Nobody expected anything special from the Braves this year. The 2016 season is definitely a rebuilding season for Atlanta. Over the summer, Braves fans checked the sports section of the news each week in despair as they read about yet another Braves superstar who was traded away. Players like Craig Kimbrel, Andrelton Simmons, Melvin Upton, Jason Heyward, Jonny Gomes, and Chris Johnson, have all been traded in the last two years as the Atlanta roster undergoes a complete overhaul.

The face of the franchise is changing as the Atlanta Braves prepare to transition to SunTrust Stadium in 2017. The Braves front office hopes that the team will be ready

to be competitive again when the stadium opens next year. However, they have a long way to go until then. Only a month has passed since the start of the MLB season, and the Braves are dead last in the NL East, with a painful .213 win percentage. The team went 15 straight games without one home run, and also endured an eight game losing streak within the last three weeks.

However, this is all a part of the general manager’s plan. John Coppolella has urged fans to “trust the process” as the Braves make strides to rebuild and create a talented young team by trading veterans for minor league prospects.  Although it is hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel, the Braves have an attainable goal in mind. Cappolella hopes to build a team dynamic similar to the Cubs, Astros, and Royals. All of these teams have had deep playoff runs in the last two seasons, but they didn’t do it with the biggest payroll or the flashiest superstars – they did it with young talent, pure athleticism, and unbreakable team chemistry.

It is not a foolproof plan. The Braves are definitely taking a gamble, as there is never a guarantee that minor league prospects will pan out to be successful in the Majors. However, it is the only hope for Braves fans for now. The 2016 Braves are far past the point of saving. The final season at Turner Field will likely end in disappointment – but it is all a part of a greater plan. Trust in the process – who knows, maybe SunTrust Stadium will see a playoff series in the near future.