10 players you might’ve forgotten were Atlanta Braves
While you likely remember a majority of players who spent time with the Atlanta Braves since late-2014 at the major league level, what about the ones in recent years who never appeared in a major league game with the club?
There have obviously been numerous players in recent years who spent time in the Atlanta Braves organization that you may have forgotten about, many of which saw time in the major leagues. However, what about a few players who spent time in the organization, but never played in a single game with the Braves at the major league level?
10 players you might’ve forgotten were Atlanta Braves
Included in this group are a few all-time greats, current MLB players, former Braves who you might not have remembered returned post-2014, and even a former football player, all of which have occurred since the 2014 season concluded.
But first, a few honorable mentions, two of which were big names you may have forgotten saw time with the Braves in the major leagues from 2015 to now, as well as one that almost happened recently.
HM. Jose Bautista
With injuries playing a role during the early-part of the 2018 season, the Braves signed the six-time All-Star and three-time Silver Slugger winner on April 18, 2018.
Called up on May 4, 2018, Bautista went 5-for-35 with two home runs across 12 games at third base before being released on May 20, 2018.
HM. Cole Hamels
A name that some Braves fans will most likely remember is Hamels, one of Atlanta’s big free-agent signings from the 2019-20 offseason.
However, the four-time All-Star only made one start for the Braves during the shortened 2020 season, one that was headlined by injuries. He got through 3 innings, but left early in the 4th.
HM. Yasiel Puig
Now yes, Puig was never officially a member of the Braves organization, but it feels like it needs to be mentioned here as the signing of the former Dodgers outfielder was heavily reported during the 2020 season.
10. Willians Astudillo
A current free agent who has appeared in a combined 167 games with the Minnesota Twins across the last four seasons, did you know that “La Tortuga” spent one season in the Braves organization back in 2016?
After electing free agency back in 2015 after multiple years in the Phillies organization, the Braves signed Astudillo to a minor league deal with an invite to spring training back on November 19, 2015.
Assigned to Double-A on April 4, 2016, the (then) 24-year-old spent the 2016 season with the Mississippi Braves.
Astudillo enjoyed some success with Mississippi slashing a combined .267/.293/.332 across 89 games in 2016, a season that also included a Double-A Southern League All-Star appearance.
As usual for him, he struck out 3.2% of the time and walked in only 1.5% of plate appearances.
Electing free agency at season’s end, Astudillo spent time in the Diamondbacks organization in 2017 before joining the Twins in 2018.
9. Scott Kazmir
A 13-year MLB veteran and three-time All-Star, did you know that Kazmir spent time in the Braves organization between 2016 and his recent return to a major league mound in 2021?
After spending the 2016 season with the Dodgers, the veteran southpaw was traded to the Braves as part of a multi-player deal that sent Matt Kemp to Los Angeles (more on that later).
Kazmir would go on to spend spring training with the Braves entering the 2018 season, but was released by the Braves back on March 24, 2018. Aside from Kazmir pitching 15 innings in Independent Ball in 2020, this was Kazmir’s last appearance before signing with the Giants last February.
8. Yonder Alonso
One of the more recent players on this list that some might actually remember is Alonso, a former one-time All-Star who last appeared in a major league game with the Colorado Rockies back in 2019.
After electing free agency after the 2019 season, the Braves signed Alonso to a minor league deal with an invite to spring training back on February 14, 2020. After spending spring training with the Braves, the veteran first baseman spent time at Atlanta’s alternate training site during the early part of the shortened 2020 season.
Alonso was traded to the Padres on August 12, 2020 where he spent the remainder of the 2020 campaign at San Diego’s alternate training site before electing free agency at season’s end and then being picked up by the MLB Network.
7. Christian Walker
The starting first baseman for the Arizona Diamondbacks for each of the past three seasons, did you know Walker was a member of the Atlanta Braves organization for a little over a week back in 2017?
After seeing time with the Baltimore Orioles in 2014-15, Walker was DFA’d by the club in 2017 where the Braves claimed the then 25-year-old off waivers on February 25, 2017.
Walker’s time in the Braves organization did not last long however as the first baseman was claimed off waivers from Atlanta by the Reds on March 6, 2017.
Walker was then claimed off waivers by the Diamondbacks later that month where he has remained since posting a combined .772 OPS with 51 home runs across 372 games at the major league level.
