Braves sign OF Eddie Rosario to minor league deal

Field Level Media|published: Fri 5th July, 18:17 2024

MLB: Atlanta Braves at Washington Nationals

Jun 8, 2024; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Nationals right fielder Eddie Rosario (8) rests after sliding into third base against the Atlanta Braves during the first inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Rafael Suanes-USA TODAY Sports

The Atlanta Braves brought back former postseason hero Eddie Rosario on a minor league deal Friday, two days after the 32-year-old was released by the Washington Nationals.

Rosario was assigned to Triple-A Gwinnett and reported to the club immediately.

Rosario was the 2021 National League Championship Series MVP when the Braves defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers in six games. Rosario batted .560 (14-for-25) with three homers and nine RBIs in the series.

Atlanta went on to beat the Houston Astros in the World Series.

Rosario batted .255 with 21 homers and 74 RBIs in 142 games for the Braves last season but the club declined his $9 million option for 2024. He subsequently signed with the Nationals and was batting .183 with seven homers and 26 RBIs in 67 games before his release.

Rosario has smacked more than 20 homers four times during his career, with three of those seasons coming for the Minnesota Twins from 2017-19. He had career bests of 32 homers and 109 RBIs in 2019.

Overall, Rosario has a .264 career average with 166 homers and 574 RBIs in 1,097 games with the Twins (2015-20), Cleveland Guardians (2021), Braves (2021-23) and Nationals.

Atlanta is in need of outfield depth with 2023 Ronald Acuna Jr. lost to a season-ending knee injury on May 26 and Michael Harris (hamstring) currently on the 10-day injured list.

Atlanta also recalled Eli White from Triple-A Gannett, optioned fellow outfielder Forrest Wall to the same affiliate and moved left-hander Ray Kerr from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL.

White, 30, went 1-for-14 (.071) for Atlanta last season and has a .181 career average in 136 games with the Texas Rangers (2020-22) and Braves. In 53 games at Gwinnett this season, he is batting .294 with seven homers and 28 RBIs in 53 games.

Wall, 28, batted .241 with one RBI in 13 games with the Braves. He batted .287 with four homers and 16 RBIs in 44 games for Gwinnett earlier this season.

Kerr, 29, was 1-2 with a 5.64 ERA in 10 appearances (two starts) this season before sustaining a season-ending elbow injury.

--Field Level Media

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