The Braves are quietly adding another chess piece to their 2026 roster strategy, inviting infielder Aaron Schunk to Spring Training as a non-roster invitee. This move, first reported by Gabe Burns of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, signals a minor league deal between the club and Schunk, a 28-year-old former second-round pick by the Colorado Rockies.
Schunk’s Bat Hasn’t Matched His Glove – Yet
It’s a fresh start for Schunk, who is leaving the only professional organization he’s ever known. His tenure with Colorado was a mixed bag. Over the last two seasons, Schunk appeared in 55 MLB games, logging 131 plate appearances. But the results were underwhelming. A .222/.246/.302 slash line, coupled with a 31.3% strikeout rate and a meager 3.1% walk rate, told the story of a hitter who struggled to adjust at the big-league level.
Still, Atlanta’s interest in Schunk isn’t without merit. His minor league numbers are more intriguing, though nuanced. In over 1,100 Triple-A plate appearances, he posted a .291/.348/.468 line. But context is crucial here. All of that production came in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League, where offensive stats are often inflated. Adjusted for league and park factors, his 89 wRC+ suggests he was actually 11% below average relative to his peers.
A Strong Defensive Reputation with Roster Flexibility
Where Schunk shines is with the glove. He’s developed a reputation as a strong defender at third base, with enough versatility to handle both middle infield positions. That flexibility could prove valuable to an Atlanta team that enters camp with real questions on the infield.
Austin Riley, Atlanta’s star at the hot corner, missed the end of the past two seasons, including a stretch on the IL and core surgery in 2025. Ha-Seong Kim is penciled in at shortstop, but he too battled injuries last season. Second baseman Ozzie Albies has posted two straight down years offensively, and the team’s current utility options, Mauricio Dubón, Vidal Bruján, and Brett Wisely, each come with limitations. Nacho Alvarez Jr., while promising, is still viewed as a developmental priority rather than a plug-and-play piece.
An Optionable Depth Piece with Long-Term Upside for Braves
If Schunk impresses in camp and earns a 40-man spot, he brings additional roster flexibility. He has an option year remaining, allowing the Braves to move him between Triple-A and the majors without exposure to waivers. And with less than a year of MLB service time, he could offer years of affordable depth if he proves useful.
While Schunk might not be a headline-grabbing acquisition, his arrival signals the Braves’ ongoing effort to build durable infield depth in a season where health and flexibility may be just as important as raw talent.
