Part 5/12:
Turning to the future pitching staff, Smoltz discussed Jeremy Hefner’s appointment as the Braves’ new pitching coach, replacing the beloved Rick Kranitz. While he acknowledged Hefner’s familiarity with key opposing players, Smoltz expressed concerns about injuries that plagued Atlanta’s pitching staff. He emphasized that a core challenge was health—arguing that teams need to prioritize keeping starters healthy rather than chasing velocity or other trending metrics that may be detrimental.