3 Atlanta Braves minor league signings to watch during Spring Training
Keep an eye on these three Atlanta Braves minor league signings during Spring Training.
By Matt Melton
With the start of Spring Training just around the corner, let's take a look at three Atlanta Braves minor league signings from this offseason that you should be watching for across the coming weeks ahead, as well as why.
3 Atlanta Braves minor league signings to watch during Spring Training
RHP Taylor Widener
We begin with a right-handed pitcher in Widener, who originally signed a minor league deal with the Braves back on December 11.
Widener, a 29-year-old right-hander, comes to Atlanta after spending the 2023 season in Korea by playing in the KBO, splitting time between the NC Dinos and Samsung Lions. Prior to 2023 however, Widener was a long-time member of the Arizona Diamondbacks organization, where he spent three seasons in the major leagues from 2020-22.
A former 12th round pick from the 2016 MLB Draft, Widener owns a combined 4.26 ERA across 49 appearances at the major league level, 13 of which were starts in 2021. Across those 107.2 IP, the right-hander also owns a combined 2-3 record with a 109:54 K:BB ratio, and most recently held a 3.63 ERA and 14:5 K:BB ratio across 17.1 IP with the Diamondbacks in 2022.
Widener now joins the Braves organization with a notable amount of MLB experience, as well as the potential to be either a starter or reliever. The Braves could potentially use the right-hander in a few different ways during Spring Training, making Widener an intriguing name to watch for, even despite likely beginning the year in Triple-A.