The Atlanta Braves have their ongoing roster shuffle going as we inch closer to Opening Day.
If you’ve been keeping tabs, you know the Braves have been steadily trimming down their spring training squad. Tuesday was no exception. This time, infielder José Devers found himself on the outside looking in.
The team made it official via X (formerly Twitter), bringing their spring roster down to 48 players.
A Brief Look at José Devers’ MLB Journey
Devers isn’t exactly a household name, but he’s had a few cups of coffee in the big leagues. Most recently, he suited up for the Miami Marlins in 2024, appearing in three games and managing a single hit in four at-bats.
There’s not much to write home about, but he did cross the plate for a run. His previous major league stint came back in 2021 when he played in 21 games, slashing .244 with a handful of extra-base hits, RBIs, and walks.
The Braves took a flier on Devers this offseason, signing him to a minor league deal. I’m hoping he could carve out a role. But let’s be honest, it was always going to be an uphill battle. His track record in the minors is solid but not spectacular.
Over seven seasons, he’s hit .261 with a .324 OBP and just 13 home runs across 419 games. Not exactly the kind of numbers that scream “big league regular.”
Once a Top Prospect, Now Searching for a Role
And yet, once upon a time, Devers had some hype. He was one of the key pieces in the blockbuster 2017 trade that sent Giancarlo Stanton from the Marlins to the Yankees. That’s right—New York saw enough promise in him to include him in a deal for a former MVP.
He also happens to be the younger cousin of Red Sox slugger Rafael Devers. That certainly adds a little intrigue to his name. But the reality is that José just hasn’t put it all together at the highest level.
His 2024 minor league campaign reinforced that narrative. Devers struggled at the plate when splitting time between Single-A, Rookie Ball, and Triple-A.
With Triple-A Jacksonville, he posted a .239 batting average and a .666 OPS in 54 games. Decent, but not exactly knocking down the door for an MLB roster spot.
The Braves Continue to Trim Their Roster
Meanwhile, the Braves continue their roster cuts, as expected. The move comes just a day after Atlanta added veteran reliever Hector Neris, briefly bumping the roster back up to 49 before Devers’ reassignment.
In the past several days, the Braves have also sent relievers Chasen Shreve, Jordan Weems, Wander Suero, Davis Daniel, and Amos Willingham packing to minor league camp. Catcher Adam Zebrowski also got reassigned.
It’s all part of the annual spring training dance—teams enter camp with a bloated roster and gradually whittle it down to the magic number: 26 players for Opening Day.
The Braves still have some decisions to make, but one thing is clear—José Devers won’t be part of the big league club when they break camp. Where he goes from here is anyone’s guess, but he’s on the outside looking in for now.
