The Atlanta Braves announced another roster cut after their Sunday loss to the Yankees, reassigning relief pitcher Yacksel Ríos to minor league camp. Ríos is the seventh cut of Spring Training for the team, joining Chadwick Tromp, Blake Burkhalter (who is having Tommy John surgery), Roel Ramírez, Brooks Wilson, and Tyler Tolve as early players either optioned or reassigned and with Dennis Santana claimed off waivers by the Minnesota Twins.
The #Braves today reassigned RHP Yacksel Ríos to minor league camp. Atlanta now has 59 total players in camp.
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) March 5, 2023
Yacksel Ríos signed with the Braves to a minor league deal in January with an invite to the major league camp, but was a long shot to make the Opening Day roster, considering the depth of the Braves bullpen, with pitchers like Jesse Chavez, Jackson Stephens, and Nick Anderson among the relievers fighting for a spot on the big league team.
The righty has pitched with four different teams at the major league level, throwing a total of 96.2 innings with a 5.77 ERA across five big league seasons, with his most recent big league experience coming with the Boston Red Sox. He pitched in the Chicago White Sox organization in 2022, throwing 33 innings with a 4.91 ERA, but didn't see time with the major league team.
This spring, the 29-year-old pitched in three games for the Braves, most recently on Saturday against the Orioles. He allowed one run in 3.2 innings, walking two and striking out two in his three relief outings. The reliever will likely act as no more than depth in Gwinnett this season.
With Ríos's reassigning, the Braves still have 59 players in major league camp. Expect more cuts in the coming days, as players like Alan Rangel leave for the World Baseball Classic, which starts this Thursday, and as the team gets closer to deciding on the 26-man Opening Day Roster.