![Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders infielder Braden Shewmake (23) fields a hit during the fourth inning of Game 3 of an MiLB International League Championship Series at VyStar Ballpark Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025 in Jacksonville, Fla. The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp defeated the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders 7-4 and took home the title in a best-of-three game series. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,x_347,y_70,w_4611,h_2593/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/17/01kh41k9fzvqwmpb70ns.jpg "Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders infielder Braden Shewmake (23) fields a hit during the fourth inning of Game 3 of an MiLB International League Championship Series at VyStar Ballpark Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025 in Jacksonville, Fla. The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp defeated the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders 7-4 and took home the title in a best-of-three game series. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]")
Some players just seem to stick around no matter what. For the Atlanta Braves, there have been plenty of recent examples. Jesse Chavez became a fan favorite for his tendency to always find their way back, while others like Bryce Elder are...less liked by the fanbase overall. However, the Yankees are experiencing the extreme end of this phenomenon with former Braves first-round pick Braden Shewmake.
After getting selected with the #21 pick in the 2019 MLB Draft out of Texas A&M, Shewmake struggled to live up to his draft position. His defense at shortstop turned out to be excellent, but the offensive potential he showed in college never really came, and the Braves ultimately decided to move on and trade Shewmake to the White Sox in the Aaron Bummer trade.
Since leaving, Shewmake bounced around a little bit before landing with the Yankees, where, much to the chagrin of New York fans, he just seemed to keep surviving roster purge after roster purge despite being an obvious roster-culling candidate. It seemed like Shewmake's luck ran out recently when they designated him for assignment. However Shewmake survived the waiver wire, and the Yankees are still stuck with him.
Braden Shewmake and the Yankees can't seem to quit each other, and it is hilarious
Now, it usually isn't a great sign that a player at a premium position makes it through the waiver wire at this time of year. If Shewmake was actually valuable, there would have been at least one team with depth concerns at short that would have scooped him up. Instead, the Yankees get to stash Shewmake in the minors without using a 40-man spot on him.
However, it is deeply funny that New York can't seem to rid themselves of Shewmake. Unless a defensive replacement is needed, there is just no evidence that Shewmake is a big league quality hitter. If nothing else, Shewmake's situation is a reminder of the lengths that teams will go to not sacrifice depth when it comes to players without minor league options.
For Braves fans, the Shewmake chapter is one that ended a few years ago. However, if history is any indication, Yankees fans may want to accept that they will cross paths with Shewmake again before too long.