The Braves on Thursday called up outfielder Alex Verdugo from Triple-A Gwinnett as the team looks to generate more offense from a lineup that has struggled in the early going.
Atlanta signed Verdugo to a one-year, $1.5 million big league contract late in Spring Training, then optioned him to Triple-A to get reps. The Braves initially saw him as a depth option, but the need for another outfield starter has become more pressing with the PED suspension of free-agent acquisition Jurickson Profar in March and poor production from fill-ins Jarred Kelenic (.483 OPS) and Bryan De La Cruz (.453), who was optioned to Triple-A to make room on the roster for Verdugo.
Verdugo is a career .272 hitter with a .742 OPS in parts of eight seasons with the Dodgers, Red Sox and Yankees. He hit .207 with two homers and four RBIs in nine games with Gwinnett.
As Atlanta awaits the return of 2023 NL MVP Ronald Acu?a Jr. from a left ACL tear within the next few weeks, Braves outfielders have produced an MLB-worst .479 OPS through their first 18 games. The group is also batting an MLB-worst .057 with runners in scoring position. As a whole, the Braves rank 10th in the National League with a .674 OPS and have hit .184 with runners in scoring position, two big reasons the team has stumbled to a surprising 5-13 start.
Last season with the Yankees, Verdugo hit .233 with 13 homers and an 83 OPS+ in 149 games. On defense, he provided good value with a strong throwing arm (in MLB's 94th percentile) and range that was above average (77th percentile), accounting for two Outs Above Average.