The Atlanta Braves continue to look for depth as they bring back a familiar face in the form of Lucas Duda.
In a flurry of moves announced on Monday, including the promotion of prospects and a member of our starting rotation getting designated for assignment and claimed on waivers. One story may have been overlooked. The Atlanta Braves signed a potential depth piece for the playoff race in Lucas Duda.
To be sure, Lucas Duda isn’t likely to revert back to his New York Mets days and smash 25-30 home runs.
But, Duda could be a valuable piece to the Atlanta Braves bench as a power asset when rosters expand in September.
This is the second move in the Atlanta Braves have made to possibly bolster their bench, as they have also signed Lane Adams.
Duda is a massive presence from the left side of the plate at 6-4, 255 pounds. He has used that mass to club 156 home runs over the course of a 10-year career.
However, 2019 has been a struggle for Duda. In limited at-bats, he’s managed just a .171 batting average, but hit four home runs with Kansas City before his release.
If you remember Duda on the Atlanta Braves roster, you’re not crazy. He appeared in 20 games for the Atlanta Braves last season, who acquired him from Kansas City last year.
He got four hits in those appearances, including a ninth-inning home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks on September 9.
He was included on the 2018 postseason roster but went hitless in three at-bats.
What I remember most about Duda was him hitting one of the longest foul balls in Suntrust Park history in game four against the Los Angeles Dodgers that the stadium largely thought was gone. (Or, at least, I did.)
The deal was a minor-league pact, meaning he has not been added to the 40 man roster. Should the Atlanta Braves decide to call him up, he would have to be added to the 40 man and someone would have to be placed on waivers to open up that spot.
When considering what impact Duda could have on the 2019 team, you need to look back to 2018.
At best, he’s a power threat late in the game that will pinch-hit. With the current array of outfielders that we have, I don’t see him getting much time, if any, on defense. It’s all about the bat.
He does have some work to do though. Duda needs to show that his bat is still potent with a good run in Gwinnett if fans are to see him on the Atlanta Braves roster this September.