The Braves have officially recalled outfielder Alex Verdugo from Triple-A Gwinnett, sending Bryan De La Cruz down in a corresponding move. Verdugo, who turns 29 next month, has over five years of MLB service time, meaning he typically can’t be sent to the minors without approval—but he agreed to the assignment as a pseudo spring training after signing late in March on a $1.5 million deal.
His delayed free agency signing came after a disappointing 2024 season with the Yankees, where he slashed just .233/.291/.356, a significant drop from his more consistent production between 2018 and 2023. His second-half slump and underwhelming postseason showing left him with limited options on the market.
Atlanta, dealing with an underperforming outfield and Ronald Acuña Jr.’s ACL recovery, took a chance on Verdugo. Jarred Kelenic and Michael Harris II have both struggled at the plate early in the season, and their key offseason signing, Jurickson Profar, was hit with an 80-game PED suspension just days after Verdugo was added.
The Braves are off to a rough 5-13 start, with the outfield offense among their biggest concerns. De La Cruz, who was brought in to fill the gap, failed to deliver and was slashing just .191/.240/.213 before his demotion.
While it’s uncertain how much Verdugo can contribute, even his subpar 2024 numbers would be a marked upgrade. In Triple-A, he posted a .207/.303/.448 line, offering some hope of offensive improvement. With Verdugo, Kelenic, and Harris all hitting left-handed, they’ll likely form the primary outfield against righties. The Braves still have right-handed bats in Stuart Fairchild and Eli White for platoon flexibility.
Verdugo now gets a shot to help stabilize the Braves’ lineup while they await Acuña’s return, which will eventually force the team to reevaluate its outfield rotation once again.
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