From a 4% chance of appearing in the World Series to becoming the 2021 World Series Champions, the Atlanta Braves took Major League Baseball (MLB) by force.

At the start of the season on May 28, the Atlanta Braves were forced to move key outfielder, Marcell Ozuna, onto the injured list after he fractured two of his fingers. Ozuna was arrested a day later on May 29 on account of assault charges, meaning he would have to take a leave of absence until MLB had concluded an investigation.

On July 10, star outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. was forced to end his season early after tearing his ACL while attempting to catch a pop fly. Without these two key players, the Braves’ likelihood of achieving even a spot in the playoffs seemed dim. In search of replacements that could potentially boost their outfield and batting, the Braves managed to sign Joe Pederson, Jorge Soler, Adam Duvall, and Eddie Rosario.

Landing a spot in the playoffs with a 88 – 73 regular season, the Braves faced the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Division Series (NLDS) playoff matchup. After losing the first game by one point, the Braves were able to win the following three games that knocked the Brewers out of the playoffs.

The Braves then had to face the previous year’s World Series Champions, the Los Angeles Dodgers. The match format meant that the team who won four games would surpass the opposing team in the playoffs to the World Series.

The Braves took the first two games winning 3-2 and 5-4. The Dodgers then proceeded to win the next game (6-5), temporarily pausing the Braves’ five game winning streak in the playoffs. Unfortunately for the Dodgers, they were to lose the next game 9-2, but they managed to win game five, 11-2.

However, the Braves had the Dodgers cornered, as the Braves were one win away from advancing to the World Series for the first time since 1999. Beginning game 6, the Dodgers and the Braves managed to be tied 1-1 by the fourth inning.

Eddie Rosario with two strikes and one ball stepped back up to the plate with two players on base and two outs. Dodger pitcher Walker Buelher threw a 94 mph fastball straight into the strike zone, Rosario crushed the baseball, landing himself a homerun. The Braves then proceeded to win the game, 4-2, landing themselves an appearance in the World Series. Rosario was then named the NLDS Most Valuable Player (MVP) after solidifying himself as a solid player worthy of performing in place of Acuna Jr and Ozuna.

The World Series then started, beginning in Minute Maid Park hosted by the Houston Astros. Jorge Soler of the Braves stepped up to the plate and sent the third pitch of the series into the stands for a homerun; Atlanta took the lead immediately. The Braves starting pitcher, Charlie Morton, was forced to leave the game after receiving a fracture in his right fibula from a hit that struck his leg. Fortunately for the Atlanta Braves, they were able to win game 1 regardless of losing one of their starting pitchers for the rest of the series.

The Astros, however, retaliated and took game 2 with a score of 7-2. The series continued in Atlanta, where they had the home stadium advantage; the Braves were able to win games 3 and 4. The Atlanta Braves were leading the series 3-1, meaning that they only needed one more win to solidify themselves as the 2021 World Series Champions.

Game 5 began, and with bases loaded in the first inning, Adam Duvall stepped up to bat. Duvall, with bases loaded, hit a first inning grand slam resulting in Atlanta leading the game 4-0 in the first inning. The Astros were determined not to lose and took game 5 with a final score of 9-5, and took the series back to Houston for game 6.

Game 6 began, and Jorge Soler was up to bat in the third inning. With two on base, Soler with his bat made contact with the ball, knocking the baseball out of the stadium. The Braves’ momentum started as they led game 6 with a score of 3-0.

Later in the fifth inning, Dansby Swanson added more runs, with a homerun of his own with Ozzie Albies on base. Star player Freddy Freeman also contributed in the fifth inning, hitting a double and another run as Jorge Soler sprinted from first base to home. By the end of the fifth inning, the Braves were up 6-0. Freeman was not done, and in the seventh inning he hit a homerun of his own, extending the lead 7-0. Sadly, the Astros were not able to achieve a single run for the rest of the game and the game ended 7-0 with the Braves becoming the 2021 World Series Champions.

From two key players having to end their season early and a starting pitcher having to leave the World Series, to signing four replacements, the Atlanta Braves persevered and won the 2021 World Series against all odds. The Atlanta Braves truly proved that statistics don’t win a baseball game but determination does.