Phenomenal: Braves Signed a Contract with an All-Star Infielder to Improve Infield Strength

The Braves have added depth to their infield by bringing back Velazquez.

After non-tendering Andrew Velazquez just a few weeks ago, the Atlanta Braves have brought him back into the organization.

The Braves have signed Velazquez and right-handed pitcher Ben Brown to minor league contracts, according to the team’s transaction wire.

Velazquez, 29, is a veteran of seven clubs who has been traded twice and picked three times off waivers since being drafted in the seventh round of the 2012 draft.

He was claimed off waivers by Atlanta in early September and has played in the major leagues with six different organizations, most recently the Los Angeles Angels. Velazquez, mostly a shortstop, has also played every outfield position and every position in the infield except first base and catcher in his six seasons.

With a career, the bat has never amounted to much.In 275 MLB games, he had a slash line of 189/.244/.293 and 12 home runs. Velasquez’s speed, on the other hand, has been a benefit; in 47 attempts, he has stolen 40 games.

After the recent trades of Nicky Lopez and Brad Shewmake to the Chicago White Sox, the utility role at both the major league and AAA Gwinnett was down to Vaughn Grissom (who has his own defensive concerns) or prospect Luke Waddell, who has never appeared in the majors.

Velazquez has a.973 lifetime fielding percentage at shortstop, with 17 mistakes in 1499.2 innings played. However, six of those mistakes occurred in only 233.1 innings in 2023, causing the Angels to place Velazquez on waivers when prospect Zach Neto recovered and resumed his starting shortstop role.

Ben Bowden, a minor league righty, has also joined Atlanta. Bowden, a Rockies second-round pick in 2016, has only 35.2 innings in the majors, all with Colorado in 2021, with a 6.56 ERA.

The 29-year-old reliever possesses three main pitches: a 92-mph fastball (which he throws 50% of the time), a slider, and a changeup. In 49 relief appearances for Philadelphia’s AAA affiliate (Lehigh Valley) in 2023, he went 6-2 with a 4.64 ERA. He struck out 76 batters in 52.1 innings pitched, for a 13.1 K/9, but he also walked 32 (5.5 BB/9) and allowed eight home runs.