Atlanta Braves bring back free agent RHP’s Brooks Wilson, Alan Rangel

VENICE, FLORIDA - MARCH 17: Brooks Wilson of the Atlanta Braves poses for a photo during Photo Day at CoolToday Park on March 17, 2022 in Venice, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
VENICE, FLORIDA - MARCH 17: Brooks Wilson of the Atlanta Braves poses for a photo during Photo Day at CoolToday Park on March 17, 2022 in Venice, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

The Atlanta Braves have made what is likely to be the first of many minor league related moves in the coming weeks by bringing back free agent right-handers Brooks Wilson and Alan Rangel. Two players who elected free agency earlier this month, both Wilson and Rangel were also assigned to Triple-A Gwinnett, with Wilson in particular receiving an invite to spring training.

Atlanta Braves sign free agent RHP’s Brooks Wilson, Alan Rangel

Selected in the seventh round of the 2018 MLB Draft by the Braves out of Stetson, Wilson has so far spent every season of his professional career with Atlanta. The 26-year-old right-hander did not pitch during the 2022 season due to injury however, with Wilson’s having last appeared in a game back in 2021.

During that 2021 season, Wilson held a combined 2.34 ERA with six saves and an 84:19 K:BB ratio across 50 IP, a majority of which came with Double-A Mississippi. The right-hander also owns a combined 2.24 ERA across 165 minor league innings for his career, but has only made six total appearances above the Double-A level, which came in 2021.

Rangel has also spent his entire professional career with Atlanta dating back to 2015, a span in which the right-hander holds a combined 4.47 ERA across 622.1 IP. The 25-year-old is also coming off a 2022 season in which Rangel held a combined 5.28 ERA with a 144:52 K:BB ratio across 27 starts, 26 of which came in Double-A Mississippi.

Similar to Wilson, Rangel has seen limited action above the Double-A level as the right-hander made his first appearance in Triple-A this past season, pitching only three innings.

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As mentioned previously, both Wilson and Rangel were optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett where both will likely begin the 2023 season. Wilson will likely be a key piece in the back-half of the Stripers bullpen, while Rangel will likely begin the year in Gwinnett’s rotation.