The Atlanta Braves have quietly parted ways with a name that most fans never got the chance to know. Eddys Leonard, who is a versatile 25-year-old infielder with flashes of serious power, officially signed a minor league deal with the Milwaukee Brewers after electing free agency just five days earlier.
A Power Bat Without a Braves Path
Leonard’s departure won’t shake the Braves’ major league roster, but it does highlight an increasingly common problem for mid-tier prospects in powerhouse organizations: too much depth can be a dead end. Leonard joined Atlanta in March and spent the 2024 season with Triple-A Gwinnett, playing a true utility role at first base, second, third, and even stints in both corner outfield spots. But shortstop, perhaps the one position where the Braves might’ve had an opening, saw him just once all year. That detail alone may explain why Leonard chose to look elsewhere.
Triple-A Production, Major League Aspirations
Offensively, Leonard’s bat continues to hint at untapped potential. He smashed 20 home runs last season, bringing his career minor league total to 87 since 2021. Thirty-eight of those have come at the Triple-A level, an encouraging figure for any team in need of bench depth or injury insurance with pop. His defensive flexibility adds another layer to his value, but with the Braves’ infield locked down by stars and regulars, Leonard’s ceiling in Atlanta looked more like a holding pattern than a launchpad.
A Fresh Start with the Brewers
His career, though still young, has already taken intriguing turns. Once ranked as the No. 8 prospect in the Dodgers system in 2022, Leonard came into professional baseball as a $200,000 international signee back in 2017. Though he never cracked the major leagues in Atlanta, he’s earned a spring training invite from Milwaukee, a team that may be better positioned to take a flier on a high-upside utility man.
For Leonard, Milwaukee represents opportunity. For the Braves, it’s another small piece of roster churn in a front office that’s always thinking two moves ahead. Time will tell if Leonard’s power and versatility find a more permanent home in the big leagues.
