Former top Braves pitching prospect at career crossroads after latest DFA

It wasn't that long ago when Touki Toussaint was one of the Atlanta Braves top pitching prospects. The Braves seemingly got a steal in Toussaint and his extremely exciting raw stuff when they essentially "bought" him from the Diamondbacks by taking on Bronson Arroyo's contract back in 2015. However, that isn't exactly how things turned out.

After showing promise in the minor leagues with the Braves, Toussaint would eventually make it to the big leagues with Atlanta in 2018. While he showed flashes of brilliance at times, he was unable to harness his prodigious raw talent and Atlanta ultimately designated Toussaint for assignment in July 2022.

From there, Toussaint has been on quite the tour of the league with the Angels, Guardians, and finally the White Sox all taking the gamble that he would figure things out with them. Unfortunately, his latest stop in Chicago this season ended the same way all of his other stops did as it was reported on Tuesday that Toussaint was DFA'd by the lowly White Sox.

Braves News: Former Braves Touki Toussaint without a job again after being DFA'd by White Sox

While this move just looks like late season roster housekeeping being done by a truly terrible White Sox team, it also feels like it could be near the end of the line for Toussaint's time in the big leagues. This is now the fourth time that Toussaint has been designated for assignment and frankly he is running out of teams that are going to be willing to take a chance on him. His 7.43 ERA in 11 appearances with Chicago in 2024 isn't going to help his chances.

Toussaint does have some things going for him. Despite it feeling like he has been around forever, he is only 28 years old and he has largely avoided the major injuries that many pitchers with power stuff have been suffering lately. Unfortunately, the timing of his DFA means that contenders are not likely to be very interested in his services as he wouldn't be eligible for the postseason if he were to be picked up.

Toussaint's stuff still has the ability to mesmerize as that curveball of his can be a real weapon even if he is only throwing 91 mph these days and walks continue to be a problem, so he will probably get another non-roster spring training invite in 2025 if he wants one. However, it is hard not to think that Touki could be playing his way out of the league sooner rather than later.

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