Seal deal: Braves complete the signing of Pitcher

Charlie Culberson Attempts to Become Pitcher, Re-Signs With Braves On Minors Deal.

Charlie Culberson has re-signed with the Braves on a minor league deal and will report to minor league camp as a pitcher, according to Jon Heyman of The New York Post and Justin Toscano of the Atlanta Journal Constitution.

Culberson, who will turn 35 in April, has been a major league utility player for more than a decade. He made his debut with the Giants in 2012 and has since played for the Rockies, Dodgers, Braves, and Rangers, totaling 590 games. He has never been a major danger at the plate, hitting.248/.293/.385 for a wRC+ of 76, but he has consistently garnered high defensive marks despite playing every position on the diamond except catcher and center field.

That includes a few brief appearances on the mound, which have gone well. In his eight major league outings, he has thrown 7 1/3 innings, allowing only one earned run, three walks, and seven hits while striking out one. He also appeared four times in Triple-A last year, surrendering two earned runs in 3 2/3 innings while striking out five and walking two. According to Toscano, Culberson was recorded at 93.7 mph during an appearance in 2018. Last year at Triple-A, he hit 93.1.

Perhaps focusing on pitching full-time will allow him to increase his velocity, or it may be more difficult for him to maintain it with a heavier job. Attempting to become a pitcher on the verge of one’s 35th birthday is clearly an unorthodox path, but there is some sense to it for Culberson. As a utility player, he would have struggled to find a meaningful role in the future. In 2023, he spent two month-long stints on the big league roster in Atlanta but only made one major league plate appearance. In addition, he got a single and concluded the season with a slash line of 1.000/1.000/1.000 and a wRC+ of 475.

Instead of languishing on the bench or in the minors, he plans to choose a different path.

It will also be a great plot for team supporters. Culberson has become a fan favorite during his multiple stints with Atlanta, and he will now set his sights on a fresh and unexpected challenge.