Martin, Camargo new for Braves' NLCS roster

October 16th, 2021

ATLANTA -- Veteran reliever Chris Martin and infielder Johan Camargo were placed on the Braves’ National League Championship Series roster. But, Jorge Soler wasn’t.

Martin and Camargo were the key additions to the Braves’ NLCS roster, which was announced Saturday morning. Soler was an expected omission, as he is currently on the COVID-19 injured list.

Soler will not be eligible to come off the injured list before the latter portion of the upcoming week. If he is cleared to return before the conclusion of the NLCS, he could replace top prospect Cristian Pache on the roster. It would have to be Pache because he was the replacement when Soler was placed on the IL.

Martin struggled over this season’s final few months, but he showed some late promise. He will replace left-hander Dylan Lee, who was placed on the NLDS roster because the club believed his left-handed curveball might have been effective, had he been used against the Brewers.  

Camargo spent most of this year with Triple-A Gwinnett. But the Braves decided his switch-hitting capabilities were a better option than carrying Terrance Gore’s speed for this round against the Dodgers. Gore made just one pinch-running appearance in the four games played against the Brewers.

Here is a look at the Braves’ roster, which again includes 14 position players and 12 pitchers.

CATCHERS 

Travis d'Arnaud: As d’Arnaud missed three months with a torn ligament in his left thumb this year, it was easier to notice the significant value he brings to the club. The veteran catcher is a proven game-caller with the ability to provide some power at the bottom of the lineup. 

William Contreras: Contreras gained valuable experience when he was prematurely rushed to the big leagues to serve as Atlanta’s starter when d’Arnaud began his lengthy IL stint in May. The young prospect wasn’t ready to be an everyday catcher, but he’s improved defensively and his bat plays at the big league level.

INFIELDERS

Freddie Freeman: The reigning NL MVP hit a tiebreaking solo homer with two outs in the eighth inning of Game 4 of the NLDS to help send the Braves to the NLCS. This is the sixth postseason he has experienced with Atlanta.

Ozzie Albies: Albies earned his second All-Star selection and ranked among the game’s leaders in extra-base hits this year. The 24-year-old switch-hitter recorded his first 30-homer season, and he already holds the franchise record for career homers hit by a second baseman with his current total of 90.

Dansby Swanson: Swanson produced his finest offensive season (slashing .311/.449/.760 with 27 home runs and 88 RBIs, both career highs) and consistently made great defensive plays. This was easily his most complete overall season since the D-backs took him with the first overall selection in the 2015 MLB Draft.

Austin Riley: Riley enjoyed a 33-homer, 107-RBI season that will earn him MVP consideration for the first time. The young slugger established himself as Atlanta’s everyday third baseman during the middle of April and was the club’s most consistent offensive player throughout the season.

Ehire Adrianza: Adrianza is a switch-hitter who also provides defensive versatility with his ability to play all of the infield and outfield positions.

Orlando Arcia: Acquired in early April from the Brewers, Arcia batted .214/.282/.343 with Atlanta. In 13 career playoff games with Milwaukee, the former Brewer had four homers and six RBIs.

Johan Camargo: Camargo spent a significant portion of this year with Triple-A Gwinnett. But he will now have a chance to compete in his fourth straight postseason with the Braves. His presence as a switch-hitter will enhance the bench depth, which should be helpful when the team goes with a bullpen game.

OUTFIELDERS

Eddie Rosario: Two years removed from a 32-homer campaign for the Twins, Rosario spent much of this season struggling through an injury-plagued stint with Cleveland. After being dealt to Atlanta, though, he emerged from the injured list in late August and established himself as the Braves’ left fielder with a strong final few weeks, slashing .273/.337/.580 down the stretch.

Adam Duvall: Duvall combined to hit 38 homers with a National League-best 113 RBIs while playing for the Marlins and Braves this year. The Trade Deadline deal that brought him back to Atlanta stands as one of the key factors in the Braves’ ability to win a fourth straight NL East title.

Joc Pederson: The veteran outfielder hit two homers in the NLDS, including a three-run, pinch-hit blast in Game 3.

Guillermo Heredia: Heredia can provide value as a late-inning defensive replacement or as the guy who swings his plastic swords whenever he is celebrating in the dugout.

Cristian Pache: Pache, the Braves' No. 1 prospect per MLB Pipeline, was added to the roster to replace Jorge Soler, who was placed on the COVID-19 injured list.

STARTING PITCHERS

Charlie Morton: Morton has been one of the game’s top postseason pitchers over the past four seasons. The 37-year-old hurler started Games 1 and 4 of the NLDS, allowing four runs with 14 strikeouts over 9 1/3 innings.

Max Fried: Fried, who produced a MLB-best 1.74 ERA after the All-Star break, threw six shutout frames in Game 2 of the NLDS against the Brewers.

Ian Anderson: After throwing five scoreless innings in Game 3 of the NLDS, Anderson boasts a 0.76 ERA through first five postseason starts in just his second Major League season.

Huascar Ynoa: Ynoa’s long-term future might be as a reliever. But before breaking his pitching hand by punching the dugout bench in Milwaukee, he spent the regular season’s first six weeks proving to be a highly effective starter.

RELIEF PITCHERS

Will Smith: Smith converted 37 out of 43 save opportunities during his first season as the Braves’ closer, and he was close to perfect in the NLDS, allowing just two hits and one walk over three scoreless appearances.

Luke Jackson: Jackson is one of the funnier guys in the Braves’ clubhouse. He bounced back from a rough 2020 to establish himself as one of Atlanta’s top late-inning options this year.

Tyler Matzek: Matzek overcame some midseason struggles and proved to be one of the game’s best relievers in the second half. The lefty returned to the Majors last year for the first time since developing the “yips” while pitching for the Rockies in 2015.

A.J. Minter: Minter garnered the attention of the baseball world when he was used as an opener in Game 5 of last year’s National League Championship Series and ended up recording seven strikeouts over three innings against the Dodgers. That remains the only start of his professional career.

Jesse Chavez: A midseason addition to Atlanta’s bullpen, Chavez emerged as a very valuable and versatile asset. The 37-year-old right-hander was successful when used as an opener down the stretch.

Jacob Webb: Webb spent some time at Triple-A this year, but by the end of the season he was being used in some high-leverage spots at the big league level.

Drew Smyly: The veteran lefty lost his rotation spot after his velocity continued to drop throughout August. There’s a chance he could be used as part of a piggyback arrangement during the playoffs.

Chris Martin: Martin might no longer be one of the game’s top relievers. But some success during the regular season’s final week might provide him some opportunities in the postseason. He was left off the NLDS roster and then added for the NLCS roster.