The Braves signed a veteran outfielder, who is an intriguing minor league addition.
If the current Braves season hasn’t taught us this lesson enough, let me reiterate it: depth is key to success.
Formerly a strong big-league outfielder, Ramón Laureano was signed by the Braves to a minor-league contract on Wednesday. He was placed in Triple A.
On Wednesday, Laureano played right field and batted sixth for the Gwinnett Stripers. Although he spent years as a major-league center fielder, Forrest Wall and Eli White are currently likely superior defensive choices at that position. Laureano went 1-for-3 with two strikeouts and a walk in his Gwinnett debut. He made a run.
Laureano, who turns 30 in July, is a surprising acquisition given his past success as a regular player. This is a positive development.
Sean Murphy, who played alongside Laureano in Oakland, called him a “amazing teammate.” “He’s a winner, a player, a hard worker, intense, and enthusiastic. All of those seem like appropriate remarks for Ramón.
Laureano made his Athletics debut in 2018. From that point until the end of 2021, he had an OPS of.800 and hit.263. Laureano was suspended by MLB for 80 games in 2021 for using performance-enhancing drugs.
He has a.664 OPS and has batted.211 since the beginning of 2022. Cleveland let go of Laureano on May 25.
As far as building depth goes, you just keep doing it, Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “It will be good to add a right-handed player who is, from what I recall, a plus defender, as we have a lot of left-handed players down there. He hasn’t had a particularly good year offensively, in my opinion, which has contributed to where he is, but who knows? Perhaps a change of scenery will spark his interest. However, he has been an excellent player. I believe you’re constantly trying to deepen things when you can.
The Braves will make these moves once more like they have in the past. Laureano’s arm has always been excellent. It’s likely that his range has decreased with time.
Is it feasible for Murphy to think Laureano can become successful again given the talent he displayed?
Without a doubt, Murphy replied. “That is present.”
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Majors receive a double A.
Prospects who make the leap from Double A to the majors without playing in Gwinnett, such as Michael Harris II, have been the subject of jokes on Triple-A Gwinnett’s X account on social media.
Another is the Braves’ starter on Wednesday, Spencer Schwellenbach.
Snitker remarked, “You know what, though? I remember, we sent a lot of guys up here when I was managing Double A.” We have brought a lot of guys up throughout the years; for a while, we may have brought up more Double A students than Triple A students. He is a college student who has had some experience and has probably played a lot of high-pressure games in summer leagues and colleges. However, he will enjoy the challenge of this.
Since Double-A Mississippi began in 2005, Schwellenbach became the 24th player to be promoted straight to Atlanta on Wednesday. Since Max Fried made his Major League debut on August 8, 2017, he is the first pitcher to accomplish this.
In five innings pitched, Schwellenbach gave up three runs.
ties to one’s hometown
This week, a hometown boy is back: Roswell, Georgia native and Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams attended Blessed Trinity Catholic.
His year is going really well. Even at just 23, Abrams has already hit nine home runs, which is halfway to his 2023 total. Prior to going 0-for-5 on Wednesday, he had an OPS of.801.
Abrams was a component of the deal that sent Juan Soto to San Diego in 2022. He was traded to Washington by the Padres.
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