The Braves have signed veteran catcher Austin Nola to a minor league contract with an invitation to big league spring camp, per reports.
Nola, 35, brings a mix of big league experience and versatility to a Braves system that’s light on upper-level catching depth. He has appeared in 345 career MLB games with the Padres and Mariners from 2019 to 2023, hitting a combined .249/.324/.350 with a 95 OPS+, per Baseball Reference.
Once a steady bat, Nola now fighting to stay in the majors
Nola’s early career showed promise — he posted a .796 OPS in 2019 with Seattle and maintained solid offensive value through 2021. However, his bat cooled sharply, and by 2023 his offensive production had cratered (.146 AVG in 52 games).
The 2024 season saw Nola sign a minor league deal with the Royals, followed by a stint with Colorado’s Triple-A affiliate. After a strong showing in Albuquerque, the Rockies promoted him in May. Nola managed just a .184/.225/.211 line over 14 MLB games before being designated for assignment and electing free agency in August.
Depth move for Braves catching group
Atlanta enters 2025 set at the MLB level with Sean Murphy and Drake Baldwin sharing catching duties. Chuckie Robinson is the only other catcher in the organization with prior MLB experience, making Nola’s addition a low-risk depth move ahead of spring training.
Nola could also serve as an emergency first base option, a role he’s filled intermittently throughout his career.
Veteran presence with upside for Gwinnett
While it’s unlikely Nola challenges for a big league job out of camp, his experience and steady glove could make him valuable at Triple-A Gwinnett, especially if injuries strike the catching corps.
Now entering his age-36 season, Nola’s chances to re-establish himself as a backup in the majors are dwindling — but a strong spring showing could keep the door open in Atlanta or elsewhere.
