WASHINGTON, DC – SEPTEMBER 11: A view of the Atlanta Braves logo on a baseball cap during the game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on September 11, 2024 in Washington, DC. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)
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The Atlanta Braves have surged to the top of the Major League Baseball standings thanks to a surprisingly strong roster in multiple facets.
Standout players in the batting order, rotation and bullpen have all helped drive perhaps the most surprising success story of the season so far.
“First baseman Matt Olson is an MVP candidate,” Bob Nightengale wrote for USA Today. “Chris Sale could win another Cy Young. Michael Harris is having a comeback year. Catcher Drake Baldwin is a star. Relievers Robert Suarez and Raisel Iglesias have been lights out. And infielder Mauricio Dubon and DH Dom Smith, cheap offseason pickups, are unsung heroes.”
Perhaps the least surprising aspect of the surge has been the bullpen, though, given that the team reloaded it with star talent during the offseason. After signing Suarez as a free agent and re-signing Iglesias, the Braves signaled that a strong relief corps was a priority.
And that is fairly typical for the franchise, with recent stars like Craig Kimbrel and Kenley Jansen playing high-leverage roles.
Atlanta Braves’ Former Pitcher Nick Anderson Ends All-MLB Career
Now, as the team remerges as a threat in the National League, it has received news that a former standout reliever has decided to retire.
“Veteran reliever Nick Anderson, who has pitched well at Triple-A for the A’s, has retired, according to his agent, Matt Gaeta,” ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported on X, formerly Twitter. “Anderson, 35, submitted the paperwork (on Saturday). Anderson was a first-team All-MLB reliever In 2020 and threw 173 innings over six big league seasons.”
Braves fans will recall that Anderson was a member of the team in 2023, when he logged a 3.57 ERA with 36 strikeouts in 35 total games.
Anderson signed a one-year split contract with the Braves shortly before that season began and was optioned to Triple-A ahead of Opening Day. But after Iglesias was placed on the injured list before the season started, though, Anderson was placed on the big-league roster.
However, Anderson went down with an injury himself after his first 35 games and that ended up marking the end of his tenure with the Braves. In the next offseason, he was traded to the Kansas City Royals for cash considerations.
Former Atlanta Braves Pitcher Nick Anderson Retires After Just 15 Games
Anderson’s All-MLB nod came for his 2020 campaign with the Tampa Bay Rays, which shortened for all teams due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Anderson went on to pitch for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Baltimore Orioles, St. Louis Cardinals, Colorado Rockies and Seattle Mariners organizations before joining the Athletics. He had a strong 2.16 ERA in 15 games this season before deciding to end his career entirely.
It was not immediately clear what Anderson’s next career might be, but he seems to have plenty of big-league experience to share with younger players if he is interested in coaching.