Jake Marisnick, a veteran outfielder, accepted an invitation to the Atlanta Braves’ big league spring training camp along with a minor league contract on Thursday.
The 33-year-old Marisnick hopes to make his major league comeback for the first time since the Los Angeles Dodgers’ 2023 season ended. Marisnick played for the Los Angeles Angels’ Triple-A club, the Salt Lake Bees, during the previous season.
Despite hitting.283/.368/.551 in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League, he was not called up to the major leagues. Additional news: Shohei Ohtani of the Dodgers Gives a Significant Health Update Before Spring Training Begins With the Houston Astros, Miami Marlins, Chicago Cubs, San Diego Padres, Detroit Tigers, Pittsburgh Pirates, New York Mets, Chicago White Sox, and Dodgers, the Southern California native had a career.228/.281/.385 batting line.
As a fourth outfielder, Marisnick enjoyed his greatest seasons with the Astros. Despite never recording more than 400 plate appearances, he received time at all three outfield spots in Houston from 2015 to 2019 and averaged 2 bWAR annually. Marisnick’s sole World Series victory came in 2017 when the Astros defeated the Dodgers.
More: The Dodgers are starting to negotiate a contract extension with an incoming free agent. In December, the Braves signed right-handed hitting outfielder Bryan De La Cruz as a free agent. Off the bench in camp, Marisnick is expected to contend with De La Cruz for a backup outfield position.
This summer, Atlanta also signed Jurickson Profar, a free agent, to a three-year, $42 million deal. The majority of the at-bats are likely to go to left field for the seasoned switch-hitter. Jarred Kelenic, a left-handed batter, is expected to get the majority of the action in right field. Additional news:
Name of the Dodgers Opening Day Starter vs. Cubs in Tokyo: Japanese Born Pitcher Conner Capel, a left-handed hitting outfielder, and infielders Luke Waddell, Charles LeBlanc, José Devers, Garrett Cooper, and Eddy Alvarez—a former Olympic speed skater with infield and outfield experience—are among the other non-roster invitees in the Braves’ camp.
Marisnick has some leeway to make the Braves’ major league roster out of camp if the team wants to prioritize defense and versatility from the backup outfield position because, as MLB Trade Rumors’ Darragh McDonald points out, it’s not a particularly impressive group: “Profar is coming off a monster season at the plate but has been wildly inconsistent and isn’t a great fielder.
“The offensive and defensive output of Kelenic has fluctuated. In addition to being a bad defender, De La Cruz just had his worst attacking performance to date. Since making his outfield debut in 2013, Marisnick has amassed 52 outs above average and 80 defensive runs saved.
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