Former Yankees outfielder Alex Verdugo might soon be back in the majors — at least, that’s what the buzz on social media suggests. Just a few weeks after signing a minor-league contract with the Atlanta Braves, Verdugo could be called up to the big-league roster in the coming days. With Atlanta off to a rough 4-11 start and in dire need of a steady outfield presence, Verdugo may be stepping into that role. On Sunday, he left a Triple-A Gwinnett game early, adding fuel to the speculation.
Braves insider David O’Brien of The Athletic noted that “all signs point to Verdugo joining the Braves this week,” either during their current series in Toronto or when they begin a homestand Friday against the Minnesota Twins. Verdugo is hitting 4-for-22 with two home runs at Triple-A so far — not eye-popping numbers, but Atlanta is looking for any spark it can get.
Despite turning 29 next month, it was surprising to many that Verdugo remained unsigned for so long. Last season with the Yankees, he hit just .233 with 13 home runs, 61 RBIs, and a .647 OPS. In the postseason, however, he showed some discipline, drawing seven walks to just eight strikeouts in 14 games for the American League champions.
Although his year in New York was largely underwhelming — and many Yankees fans weren’t sad to see him go — Verdugo still holds some appeal as a low-risk, high-reward candidate. A left-handed hitter who can play all three outfield spots, he also managed a .328 on-base percentage, above the league average of .312 in 2024. The catch? If he performs like he did in the second half of last season (.228 AVG, .606 OPS), his time in Atlanta may be short-lived.
