Braves: All Star Break Braves Awards

Well the Atlanta Braves and the rest of the MLB have reached the designated midpoint of the 2025 season in a season the Braves have not been treated nicely by thus far. It has been no secret: this year has been a massive disappointment for the team. Atlanta looked to pick up where injuries took them off in the latter half of 2024 back to their division winning dominant selves. Sadly, as all Braves fans know, they did anything but. Injuries have been a factor, especially recently, but make no mistake, they have played awfully. Despite their incompetence, we will be handing out some mid-season awards for the team, some good, some bad.

2024 Marcell Ozuna Award for most Surprising player:

Sean Murphy

Sure recency bias could be playing a part in this, but how could it not? Despite being slowed early by a fractured rib, Murphy has erupted since returning, putting up 16 homers and a .824 OPS over 60 games, with a career-best .281 ISO and 126 wRC+. In just the past week, he hit two homers and drove in three runs, then followed it up the next night with a go-ahead three-run blast in the 8th inning, directly delivering two clutch wins against St. Louis . A catcher putting up middle-of-the-order power and showing up in high-leverage spots? That’s not just unexpected, it’s been a genuine game-changer.

Michael Soroka Award for most Disappointing player:

Tie — Michael Harris II and Ozzie Albies

I could have easily handed this coveted award to Jurickson Profar and no would have batted an eye, but we have something for him earlier. Not to be negative, but I seriously could not think of who has been a bigger disappointment, Harris or Albies. 

Let’s start with Harris. Michael Harris II won the NL Rookie of the Year in 2022 and has shown himself to be one of the most exciting outfielders in the game. His clutchness on top of his defensive prowess has made him a massive asset for Atlanta as well as a fan favorite. Although his batting average has never blasted off the page, fans still expected competency out of him. Harris has slashed a career-low .212/.246/.331 with a .558 OPS. His chase rate sits at a sky-high 42.3%, reflecting a complete loss of strike‑zone discipline, while his launch angle and hard-hit metrics have cratered (groundball rate up to 52.5%, hard-hit down to 40.2%, barrel rate plunging to 6.1%). Even against favorable pitching, he’s been benched—once sat out an entire weekend series against the Phillies, while lineup alternatives outperformed him. These sharp declines offensively, despite elite defense, underscore why Harris has so far been one of Atlanta’s most underwhelming 2025 contributors. 

Next there is Ozzie Albies. Since entering the big leagues in 2017, Ozzie has been one of the premier second baseman in the game. Throughout all of the Snitker-era, Albies has been the consistent force . . . until this year. Through mid‑July he’s slashing just .220/.290/.606, with only 7 home runs and 29 RBI in over 360 plate appearances—a far cry from his usual power output. His barrel rate, hard‑hit rate, bat speed and contact quality have all cratered to historic lows, and he’s been especially ineffective against left‑handed pitchers (just 31 wRC+). To put it short, he hasn’t been able to make any kind of valuable contact, and he might have hit a wall way faster than we would have wanted. 

Andrew McKirahan Award for PED User of the Year:

Jurickson Profar

I know, I know, how shocking he gets this award. I am aware Profar claims he made an “honest mistake.” Which although sounds silly, is very well probably true, as no MLB player wants the risk of being suspended. Despite this, it still derailed us and set the tone for our season. On top of that, it is just embarrassing and makes us an easy target for jokes. Profar, I sincerely hope this is only a footnote in the story of a great Braves tenure, but for now, congratulations on PED user of the year. 

2024 Chris Sale Award for Pitcher:

Chris Sale

Yes he did it, he claimed the award of his namesake. The reigning NL Cy Young came into 2025 with a lot of expectations, and besides some injuries, I think he has lived up to the hype. Over 89⅓ innings, he's posted a stellar 2.52 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP, while fanning 114 batters and walking just 26, an elite strikeout-to-walk ratio that ranks among MLB’s top starters. In June alone, Sale was nearly untouchable: 38⅓ innings pitched to a 1.17 ERA with 50 strikeouts, anchoring the rotation’s resurgence. Highlights include a dominant 11‑K, 7‑IP outing that snapped the Braves’ seven-game losing streak and an 8 2⁄3‑scoreless‑inning gem, almost completing a shutout, both emblematic of ace-level dominance. And don't forget, on May 29 he became the fastest pitcher ever to reach 2,500 strikeouts, doing so in just 2,026 innings. Simply put, Sale has combined overwhelming consistency, elite control, and big-game impact to head the Braves' rotation in 2025.

2023 Ronald Acuña Jr. Award for Best Batter:

Ronald Acuña Jr.

I promise I’m not being lazy, Ronald Acuña Jr. really has been the best batter on the team this year. I was going to try to find an alternative choice due to Acuña missing time, but to put it kindly, no one on this team deserves to undermine what Acuña’s done since returning from injury. . His slash line through mid‐July stands at a scorching .333/.446/.595, a 1.040 OPS and an OPS+ of 190, demonstrating elite hitting on both a per‐plate‐appearance and park‐adjusted basis. That average is the highest among regulars, and his on‑base plus slugging metrics significantly top his teammates, Matt Olson trails with a .838 OPS in comparison . His combination of contact ability, power, and discipline has produced league‑leading offensive value—making Acuña’s 2025 campaign the most outstanding Braves batting season this year.

2022 Spencer Strider Award for best Newcomer:

Drake Baldwin

I guess with the Strider being the namesake for the award and Baldwin winning it you could also call this the rookie award, but there are not enough of them to constitute that. Anyway, Drake Baldwin has by-far been the best new face on the squad. From game 1 he’s been needed as a contributor and he’s answered the call. Despite Atlanta woes, make no mistake, this kid can play. He’s slashed .279/.351/.479 with 11 homers and 32 RBIs in just 190 at-bats, translating to a robust .830 OPS and 131 OPS+, signaling elite performance across the league. His Statcast metrics add further weight: 92 mph average exit velocity, 50% hard-hit rate, and a .362 wOBA, all landing among the top 16–20% of MLB hitters. Baldwin’s timing under pressure has also been undeniable—he launched a three-run homer to secure a 7–0 win over Miami in late June, and MLB.com's first-half awards even named him the top NL Rookie, underscoring his impact amid Braves expectations. From debut to midseason, Baldwin has melded advanced metrics, power, and situational heroics, making him the most impressive newcomer in Atlanta this year. Here’s to Baldwin keeping it up and taking home NL Rookie of the Year!

Jesse Chavez Award for Best Pitcher out of the Bullpen:

Dylan Lee

Lee may not be the flashy pick, but we think he’s the right one. The 2021 World Series Starting pitcher has had a 2.06 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP over 59.2 innings, Lee has been a cornerstone of the Braves' bullpen, which ranks eighth in MLB with a 3.54 ERA and a 1.205 WHIP . His ability to consistently perform under pressure has been instrumental in stabilizing the bullpen, especially in the absence of key relievers like Joe Jiménez and A.J. Minter. While Raisel Iglesias has recorded nine saves, his ERA has been higher than expected, leading to questions about his consistency . In contrast, Lee's steady performance has made him a standout figure in the Braves' bullpen this season.