The Braves have signed Harold Ramírez to a minor league contract and assigned him to Triple-A Gwinnett, as announced by Gwinnett broadcaster Dave Lezotte on X.
This marks Ramírez’s third team of the season. He started the year with the Rays but was released in June after struggling early on. He then joined the Nationals, where he batted .243/.273/.365 over roughly a month before being released last week.
Across his stints with the Rays and Nationals, Ramírez posted a .261/.280/.324 line in 246 plate appearances. His lack of walks and power led to a rather empty batting average. However, during the 2022-23 seasons, he was significantly more productive, with a .306/.348/.432 slash line over nearly 900 at-bats with Tampa Bay.
His aggressive approach was complemented by solid bat-to-ball skills and a knack for hitting to all fields. He excelled against left-handed pitchers, recording a .374/.412/.509 line with the platoon advantage.
For the Braves, there is no downside in seeing if Ramírez can regain his previous form in Gwinnett. The Rays are covering his $3.8 million salary, so if the Braves decide to call him up, they would only need to pay a prorated portion of the $740,000 minimum salary for any time he spends on the MLB roster. While Ramírez would technically be eligible for arbitration and controllable through 2025, he would need a strong finish to the season for the Braves to consider offering him a contract that could exceed $4 million.
Jorge Soler is returning to the Braves’ starting lineup tonight after missing a few games due to a hamstring issue, which will likely push Ramón Laureano to the bench. Laureano, who was released by the Guardians earlier in the year due to poor performance, has since rebounded with a .284/.318/.520 line in 29 games for Atlanta and has secured his roster spot.
If Ramírez is to find a spot on the Braves’ roster, he would most likely need to replace Adam Duvall, who has struggled against right-handed pitching despite strong performances against lefties (.260/.350/.529).
Ramírez would also be eligible for postseason play if the Braves wish to give him a chance. Players on non-roster deals by September 1 can participate in the playoffs if approved by the commissioner’s office as injury substitutes, a process that is usually a formality and occurs with a few players around the league each year.
