Spencer Strider 30 Hurston Waldrep 72 Allan Winans		Catchers 12 Sean Murphy 45 Chadwick Tromp Infielders  1 Ozzie Albies -- Nick Allen 17 Nacho Alvarez Jr. 11 Orlando Arcia -- Christian Cairo 28 Matt Olson 27 Austin Riley 65 Luke Williams Outfielders 13 Ronald Acuña Jr. -- Bryan De La Cruz 23 Michael Harris II 24 Jarred Kelenic -- Carlos D. Rodríguez 36 Eli White Designated hitters 20 Marcell Ozuna				Manager 43 Brian Snitker Coaches 85 Erick Abreu (bullpen) 88 Tom Goodwin (first base) -- Tim Hyers (hitting) 10 Chipper Jones (hitting consultant) 39 Rick Kranitz (pitching) 97 Jimmy Leo (bullpen catcher) -- Carlos Méndez (assistant hitting) 95 Eddie Pérez (assistant) 98 Tomás Pérez (batting practice pitcher) -- Hugh Quattlebaum (assistant hitting) 89 Matt Tuiasosopo (third base)  4 Walt Weiss (bench) 96 José Yepez (bullpen catcher) -- vacant (catching coach) 40 active, 0 inactive, 0 non-roster invitees 7-, 10-, or 15-day injured list * Not on active roster † Suspended list Roster, coaches, and NRIs updated December 20, 2024 Transactions • Depth chart → All MLB rosters

Batting

Note: G = Games played; AB = At Bats; R = Runs scored; H = Hits; AVG = Batting average; HR = Home Runs; RBI = Runs Batted In

Pitching

Note: G = Games played; IP = Innings Pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned Run Average; SO= Strikeouts; WHIP = Walks and Hits Per Innings Pitched; HLD = Holds

Starting pitchers

Player	G	AB	R	H	AVG	HR	RBI

Player	G	IP	W	L	ERA	SO	WHIP

Relief pitchers

Player	G	W	L	SV	HLD	IP	ERA	SO	WHIP

External links

• 2012 Atlanta Braves season at Baseball Reference
• 2012 Atlanta Braves season Official Site