After making several cuts before their Friday afternoon Spring Training Game, the Braves added one more cut before the day's end, reassigning relief pitcher Victor Vodnik to Minor League camp. The Braves now have 52 players remaining in Major League camp.
The #Braves tonight reassigned RHP Victor Vodnik to minor league camp. Atlanta now has 52 total players in camp.
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) March 11, 2023
The timing of the cut is a bit odd, especially considering the team cut six players earlier in the day, but Vodnik did make an appearance in today's game against the Rays, pitching an inning allowing a run on a homer and striking out two.
The Braves' 14th-round pick in 2018, Vodnik was a long shot to make the team out of Spring Training, considering the bullpen's depth, and his outings this Spring have been far from impressive. In five games, the 23-year-old has allowed eight runs on 11 hits and a walk in 4.2 innings, good for a 15.43 ERA.
This small sample size isn't representative of his work last season, however, and it would not be surprising if Vodnik made a cameo at the big league level this season, even though he's not currently on the 40-man roster.
Vodnik split time between AA Mississippi and AAA Gwinnett. After having seven scoreless appearances in Mississippi, the Braves promoted him in May. He'd go on to pitch 27.2 innings in 24 games with Gwinnett, holding a 2.93 ERA.
2022 wasn't all smooth sailing for the righty, however, as he started the season injured in his first year as a reliever. After two months in Gwinnett, Vodnik missed almost a month from July 25 to August 23 with injury.
Injuries have been a recurring issue for the Braves 11th-best prospect. In 2021, he missed roughly two-and-a-half months with various injuries, which led to his transition to the bullpen.
With just under three weeks to go before Opening Day, be prepared to see multiple cuts throughout next week.