Braves Reassign Several to Minor League Camp, Deciding Battle for Final Bench Spot
The Atlanta Braves just about have it all figured out.
At a time in spring where several other teams still have 35 or 40 players in camp, the Braves have made a large wave of moves, significantly cutting down the roster.
The Braves today reassigned C Drake Baldwin, C Chadwick Tromp, INF David Fletcher, INF Andrew Velazquez, INF Luke Williams and OF Eli White to minor league camp.
The move leaves just 28 players in camp, with the final roster spot seemingly going to outfielder Forrest Wall. (The final two are Penn Murfee and Angel Perdomo, who are both injured and will go on the 60-day Injured List to open the season or earlier, if there is a corresponding transaction.)
Luke Williams being reassigned is the biggest surprise of the group; as we wrote just earlier today, his defensive versatility seemingly gave him the inside track to the final bench spot over Wall or shortstop David Fletcher. Williams has played every single defensive position except for catcher at the major league level, as well as pitching an inning of relief.
Fletcher, while he's occasionally played the outfield early in his career (2018-2020), is very much an infielder by trade and would have been a bit redundant with another infielder, Luis Guillorme, entrenched in the utility role for the Braves.
And so Wall, who worked on his offense over the winter with Braves hitting coaches, seemingly is penciled into an opportunity to break camp with the team.
It'll be interesting to see how much playtime Wall stands to get over the rest of spring training, with manager Brian Snitker committing to playing the regulars deeper into games after Tuesday's off day.
But for now, he's on the team, barring a late veteran claim. Many major league veterans in camp on minor league deals have opt-out dates in their contracts, with several of those decisions across baseball coming today. And as Atlanta's a team that has additional 40-man roster spots, they absolutely can claim or sign a veteran that doesn't make his current team's Opening Day roster and elects free agency.
So Forrest Wall doesn't have the final bench spot absolutely locked up...but he's the hands-on favorite.
