The Braves introduced that right-hander Jackson Stephens was outrighted to Triple-A. The transfer was essential to take away Stephens from the 40-man roster since he’s out of minor league options, however the righty will stay in Atlanta’s group.
Stephens first joined the Braves on a minor league deal final winter, and he ended up seeing fairly a little bit of Main League work in tossing 53 1/3 innings out of the bullpen (together with three innings because the designated starter of a bullpen sport on the finish of the common season). Stephens posted a 3.69 ERA and did a wonderful job of inducing gentle contact, even when his strikeout and stroll charges had been each under the league common.
It was a decent displaying for Stephens’ first MLB motion since 2018 as a member of the Reds, and the efficiency earned Stephen a new contract with the Braves again in December. Since that deal was a cut up contract that wasn’t totally assured, nonetheless, Stephens will solely earn his $740K wage if he seems on Atlanta’s lively roster at any level through the season.
Stephens didn’t acquit himself nicely in Spring Coaching, with a 33.75 ERA to point out for 1 1/3 frames over two appearances of Grapefruit League work. (The Orioles tagged Stephens for 5 runs in one-third of an inning on March 13.) The outright task places Stephens out of the working for a job within the Braves’ Opening Day bullpen, and the membership additionally has one other 40-man roster spot to work with in considering different strikes. Most instantly, the Braves might need that area earmarked for one in all Dylan Dodd or Jared Shuster, who’re competing to be the workforce’s fifth starter.