6. Blaine Boyer
Now yes, Boyer spent time with the Braves in the major leagues from 2005-09 where he made his MLB debut, but did you know that the right-hander also returned in 2017 for a little over two months?
After spending the 2016 season with the Brewers, the Braves signed Boyer back on January 21, 2017 to a minor league deal that also included an invite to spring training. After spending spring training with Atlanta, the then 35-year-old right-hander was released by the Braves on April 3, 2017.
The Atlanta, GA native spent the 2017 season in the Red Sox organization, and last pitched with the Kansas City Royals in 2018.
5. Kris Medlen
If you’re an Atlanta Braves fan, then you know the name Kris Medlen. An impactful part of the Braves pitching staff from 2009-13, did you know Medlen actually returned to the organization for the 2017 season?
Signed to a minor league deal on January 24, 2017, Medlen spent a majority of the 2017 season with Triple-A Gwinnett where the right-hander posted a 5.42 ERA across 16 starts, also making two starts with both Double-A Mississippi and High-A Florida as well.
Medlen elected free agency at the end of the 2017 season, and signed a minor league deal with the Diamondbacks a few months later. After making a combined eight starts between Triple-A and Arizona to begin the season, Medlen retired on May 27, 2018.
4. Sanders Commings
If you’ve ever heard of Commings before, odds are you are a Georgia football fan. A standout defensive back for the Bulldogs from 2009-12, did you know that Commings also spent time in the Braves organization back in 2017?
A former fifth-round pick by the Kansas City Chiefs back in the 2013 NFL Draft, Commings spent time with the Chiefs from 2013-15 before last being cut back on December 15, 2015. A former 37th round pick out of high school in 2008, the Georgia native returned to baseball and was signed by the Braves almost two years later on February 24, 2017 and assigned to the Danville Braves of the Appalachian League in June of 2017.
Commings appeared in only six games with Danville during the 2017 season where he went 2-for-13 offensively with an RBI, drawing two starts apiece in center and left field where the then 27-year-old posted a perfect fielding percentage at both spots. Commings was released on July 3, 2017 and has not played since.
3. Felix Hernandez
Similar to Alonso previously, Hernandez is one of the more-recent names on this list that some may actually remember.
A former Cy Young award winner and six-time All-Star, Hernandez had spent every year of his 15-year MLB career with the Seattle Mariners before electing free agency at the end of the 2019 season. Signed to a minor-league deal by the Braves with an invite to spring training on January 22, 2020, the veteran right-hander spent spring training with Atlanta.
However, Hernandez opted-out of the 2020 season, and elected free agency at season’s end. Spending spring training with the Orioles before the 2021 season, Hernandez was released on March 29, 2021 and has not pitched since.
2. Adrian Gonzalez
Remember the previously mentioned trade that sent Matt Kemp to Los Angeles? Gonzalez was actually the biggest name return for the Braves in that trade, but he also spent the least amount of time with Atlanta of any player on this list.
Coming off his sixth season with the Dodgers, Gonzalez was traded to the Braves on December 16, 2017 as part of the multi-player deal, but was DFA’d by Atlanta on the same day.
The five-time All-Star and four-time Gold Glove award winner was released by the Braves two days later on December 18, 2017. He then signed with the Mets about a month later for the 2018 season, and this is where he last played at the major league level.
1. Ryan Howard
A former NL MVP, Rookie of the Year, three-time All-Star, and one of the greatest players in Philadelphia Phillies history, did you know that one of the final teams that Howard played for in his career was the Braves?
Drafted by the Phillies in 2001, Howard spent every year of his professional career with Philadelphia from 2001-16 before electing free agency at the conclusion of the 2016 season. After remaining unsigned into the 2017 season, the Braves signed Howard to a minor league deal on April 6, 2017 and assigned the then 37-year-old first baseman to Triple-A Gwinnett after time in extended spring training.
Howard only appeared in only 11 games at Gwinnett during the 2017 season, going 7-for-38 offensively, and was released on May 8, 2017. Howard eventually spent a similar number of games in Triple-A of the Rockies organization later that season, and officially retired on July 14, 2019.
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In conclusion, here are a few additional names you may have forgotten spent time in the Atlanta Braves organization in recent years: Nick Swisher, Jason Kipnis, Jake Lamb, Scott Schebler, Carl Edwards Jr, Jhoulys Chacin, Trevor Cahill, Ross Detwiler. All part of the long history of this franchise.