Veteran outfielder Jake Marisnick has signed a minor league contract with the Atlanta Braves, which includes an invitation to the team’s major league spring training camp. At 33 years old, Marisnick is hoping to make his return to the majors after finishing the 2023 season with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Last year, he spent the season with the Salt Lake Bees, the Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels, where he posted a .283/.368/.551 slash line in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League. However, despite his solid performance, he did not receive a major league call-up.
The Southern California native, Jake Marisnick, has a career .228/.281/.385 slash line over 11 seasons in Major League Baseball. Throughout his career, he has played for a number of teams, including the Houston Astros, Miami Marlins, Chicago Cubs, San Diego Padres, Detroit Tigers, Pittsburgh Pirates, New York Mets, Chicago White Sox, and the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Marisnick enjoyed his best seasons with the Houston Astros, primarily as a fourth outfielder. From 2015 to 2019, he played all three outfield positions for the Astros, averaging 2 bWAR per season despite never exceeding 400 plate appearances in any given year. One of his career highlights came in 2017 when he won his only World Series championship as the Astros defeated the Dodgers.
The Braves signed free agent Bryan De La Cruz, a right-handed hitting outfielder, in December. Marisnick will likely compete with De La Cruz for a reserve outfield spot off the bench during spring training.
Additionally, Atlanta strengthened their outfield by signing veteran switch-hitter Jurickson Profar to a three-year, $42 million contract this offseason. Profar is expected to get the majority of the at-bats in left field. Meanwhile, left-handed hitter Jarred Kelenic is projected to see the bulk of the action in right field.
Other non-roster invitees in the Braves’ camp include left-handed hitting outfielder Conner Capel, as well as infielders Luke Waddell, Charles LeBlanc, José Devers, Garrett Cooper, and Eddy Alvarez—a former Olympic speed skater who has experience both in the infield and the outfield.
As Darragh McDonald of MLB Trade Rumors points out, this group isn’t particularly distinguished, which could give Marisnick an opportunity to make the Braves’ major league roster if the team values versatility and defense from its backup outfield spot.
McDonald notes that while Jurickson Profar is coming off a standout offensive season, he’s been inconsistent at times and isn’t known for his defensive skills. Jarred Kelenic has also shown inconsistent production offensively and defensively. Bryan De La Cruz, meanwhile, is considered a poor defender and is coming off his worst offensive season to date.
In contrast, Marisnick brings significant defensive value to the table, with 80 Defensive Runs Saved and 52 Outs Above Average in his career as an outfielder since his debut in 2013. This could give him an edge if the Braves prioritize strong defensive capabilities in their bench options.
