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Atlanta Braves: Who is going to fill out the bench?

By Matthew Browning

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - SEPTEMBER 17: Adeiny Hechavarria #24 of the Atlanta Braves rounds first base after hitting a solo homer in the eighth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at SunTrust Park on September 17, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - SEPTEMBER 17: Adeiny Hechavarria #24 of the Atlanta Braves rounds first base after hitting a solo homer in the eighth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at SunTrust Park on September 17, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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Matt  Joyce #14 of the Atlanta Braves. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
Matt  Joyce #14 of the Atlanta Braves. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) /

Some old friends

Adeiny Hechavarria

The Braves brought Hechaverria on board in the middle of August to help offset the loss of Dansby Swanson and the veteran shortstop delivered.

In 24 games Hechavarria slashed .328/.400/.639 with four home runs and 15 runs batted in for a 0.9 WAR.

There have been multiple reports the Braves want to bring in a defensive shortstop to backup Swanson and presumably the other infield positions and that is exactly what Hechavarria is.

As a starter in 2015 and 2016, Hechavarria was an elite defender for the Marlins. In 2015, he was fourth in DRS and second in UZR, while he was sixth in DRS and eighth in UZR in 2016.

Matt Joyce

Towards the end of Spring Training last season, the Cleveland Indians cut Joyce, so the Braves swooped in to sign the veteran and one-time all-star outfielder.

He was really a valuable asset to the Braves last season, hitting .295 with seven home runs and 23 RBI in 238 plate appearances.

Joyce made $1.2 million last season and those figures might slightly rise for 2020, but he would still be an affordable lefty off the bench.

Charlie Culberson

Last November, the fan-favorite Culberson was non-tendered, but then signed back on a minor league deal before Christmas.

The 2019 season was a weird one for Culberson, who was not nearly as good as he was in 2018, when he was a pinch-hitting machine.

He hit only .259 with five homers, after hitting .270 with 12 home runs in 2018.

On top of a decrease in production, Culberson’s season ended on September 14th when a Fernando Rodney pitch hit him in the face.

If Culberson were to make the roster out of camp, he would make $1 million for the season.

Austin Riley

It’s possible, although unlikely, Austin Riley might break camp as a platoon partner with Nick Markakis in left field, which would then leave Adam Duvall as the odd man out.

However, it would behoove the Braves and Riley for the big fella to start the year at Triple-A in order to continue to refine his swing.

Riley hit the ground running when he was promoted to Atlanta in May, as he hit 11 home runs in his first month.

But the league began to figure him out and therefore his numbers plummeted in the season’s second half.

It would take a monster spring for Riley to make the 26-man roster.

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