ATLANTA – Pablo Sandoval has ranked the Atlanta Braves Opening Day roster.
The team made a series of moves on Saturday to complete its list of 26 men, which included the selection of the contract of Sandoval, 34, who was not invited to the list this spring.
The two-time All-Star and 2012 World Series MVP want to revive his career in a bench role with the Braves. The changer earned his place with a strong spring, hitting .429 with four RBIs in 35 bats.
The Braves, who open the season Thursday in Philadelphia, also selected the contracts of two other players who did not belong on the list: first player Ehire Adrianza and reliever Nate Jones.
Infielder Jason Kipnis, a double star who was trying to turn the Braves into a guest who didn’t belong on the list, was released.
In addition, the team led the Abraham Almonte outfield to the alternative training site, appointed camper Phillip Ervin to assign him, and placed pitcher Touki Toussaint on the 60-day injured list with a strain on his face right shoulder.
Sandoval, whose contract will be upgraded to a one-year, $ 1 million deal, reached .214 in 84 bats with the Braves and San Francisco Giants in 2020. He was added to the postseason roster. Atlanta, being unsuccessful in four appearances on the plate. the Braves came to a game of reaching the World Series.
The Braves hope Sandoval can return to the form he showed in 2019, when he hit .268 with 14 homers for the Giants.
Adrianza claimed another opening on the Atlanta bench when he hit .412 in spring training, with two homers and an RBI of 12 on the team during Friday’s game.
The versatile 31-year-old Venezuelan, who had previously played for San Francisco and Minnesota, will provide mostly depth to the short behind Dansby Swanson. Adrianza has also played the rest of the field and off-field positions during his career.
Jones is another player who was not on the list and who impressed the Braves this spring. The 35-year-old right-hander only allowed one run in seven appearances covering 7 innings of 1-3, yielding three strokes with a single walk.
Jones played eight seasons with the Chicago White Sox before moving last season to Cincinnati, where he went 0-1 with an ERA of 6.27 in 21 appearances.
The Braves will start with just four starters on their pitching team after picking Bryse Wilson in the alternate training ground for what is expected to be a two-week stay.
The Braves will not use a fifth starter in their first step through the rotation. Wilson will likely make his first outing on April 13 after beating Kyle Wright for fifth starting position.
Mike Soroka will start the season on the injured list as he continues his recovery from a torn Achilles.