Atlanta Braves call up SS prospect Braden Shewmake; activate Raisel Iglesias
The Atlanta Braves made a flurry of transactions this morning, including calling up top position player prospect Braden Shewmake.
Shewmake takes the roster spot of Ehire Adrianza, who hit the 10-day IL with right elbow inflammation (backdated to Tuesday, May 2nd).
Shewmake, 25, was a 1st round pick in 2019 out of Texas A&M. A plus defender at shortstop, he struggled to make an impact offensively in his time in the minors, averaging .257/.312/.413 across four seasons.
This spring training, though, Shewmake raked as he fought Vaughn Grissom for the starting shortstop job, putting up a .323/.371/.452 slashline with three extra base hits as he tried to win the starting job in Atlanta, that eventually went to Orlando Arcia.
After being optioned to AAA Gwinnett along with Grissom, he began rotating in at second base to increase his versatility in case an injury would require him to be called up. He's played to a .243/.282/.456 line in Gwinnett this year, with his five home runs in twenty-four games almost surpassing last year's mark of seven home runs, put up in seventy-six games.
It's expected that he'll be mixing in at shortstop, where Vaughn Grissom has shown to be a bit overwhelmed by the defensive requirements of the position - Grissom's -3 Outs Above Average at shortstop puts him in the 6th percentile defensively in all of baseball.
Additionally, Atlanta activated Raisel Iglesias from the injured list, giving him the roster spot previously occupied by Dylan Dodd. With two off days next week, Atlanta won't need a 5th starter until May 16th and can carry an extra reliever.
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