The Braves won the National League East for the third consecutive season but were not amongst the favourites. In early July, they lost Ronald Acuña Jr, a farmhand product and their best player. The 23-year old Venezuelan slugger suffered a season-ending knee injury.
The Braves won the National League East (88-73), then they eliminated the Milwaukee Brewers (3-1) in the National League Division Series and beat (4-2) the reigning World Series Champions Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series.
Jorge Soler, a trade deadline addition, was named MVP. The 29-year old outfielder helped Cuba win a bronze medal at the 2010 WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup. Veteran backup outfielder Guillermo Heredia is also from Cuba and represented his country at the 2013 World Baseball Classic.
Right-handed started Ian Anderson, who started four games and earned two wins in the 2021 postseason, was on the USA roster that won the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup 2015.
Veteran first baseman Freddie Freeman represented the US internationally at the U-16 and U-18 levels. A dual citizen, Freeman represented Canada in the World Baseball Classic 2017.
Veteran left-hander Drew Smily was on the US roster at the World Baseball Classic 2017. He also represented his country at the 2011 Baseball World Cup.
Other Atlanta Braves players who represented the US internationally are catcher Travis d'Arnaud (2011 Baseball World Cup), left-hander AJ Minter and infielder Dansby Swanson. They played for the collegiate National Team.
The roster of the Braves features two players from Venezuela: 23-year old catcher William Contreras and 27-year-old shortstop Orlando Arcia.
Second baseman Ozzie Albies was born in Curaçao and will become the fifth player from the Kingdom of the Netherlands to receive a World Series ring after Ralph Milliard (Florida Marlins), Rob Eenhoorn (New York Yankees), Xander Bogaerts (Boston Red Sox) and Kenley Jansen (Los Angeles Dodgers).
Backup infielder Johan Camargo, who was added to the roster for game six, was born in Panama.
Outfielder Eddie Rosario, the National League Championship Series MVP, played for Puerto Rico at the 2013 and 2017 World Baseball Classic.
