Here we go again, another depth move for the pitching staff as the Atlanta Braves look to stockpile arms heading into the 2025 season.
This time, it’s right-hander Chad Kuhl, who’s reportedly signed a minor league deal with the club, per Aram Leighton of Just Baseball.
And if that name sounds familiar, it should. Kuhl has been bouncing around the league for a few years now, and he’s set to be a non-roster invitee to big league spring training, according to MLB Trade Rumors.
A Look at Kuhl’s Career So Far
What exactly are the Braves getting here? If you go back to his Pirates days, there was a time when Kuhl looked like a legitimate rotation piece.
His best season came back in 2017 when he made 31 starts, logged 157.1 innings, and posted a 4.35 ERA with a solid 2.2 fWAR.
But after that, things never really took off the way Pittsburgh hoped. He’s spent the last few years bouncing between starting and relief roles, trying to find his niche.
Last season, Kuhl put up a 5.06 ERA across 31 appearances (53.1 innings) with the White Sox, but the numbers under the hood tell an interesting story.
His FIP sat at 4.10, suggesting he may have been a bit unlucky, and he actually had one of his best statistical seasons in a while—his highest fWAR since his stint as a Rockies starter in 2022.
He also made some key improvements, cutting his walk rate down to 4.22 BB/9, which brought him closer to his career average after a rollercoaster 2023 in that department.
What Kuhl Does Well
Now, here’s where things get interesting. When Kuhl is at his best, he keeps the ball on the ground and avoids hard contact.
Last season, he finished in the 82nd percentile for Barrel percentage and the 70th percentile for Ground Ball rate. Both encouraging signs for someone who might be called upon in a long-relief role.
That ability to generate weak contact and keep the ball in the park is exactly what teams look for in depth pitchers. However, consistency has been his biggest issue.
If he can maintain control and avoid the occasional implosion, he could be a useful piece at some point down the line.
Where He Fits with the Braves
He’s joining a crowded pitching mix in Atlanta. The Braves already boast one of the strongest rotations in baseball and have plenty of bullpen arms battling for innings.
Kuhl is going to have to fight for a spot. Could he break camp with the big league squad? It’s possible but far from guaranteed.
More likely, he starts the year in Triple-A, providing organizational depth, and if injuries pop up or the Braves need an extra arm, he might get a call-up at some point.
This is a classic low-risk, potential-depth signing for the Braves. Kuhl isn’t here to be a game-changer. If he can keep limiting hard contact and refining his command, he could be a useful piece in 2025.
We’ll see if he can carve out a role in what’s shaping up to be another competitive season for Atlanta.
