LOS ANGELES -- The inevitable occurred on Monday morning when the Braves purchased Jesse Chavez's contract from Triple-A Gwinnett. But Chavez's return lasted just one game when the club designated the right-hander for assignment. To take his place on the roster, the club selected right-hander Zach Thompson on Tuesday.
This was Chavez¡¯s sixth stint with the Braves. His first occurred way back in 2010 and the other five have came this decade.
The 41-year-old appeared in Monday's 6-1 loss to the Dodgers, allowing one run on two hits while fanning one over two innings.
Chavez¡¯s return on Monday provided joy on a day when the Braves lost Jurickson Profar to an 80-game suspension and Reynaldo L¨®pez to the injured list with right shoulder inflammation.
When Chavez signed a Minor League deal with the Rangers this past winter, fans weren¡¯t the only ones joking that the beloved reliever would end up back with the Braves at the end of Spring Training. Some of the players also held this playful belief. It happened last year, when Chavez joined the Braves after being released by the White Sox near the end of camp.
And of course, it happened again last weekend. As the Braves were preparing to play their final Spring Training game in Florida, they announced Chavez was back on a Minor League deal. Chavez pitched against the Orioles that day and began the season with Gwinnett.
Chavez has been a fan favorite over his 159 appearances he has made for Atlanta going back to the 2021 season. He produced a 7.16 ERA in the 16 1/3 innings he combined to complete for the Cubs and Angels during this same stretch.
Here¡¯s a look back at his many recent returns:
2021: Signed a Minor League deal with the Braves, joined Atlanta¡¯s staff in June and helped the team win the World Series.
2022: Signed a Minor League deal with the Cubs and returned to Atlanta via an April 21 trade that sent Sean Newcomb to Chicago. The Braves sent Chavez to the Angels to acquire current closer Raisel Iglesias at the Trade Deadline. But the reliever returned to the Braves when he was claimed off waivers on Aug. 30.
2024: After being with the Braves from start to finish in 2023, Chavez signed an offseason Minor League deal with the White Sox. But he was back with the Braves on the final day of Spring Training and had a splendid first half.
2025: Went to Spring Training with the Rangers and ended on Atlanta¡¯s active roster by March 31.
Chavez posted a 1.32 ERA over 26 appearances through the end of June last year. But he constructed a 5.22 ERA in the 20 appearances he made after July arrived.