The Atlanta Braves are reportedly set to call up top prospect Hector Olivera when rosters expand on Tuesday, Robert Murray of Baseball Essential reports. Olivera was acquired in the mega-deal that saw Mat Latos, Jim Johnson, Alex Wood, Luis Avilan and Bronson Arroyo go to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
More from Atlanta Braves
- Stock Up, Stock Down: Braves, Yankees, Cubs, Red Sox
- Atlanta Braves: The 4 players who are on the franchise’s Mount Rushmore
- Breaking down the NL MVP race: Ronald Acuna Jr. vs. Freddie Freeman
- Atlanta Braves 3 reasons not to panic over August pitching struggles
- MLB trade deadline: Atlanta Braves coast as they await pitching help
The 30-year-old has climbed the minor-league ranks quickly since coming over from Cuba this offseason, hitting a collective .270 with two homers, nine RBIs, four doubles and nine walks across 34 games at six different stops. Olivera didn’t log more than 10 games at any stop, though he did hit .387 with 12 hits and a homer in 31 at-bats with the Dodgers’ AAA affiliate earlier this season.
With Jace Peterson and Adonis Garcia both not putting up overly impressive numbers at the plate, Olivera should see time at both positions down the stretch and could also see an occasional start at first base or even left field.
While the Braves won’t be playing in the postseason this year, they do have a chance to see what they have in the prize of their return from the trade a month ago. Olivera will be under club control for the next five seasons, and Atlanta could potentially gain an additional year of team control for $1-million should Olivera need Tommy John surgery.
Next: Carlos Correa Injury Cause For Concern
More from Call to the Pen
- Philadelphia Phillies, ready for a stretch run, bomb St. Louis Cardinals
- Philadelphia Phillies: The 4 players on the franchise’s Mount Rushmore
- Boston Red Sox fans should be upset over Mookie Betts’ comment
- Analyzing the Boston Red Sox trade for Dave Henderson and Spike Owen
- 2023 MLB postseason likely to have a strange look without Yankees, Red Sox, Cardinals