The 2025 season has already been difficult enough for Atlanta Braves fans to process. Now comes outside confirmation of just how far expectations fell short.
In its annual roundup of the year’s “superlatives,” CBS Sports named the Atlanta Braves the “most disappointing team” of Major League Baseball’s 2025 season, a designation that highlights just how steep the drop was from recent years.
A Season Derailed by Injuries
CBS Sports pointed first to injuries as the central storyline of Atlanta’s collapse.
- Ronald Acuña Jr., still working his way back from a second ACL tear, was diminished throughout the year.
- Spencer Strider and Chris Sale were both sidelined, gutting the rotation’s depth.
- Ozzie Albies fractured his wrist, ending his season prematurely.
That run of misfortune left the Braves without the star power that had defined their dominance in the National League East since 2018.
Regression From Lofty Standards
In addition to injuries, CBS Sports noted that the Braves simply regressed. After years of posting 90+ wins and making seven consecutive postseason appearances, Atlanta fell below .500 for the first time since 2017.
The roster that was expected to contend for another NL East crown instead became one of baseball’s most striking examples of unmet expectations.
Bright Spots Amid the Struggles
The piece did acknowledge that there were still reasons for optimism.
- Drake Baldwin, the rookie catcher, emerged as a Rookie of the Year finalist.
- Three Braves players represented the club at the 2025 MLB All-Star Game.
- Truist Park hosted the Midsummer Classic, a showcase that highlighted the city even as the team stumbled.
Those moments provided occasional relief, though they could not outweigh the larger disappointment of missing October.
First Losing Season Since 2017
By the end of September, the Braves were locked into their first losing season in eight years. For a franchise accustomed to chasing pennants, the change was jarring.
CBS Sports’ designation underscored how dramatically the narrative shifted in Atlanta: from perennial contender to a team with more questions than answers heading into 2026.
What the Label Means for Braves Country
While “most disappointing team” is just a label, it reflects how the Braves are viewed nationally after years of dominance. For Braves Country, the sting comes not only from the losses, but from the abruptness of the fall.
Injuries are part of baseball, but expectations are built on depth and adaptability. The 2025 Braves lacked both, and CBS Sports’ superlative makes that failure plain.
The offseason ahead becomes about reshaping a roster to avoid repeating this fate for the front office. It is about holding onto the hope that this year was an anomaly rather than a new norm for fans.
