The Atlanta Braves will never pass up on a chance for a good old-fashioned reunion.
Some players succeed in certain uniforms but not others, and the Braves typically believe that they can get the most out of players they've seen succeed in Atlanta before. On Monday, they brokered two notable reunions that no one saw coming, but that surprised no one either.
In a flurry of transactions, the Braves brought back right-handed pitcher Ian Anderson to the major league roster, just a day after claiming him off waivers from the Los Angeles Angels. The Braves had traded Anderson to the Angels on Mar. 23 when it was clear he wouldn't make the Opening Day roster.
To make room for Anderson, the Braves optioned right-handed pitcher Davis Daniel to Triple-A. But the biggest surprise was later in the announcement.
The Braves are bringing back outfielder Eddie Rosario, who recently elected free agency after being designated for assignment by the Los Angeles Dodgers. Rosario got a major league contract, so he's headed straight to the active roster, and Jarred Kelenic is headed to Triple-A.
Anderson, 26, was a 2021 World Series hero for the Braves, throwing five scoreless innings and picking up the win in his lone start against the Houston Astros. But he hadn't pitched in the majors since 2022 until his brief seven-game stint with Los Angeles (11.57 ERA).
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Rosario, 33, was electric for the Braves in the 2021 postseason, and he has played parts of four seasons with the club in total. He racked up 21 home runs with a .755 OPS in 2023, but he was dreadful in 2024, returning briefly to the Braves after a release from the Washington Nationals, then finishing the year with the New York Mets.
Kelenic, 24, is a former top-10 prospect in all of baseball who has simply never lived up to the hype. In addition to getting caught up in the Brian Snitker-Ronald Acuña Jr. controversy for not hustling out of the box on a ball off the wall, he was slashing .167/.231/.300 (48 OPS+) prior to the demotion.
It's anyone's guess what Anderson and Rosario still have in the tank after a few topsy-turvy years. Meanwhile, Kelenic will try to rebound from his latest disappointment to prove he can eventually become a productive major leaguer.
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