The Atlanta Braves have officially confirmed what fans have been clamoring for: veteran outfielder Alex Verdugo has been promoted from Triple-A Gwinnett and will join the major league roster immediately, the team announced Monday afternoon.
The move comes as the Braves look to inject life into a sluggish start to the season, with the team sitting near the bottom of the NL East standings. Verdugo, a former Yankee and seasoned MLB presence, was signed by Atlanta just weeks before Opening Day but was initially sent to Triple-A to regain form after a late arrival to spring training.
After showing flashes of power in Gwinnett — including a towering home run over the weekend — and with Atlanta’s outfield thinned by injuries and suspensions, the call became impossible to ignore.
“This is about winning games,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said in a statement. “Alex brings experience, energy, and a bat we believe can contribute immediately. With where we are right now, we need all three.”
The Braves’ outfield has been in flux, with Ronald Acuña Jr. still recovering from knee surgery and Jurickson Profar serving an 80-game suspension. Young outfielders Jarred Kelenic and Bryan De La Cruz have struggled to find consistency at the plate, prompting pressure from fans to give Verdugo his shot.
Verdugo, 28, played 149 games for the Yankees last season, hitting .233 with 13 home runs. While his stint in Triple-A started slow, his leadership and knack for timely hitting were never in question — something Braves fans have made clear they value.
The Braves will now look to Verdugo not only to stabilize the corner outfield but also to provide a much-needed offensive spark as they face a critical stretch in the schedule.
Verdugo is expected to be in the lineup for the Braves’ next series opener against the Toronto Blue Jays.
Stay tuned — the Verdugo era in Atlanta begins now.
