Aiming to switch to pitching, the Braves release the 2007 first-round pick of the San Francisco Giants.
SF Giants first-round selection in 2007 With the Atlanta Braves, Charlie Culberson made an effort to reinvent himself as a pitcher. Nevertheless, the team’s transaction log indicates that upon his release by the club, that process has been placed on hold.
SF Giants 2007 first-round pick released by the Braves following an attempt to switch to pitching
A select group of players are very special to the Braves. Culberson seems to belong in that category with Jesse Chavez and Adam Duvall. Naturally, Duvall is back for his third Braves season, while Chavez inked an offseason minor league contract with the Chicago White Sox but was not selected for the squad. Over the weekend, he signed a guaranteed contract with the Braves.
Culberson fits the same description. He was with Atlanta for two different spells. During one of these runs in 2023, he was on the active roster for over two whole months but only saw one plate appearance. There were simply no at-bats for Culberson because the Braves had greater lineup continuity than any other team in MLB the previous season.
Giants supporters are familiar with Culberson, of course, as a minor player in the team’s past. Before the 2012 trade deadline, he was traded for veteran utility bat Marco Scutaro and sent to the Colorado Rockies.
Scutaro developed into an important player in the Giants’ 2012 pennant drive. After the trade, he hit.326 with San Francisco and won MVP of the NLCS.
Conversely, Culberson has distinguished himself throughout a lengthy career as a utility infielder, primarily with the Braves and the Los Angeles Dodgers. Although the position of utility player is difficult and does not support lengthy careers, the 35-year-old has participated in portions of 11 major league seasons.
In that time, Culberson has amassed a.680 OPS and gained expertise in both the outfield and all over the diamond. His ability to be versatile has enabled him to keep getting employment.
But if he’s looking to turn his pitching career around, it might be even more difficult to find a new team. During his two innings of work in the Braves’ camp, the righty arm gave up six earned runs. He wasn’t invited to camp at first, but when the situation called for him, he was brought up from minor league camp.
Culberson does not plan to retire, he told Justin Toscano of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (subscription needed). It’s likely that the seasoned player will continue to have an influence on the game long after his playing days are finished, regardless of whether he signs with a new team or not.
