Braves' NLDS Roster Update Includes 13 Players from Gwinnett's 2026 Club
Sixteen Gwinnett Stripers’ alums – including nine members of the 2026 roster – helped lift the Atlanta Braves to a thrilling triumph over the Philadelphia Phillies in the National League Wild Card Series at Truist Park last week. With Atlanta’s MLB Postseason run continuing in the National League Division Series
Sixteen Gwinnett Stripers’ alums – including nine members of the 2026 roster – helped lift the Atlanta Braves to a thrilling triumph over the Philadelphia Phillies in the National League Wild Card Series at Truist Park last week.
With Atlanta’s MLB Postseason run continuing in the National League Division Series vs. the two-time defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers, the Braves announced today a 26-player roster featuring 20 former Stripers, including 13 who played for the club in 2026.
Returning from the NLWCS roster are pitchers Dylan Dodd (2022-26), Didier Fuentes (2025-26), Grant Holmes (2023-24), Raisel Iglesias (2023), Ray Kerr (2024, 2026), Dylan Lee (2021-24), Victor Mederos (2026), Chris Sale (2025), and Robert Suarez (2026), catchers Drake Baldwin (2023-24, 2026) and Sean Murphy (2024-26), infielders Ozzie Albies (2016-17, 2022, 2024), Ha-Seong Kim (2026), Austin Riley (2018-19), and Rowdy Tellez (2026), and outfielders Ronald Acuña Jr. (2017-18, 2022, 2025-26), Michael Harris II (2023-24), and Brewer Hicklen (2026).
Baldwin (.154, 1 double, 1 RBI), Dodd (0-0, 13.50 ERA in 1 game), Fuentes (0-1, 3.00 ERA in 3 games), Hicklen (defensive replacement, 0-for-0 in 1 game), Holmes (1-0, 4.50 ERA in 1 game), and Kerr (0-0, 0.00 ERA in 1 start) all made their MLB Postseason debuts during the NLWCS. Mederos will look to pitch in the Postseason for the first time in his career in the NLDS.
Infielder Luke Williams and outfielder DaShawn Keirsey Jr., both present on the Braves’ NLWCS roster (neither saw action), are not active for the NLDS. In their place are 2026 Stripers’ starting pitchers JR Ritchie and AJ Smith-Shawver.
Ritchie (2025-26) was Gwinnett’s Opening Night starter this season and made 16 starts for the Stripers, going 6-4 with a 3.17 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, and .197 BAA. He was named the International League Pitcher of the Month for April after four dominant starts (3-0, 0.38 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, .135 BAA). Ritchie’s second-to-last Triple-A start on September 6 was historic as he set a Gwinnett single-game record with a career-high 15 strikeouts over 6.2 innings (4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB) vs. Charlotte.
🚨 15 STRIKEOUTS FOR JR RITCHIE. A NEW GWINNETT RECORD. 🚨
— Gwinnett Stripers (@GoStripers) September 6, 2026
6.2 IP | 4 H | 2 R | 1 BB | 15 K pic.twitter.com/Q2lf48rGOE
Ritchie also spent five stints with the Braves during his Major League debut this season, going 1-5 with a 4.91 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, .237 BAA, and one save (1-for-1) over 17 appearances (11 starts). He is set to make his MLB Postseason debut.
Smith-Shawver (2023-26) journeyed through Gwinnett on a rehab assignment in July as he worked his way back from 2025 Tommy John surgery. In five starts for the Stripers, he went 2-0 with a 1.66 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, and .179 BAA. The 23-year-old right-hander returned to Atlanta’s active roster on July 29 and appeared in nine games (5 starts), going 0-3 with a 6.61 ERA, 1.53 WHIP, and .256 BAA.
Smith-Shawver appeared for the Braves in the 2023 and 2024 Postseasons, going 0-1 with a 13.50 ERA in two games (1 start).
The best-of-five NLDS vs. the Dodgers starts today at UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium. Game one begins at 4:00 p.m. ET.