In each series throughout the season, we will highlight multiple players who wore a Braves jersey and also suited up for Atlanta’s most recent opponent. The Braves recently completed a four-game set with the San Diego Padres and lost 3 of 4. Let's take a look back on three players who represented Atlanta and San Diego at some point during their careers.
As always, there are always several options we could choose but we typically like to stay on the obscure side and bring back memories you may have forgotten. You are probably thinking of Greg Maddux or Gary Sheffield but what about these three?
Matt Wisler
Matt Wisler actually began his MLB career with the Atlanta Braves back in 2015. After going 16-23 with a 5.27 ERA, the right-handed hurler was traded to the Reds. The following year, he ended up with the San Diego Padres.
With the Padres, Wisler went 2-2 with a 5.28 ERA in 21 appearances. 2019 was the lone season that Matt Wisler donned a San Diego Padres uniform.
Since leaving Atlanta, Wisler bounced around a lot and his last MLB appearance was with the Tampa Bay Rays back in 2022. Matt announced before the 2024 season began that he retired from professional baseball.
David Ross
Most Braves fans remember David Ross sharing time behind the plate with Atlanta's beloved Brian McCann. From 2009-2012, Ross was with the Braves. During this stretch, he played in 227 games, hitting .269 with 24 home runs and 94 runs batted in. These respectable offensive stats were a bonus to his stellar defense behind the dish.
Outside of Atlanta, most people associate David Ross with the Chicago Cubs, whether he was playing or managing. However, he did spend a small amount of the 2005 season with the San Diego Padres. Ross only appeared in 11 games that year. He did not hit any home runs or drive in any runs but did post a batting average of .353 in that short stretch.
Jeff Francoeur
All Braves fans think of Frenchy as an Atlanta Brave for life. The fact of the matter is, during his playing days, Jeff Francoeur was well-traveled. Between his two stints with Atlanta from 2005-2009 and one last time in 2016, Francoeur was a Gold Glove-caliber defender while hitting .265 including 85 home runs and 392 runs batted in.
In 2014, Francoeur made 10 appearances in a San Diego Padres uniform. He only posted two hits in 28 plate appearances, dropping his batting average to .083. With the short amount of time he spent there and his underwhelming performance, it makes sense as to why many forgot Jeff Francoeur played for the Padres.
Were any of these players surprising to you? It's always interesting to see how many different teams professional baseball players often spend time with. Join us during the next series to find out who played for the Braves and Cubs.