According to the Atlanta Braves transaction log, the team signed a pair of right-handed pitchers, Brandyn Sittinger and Jared Robinson, to minor league deals.
Former Arizona Diamondback Brandyn Sittinger is the first of two pitchers listed, after he elected free agency on November 7th, 2021.
Sittinger, who played was selected in the 17th round of the 2017 MLB Draft by Detroit, bounced around the Tigers’ minor league teams until he was released in July of 2019.
After his release, he was able to find success in the Frontier League’s Evansville Otters, boasting just a 1.42 ERA in 38 IP. With the Otters, he racked up 52 strikeouts on 156 batters faced.
After his stint in the Fronter League, he was signed to a minor league deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
⚾️📋✍️ Congrats to Brandyn Sittinger! He is the SIXTH Otter to get signed to affiliated baseball in 2019. Brandyn had his contract purchased this weekend by the Arizona Diamondbacks organization. We wish him the best! Read more ▶️ https://t.co/M9J7jrlqKa pic.twitter.com/pAxZie5z5r
— Evansville Otters (@EvilleOtters) December 2, 2019
During his time in the minor leagues, he earned a 4.12 ERA in 39.1 IP, racking up 53 strikeouts.
He saw some major league action in 2021, accumulating a 7.71 ERA in 4.2 IP with just one strikeout. All four of his big league earned runs came from home runs.
Jared Robinson was drafted by Cleveland in the 11th round of the 2014 MLB Draft. Robinson worked his way through Cleveland’s minor league system, earning 383.2 IP and an 3.87 ERA during that time.
After six seasons in Cleveland’s minor league system, Robinson elected free agency in November of 2020. He was subsequently signed to a minor league deal by the New York Mets less than three weeks after his release.
Robinson played the 2021 season with the Binghamton Rumble Ponies, the AA affiliate of the Mets. With the Rumble Ponies, Robinson posted a 3.78 ERA in 47.2 IP, earning 72 strikeouts while walking 20. Robinson elected free agency in November of 2021.
With the addition of these two players, the bullpen that helped the Braves win the World Series trophy just became deeper. Do you think either, or both, of these players will see the big leagues? Let us know in the comments below.