Tommy Doyle and the Braves have agreed to terms on a minor league contract

 

 

According to MLB.com’s transaction tracker, the Braves have signed reliever Tommy Doyle to a minor league contract. It appears he will be invited to MLB Spring Training.

Doyle was a free agent for a little more than a week. When the Rockies acquired Cal Quantrill from the Guardians, the right-hander was designated for assignment as the equivalent move. Colorado non-tendered him directly from DFA limbo, so Doyle was never placed on waivers (as is usually the case for DFA players who are not transferred).

For the first time, he found himself in free agency. Doyle, a third-round choice by Colorado in 2017, made his MLB debut at the end of the abbreviated season. The Rox released him from the 40-man roster a year later, but re-signed him this past July.

In the second half, the Virginia native saw his most extended major level action out of the Rox’s bullpen. He participated in 15 games and pitched 23 2/3 innings. Doyle pitched to a 6.85 ERA while striking out 17.5% of batters and walking 12.6%. Things improved significantly in Triple-A, as he had a 3.41 ERA in 37 innings despite pitching in a hostile home environment in Albuquerque. Doyle struck out 26.6% of batters faced at the top minor league level, despite a very troubling 11.7% walk percentage.

The Atlanta bullpen is unlikely to see many season-opening opportunities. Raisel Iglesias, A.J. Minter, Joe Jiménez, Pierce Johnson, Reynaldo López, Tyler Matzek, and Aaron Bummer have all committed to the Braves. Even if López works his way out of the starting lineup, as the organization has suggested, there will only be about two spots available if everyone is healthy. Dylan Lee or Daysbel Hernández might get first go at such positions. Doyle is expected to start the season in Triple-A Gwinnett as a depth option.

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The Atlanta Braves work to beautify a community garden in southeast Atlanta.

 

 

ATLANTA (Atlanta News First) – Food insecurity affects nearly one in every eight Georgians, including children. An Atlanta-based nonprofit is aiming to change that by establishing hundreds of community gardens throughout the metro, and volunteers from the Atlanta Braves lent a hand on Friday.

The Atlanta Braves’ players and staff volunteered their time at Tapestry Community Garden in southeast Atlanta’s Ormewood Park area.

Travis D’Arnaud of the Atlanta Braves and his wife Britney were among the volunteers that took part in the Braves’ “Pitch In For The Planet” volunteer activity.

Each volunteer took turns planting, trimming, and composting across nearly seven acres of green area. D’Arnaud, 34, says the action reminds him of his family.

“Every morning, me and my dad would go and pick out an orange for breakfast,” D’Arnaud added. “He is fascinated by biology.” I’ve always been impressed by how he cares for his plants. He would explain how everything worked, and it honestly blew my mind.”

The Braves collaborated with the organization Players for the Planet and the Atlanta-based nonprofit Food Well Alliance, which manages almost 300 community gardens around the city. Their mission is to make fresh, healthy cuisine more approachable and relatable.

“They don’t realize that you can actually grow it in a community green space,” said Kate Conner, executive director of the Food Well Alliance. “It raises awareness of the fact that local food can be grown in your community.” That produce is used to feed the people that reside nearby.”

Every year, the Tapestry Community Garden alone generates approximately 5,000 pounds of vegetables. The Food Well Alliance then collaborates with hundreds of community partners to get the produce to the tables of needy families.

“Hopefully it brings the community together, to be able to share memories together,” he said.

Visit the Food Well Alliance website to volunteer or give to the cause.