Today, the Atlanta Braves announced the signing of former Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman, DH, and outfielder, Jordan Luplow, on a one-year deal worth $1.4 million.
The 29 year old Luplow, who has been a journeyman for his entire career, spending time on Pirates, Guardians, Rays, Diamondbacks, and now the Braves, is yet another left-field platoon candidate that the Braves have seemed to prioritize this offseason.
#Braves sign OF Jordan Luplow: pic.twitter.com/7rnduYSvu7
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) December 19, 2022
As the Braves’ press release indicates, Luplow technically has the ability to play any of the three outfield spots, but he is frankly unlikely to factor into the playing time of Ronald Acuña Jr. or Michael Harris II.
Despite Luplow’s abysmal .176/.274/.361 slash line accompanied by a .281 wOBA and 78 wRC+ across 238 plate appearances in 2022, he can still provide value to Atlanta’s precarious outfield situation.
In 2019 and 2021, he had a 141 and 116 wRC+ respectively in about the same amount of plate appearances. He has the potential to provide pop with his career .219 ISO and has shown at least some ability to draw walks with his 11.8% career walk rate. If these numbers indicate anything, though, it’s that he’s streaky.
What isn’t streaky about him, and where the Atlanta Braves will see the most value from him, is his career .842 OPS, 125 wRC+, and .355 wOBA against lefties. With 505 total plate appearances, that’s about a season, which should indicate that this kind of production is somewhat maintainable.
Luplow is a serviceable fielder as well. On a career basis, he is a league-average defender according to OAA and RAA as both values sit at zero. Last year, though, he posted a 4.2 UZR, 1 OAA, 1 RAA, and 2 rARM (outfield runs saved by arm strength), showing that he at least has a solid fielding range. When juxtaposed with the poor fielding, weak-armed Marcell Ozuna and Eddie Rosario, these numbers can’t be taken for granted.
Depending on events that occur over the rest of the offseason and spring training, Luplow could quite possibly see himself as the Atlanta Braves’ starting left fielder for opening day.
As of now, the Braves have four legitimate options at left field. Luplow, Ozuna, Rosario, and Hilliard. Two spots now remain on the 40-man roster.