ATLANTA — One 12 months after playing on Jarred Kelenic, the Braves are doing so with Bryan De La Cruz in a way more economical method.
De La Cruz signed a one-year non-guaranteed contract with the Braves on Sunday. Monetary phrases weren’t offered. The 27-year-old slugger will probably be given an opportunity to fill a void whereas Ronald Acuña Jr. misses no less than a number of the first two months of the common season whereas recovering from left knee surgical procedure. When Acuña returns, De La Cruz might play left discipline as an on a regular basis participant, but it surely appears extra seemingly he could be a platoon accomplice with Kelenic.
However it is a break up deal and De La Cruz has choices remaining. So, if he doesn’t make the group out of Spring Coaching, he might start the season with Triple-A Gwinnett.
This isn’t a signing that may ease issues in regards to the Braves’ outfield combine. De La Cruz hit 18 homers and produced a .707 OPS within the 105 video games he performed for the Marlins earlier than being traded to the Pirates for a pair of prospects on July 30. He was non-tendered by Pittsburgh after hitting .200 with three homers and a .514 OPS in 44 video games.
If the season began right now, middle fielder Michael Harris II, Kelenic and De La Cruz could be Atlanta’s beginning outfield trio. Harris has proven the potential to be a star whereas enduring a pair of injury-marred seasons since successful the NL Rookie of the 12 months Award in 2022. However Kelenic and De La Cruz haven’t lived as much as their early promise.
The Braves spent roughly $17 million to achieve 5 years of management of Kelenic final winter. The 25-year-old outfielder then endured the identical inconsistencies which have plagued him because the Mets took him with the sixth total choice in 2018. He was traded to the Mariners that very same 12 months and was MLB’s No. 4 total prospect as lately as 2021.
Kelenic has produced only a .663 OPS by the primary 383 video games (1,423 plate appearances) of his profession. He hit 15 homers and had a .679 OPS over 449 plate appearances for Atlanta this previous 12 months. His incapacity to provide like an on a regular basis participant appeared to intensify the necessity for the Braves to get an outfielder who can contribute whereas Acuña recovers from his second ACL surgical procedure inside the previous three years.
As an alternative of getting a confirmed on a regular basis possibility, the Braves have so far simply added what appears like a platoon accomplice for Kelenic.
De La Cruz hit .285 with a .733 OPS in opposition to left-handed pitchers final 12 months. However he homered simply as soon as each 44.8 at-bats in opposition to them, in comparison with the 23.8 AB/HR ratio he produced whereas hitting .210 with a .619 OPS in opposition to right-handed pitchers.
Because the left-handed portion of the platoon, Kelenic would obtain a majority of the plate appearances. He hit .236 with 14 homers and a .711 OPS in opposition to right-handed pitchers final 12 months. He batted .206 with one homer and a .516 OPS in opposition to lefties.
De La Cruz got here up by the Astros’ system and was traded to Miami earlier than the 2021 Commerce Deadline. He produced a .783 OPS whereas tallying 219 plate appearances for the Marlins that very same 12 months, however since then he has only a .694 OPS in 1,603 plate appearances over the previous three seasons.
