The Atlanta Braves are digging into the bullpen bargain bin again — and this time, it’s a familiar face. John Brebbia is back in the fold, signing a minor league deal with Atlanta. That adds one more name to an increasingly experienced list of relievers stashed away in Triple-A Gwinnett.
Brebbia Returns to Atlanta Looking for a Bounce-Back
If the name rings a bell, it should. Brebbia made a brief cameo with the Braves late last season, joining the club on August 31, 2024, and making five appearances before the curtain dropped.
In those outings, he fanned nine batters over 6.2 innings. He gave Atlanta a brief taste of the right-hander who once carved up hitters with swing-and-miss stuff.
Not a Great 2025 Season With Tigers
The 35-year-old opened the season with the Detroit Tigers, where he appeared in 19 games before getting released last week. The surface-level numbers tell part of the story with a bloated 7.71 ERA. Dig a little deeper, and it’s clear the real problem has been a combo of diminishing strikeouts and rising walks. Brebbia’s xFIP (5.55) and xERA (4.12) suggest he was due for some positive regression, but that’s still a far cry from his better years.
Still, this is a no-risk move for the Braves. There’s no guarantee Brebbia will see the big-league bullpen again, but Atlanta has a history of getting the most out of veteran relievers in need of a tune-up.
He’ll join a seasoned group in Gwinnett that includes Wander Suero, Jesse Chavez, Enoli Paredes, and Michael Peterson, all of whom have major-league experience and could be options if the big-league pen hits a rough patch.
A Depth Play For Braves With Familiar Upside
For Atlanta, it’s less about what Brebbia is now and more about what he might be again. His 373 career big-league appearances come with a track record of success — especially from his days in St. Louis and San Francisco. If the Braves can rediscover even a fraction of that guy, they’ve added another chess piece to a bullpen that’s always looking for that next hot hand.
And for Brebbia, the mission is simple: pitch well in Gwinnett, get back to the show, and prove there’s still some gas left in the tank.
