Atlanta Braves fans have been clamoring for the team to call up Alex Verdugo for a while. The Braves' outfield has been a thorn in their side from Opening Day and given what guys like Bryan De La Cruz and Jarred Kelenic have accomplished, it sure felt like anything would be an upgrade over that.
Given that Verdugo is a lefty hitter, it made a lot of sense that Kelenic's playing time would be the one impacted once he eventually got called up. The Braves signing Verdugo in the first place showed that they wanted another lefty-hitting outfield option and signaled a lack of confidence in him.
Well, the day has finally come as the Braves recalled Verdugo to the big leagues, but it was De La Cruz who ended up getting sent to the minors. For the moment, it appears as though Kelenic is going to be sticking around for a while longer.
Braves recall Alex Verdugo to the big leagues as Jarred Kelenic gets a reprieve
While it is a little weird to see the Braves carry both Kelenic and Verdugo, it isn't like De La Cruz has been hitting the cover off of the ball. There have been so many games where there was a key scoring opportunity only to see BDLC head to plate and flail at pitches wildly. In 50 plate appearances this season, De La Cruz has a .453 OPS and has been worth -0.3 rWAR. That, folks, is quite bad. Combine that with Kelenic's ability to at least draw walks and you have at least part of the story.
One wonders if minor league options were in play with this decision as well. Both players still have options available, but Kelenic just has the one left while De La Cruz came into the season with a pair of MiLB options. Atlanta sending him down keeps him around while also providing more flexibility with their roster and Kelenic in the future.
Despite Verdugo's early struggles in the minors, he should be an upgrade over what Braves fans have seen. He is a strong defender and has had some good seasons at the plate previously. At this point, anything is better than what we have seen from the alternatives.