LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Four months after saying goodbye to Chipper Jones with an abrupt postseason exit, the Braves are approaching a new season with a pair of Uptons and significant expectations.
Braves general manager Frank Wren highlighted the early portion of the Hot Stove season with the signing of B.J. Upton. When Wren landed Justin Upton in a seven-player trade with the D-backs in January, the GM gave his players another reason to enter this season with hopes of reaching the World Series.
A long journey toward that goal will begin this week, as the Braves gather at ESPN's Wide World of Sports complex to begin Spring Training. Pitchers and catchers are required to report Monday to prepare for their first workout on Tuesday. All position players will report by Thursday in preparation for the first full-squad workout on Friday.
"It has been an exciting offseason," veteran pitcher Tim Hudson said. "We brought in a lot of talent. We felt like we had a really good team last year and I feel like we've improved in a number of areas. I'm excited. This is reporting day, and I don't remember seeing this many guys on reporting day."
Justin Upton, Dan Uggla and Chris Johnson were among the position players who made an early arrival to camp on Monday morning. Jason Heyward and Freddie Freeman arrived in camp last week.
"It's just kind of time to focus on some baseball, which is the fun part," Justin Upton said. "We've done all the talk about it. It becomes fun when you get here and get around the guys."
While B.J. Upton plans to make the 45-minute commute from his Tampa-area home during Spring Training, Justin Upton said he will reside in the Orlando area during spring camp. The two brothers will see plenty of each other as their lockers are located side by side in the home clubhouse at Champion Stadium.
This marks the first time since 1992 that the Braves have gone to Spring Training without the expectation to break camp with Jones, who retired after last year's one-game National League Wild Card playoff loss to the Cardinals.
Uggla has been assigned the corner locker that had been previously reserved for Jones.
"It was odd looking over and not seeing the old, wrinkled bag of bones over there," Hudson said of Jones. "But it is different. He's been a fixture around here for years."
Other key losses from last year's team include backup catcher David Ross, center fielder Michael Bourn and the versatile Martin Prado, who was included in the deal for Justin Upton.
While those players will be missed within the clubhouse, the Braves will enter this season excited about their new look, which features the addition of the Uptons, who will team with Heyward to form what could be the game's most talented outfield. Each of the outfielders is a Gold Glove Award-caliber defender capable of producing 30 homers and 30 stolen bases on offense.
"The lineup has a lot of pop in it," Justin Upton said. "We can change games fast with power and speed. It should be fun to sit back and watch and be a part of it."
The Braves will also enter camp looking forward to the chance to see how much Brian McCann has progressed since undergoing right shoulder surgery in October. While there is a possibility McCann will miss at least the first two weeks of the regular season, McCann has arrived at camp with the hope of being ready on Opening Day.
If McCann is not ready at the start of the season, the catching duties will belong to veteran Gerald Laird, who signed as a free agent in November. Laird enters this year with the hope of competing in the World Series for a third consecutive season.
The Braves' projected starting rotation includes Hudson, Kris Medlen, Mike Minor, Paul Maholm and Julio Teheran. Prospects Sean Gilmartin or J.R. Graham will be available to serve as the fifth starter if Teheran struggles during the exhibition season.
As Spring Training progresses, Brandon Beachy will attempt to move closer to rejoining the rotation. Beachy is expected to be sidelined until late June as he continues to recover from Tommy John surgery.
The Braves will open their Grapefruit League slate when they host the Tigers on Feb. 22 at 1:05 p.m. ET. They are scheduled to leave Florida on March 28 and conclude their exhibition season with a game against some of the organization's top Minor League players on March 30 at Double-A Mississippi's Trustmark Park.