Outfielder Jake Marisnick is joining the Atlanta Braves as a non-roster invitee to spring training, reports Justin Toscano of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. This suggests that Marisnick, a client of Equity Baseball, has signed a minor league deal with the team.
Marisnick, who will turn 34 in March, inked a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Angels last winter. He spent the 2023 season in Triple-A, playing in 54 games while dealing with some injuries. Despite not getting a call-up to the majors, Marisnick performed well, posting a .283/.368/.551 slash line.
A glove-first outfielder, Marisnick has built a solid defensive reputation since debuting in 2013. Over his career, he has logged 5,357 innings in the outfield, accumulating 80 Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) and 52 Outs Above Average (OAA). Only nine outfielders have recorded a higher DRS during his career, and Marisnick ranks 11th in OAA, despite having fewer innings than most players ahead of him.
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Offensively, Marisnick’s contributions have been less consistent. He has a career slash line of .228/.281/.385, translating to a wRC+ of 81, meaning he’s been 19% below league average at the plate.
The Braves have some uncertainty in their outfield, with Ronald Acuña Jr. still recovering from an ACL tear and potentially missing the start of the season. While Acuña is out, the projected outfield will likely consist of Michael Harris II and Jurickson Profar. The third outfield spot could see a platoon between Jarred Kelenic and Bryan De La Cruz, both of whom have shown inconsistency in their performances.
The Braves also have Carlos Rodriguez and Eli White on the roster, though White is out of options and might be at risk of losing his spot. Rodriguez has only 31 games of Triple-A experience and has yet to make his major league debut. Marisnick’s addition provides the Braves with an experienced, defensive-oriented outfield option, offering depth in case a path to playing time opens up.
