The Atlanta Braves have officially secured another promising player for their roster, with reliever Tommy Doyle signing on for a minor league contract, as reported by MLB.com’s transaction tracker. This move suggests a probable invitation for Doyle to join the Major League Baseball (MLB) Spring Training.
Doyle’s journey to the Braves involved a brief stint on the free-agent market, initiated when the Colorado Rockies designated him for assignment as part of the transaction that brought Cal Quantrill from the Guardians. Interestingly, Colorado non-tendered Doyle directly from the Designated for Assignment (DFA) status, exempting him from the usual waivers process applicable to DFA players not involved in trades. This move marked Doyle’s first foray into free agency.
Originally a third-round pick by Colorado in 2017, Doyle had a brief MLB debut at the conclusion of a shortened season. Although the Rockies outrighted him from the 40-man roster a year later, they reselected his contract in July of the following year.
The latter part of the past season saw Doyle extensively contributing from the Rockies’ bullpen, featuring in 15 games and covering 23 2/3 innings. Unfortunately, his performance in the Major League was challenging, marked by a 6.85 ERA, a subpar 17.5% strikeout rate, and a notable 12.6% walk rate. In contrast, Triple-A proved more favorable, where Doyle achieved a 3.41 ERA over 37 innings, despite the demanding pitching conditions in Albuquerque. While excelling with a solid 26.6% strikeout rate in the top minor league level, his 11.7% walk rate remained a concern.
Looking ahead, the Braves’ bullpen faces limited opportunities for the upcoming season, with established players like Raisel Iglesias, A.J. Minter, Joe Jiménez, Pierce Johnson, Reynaldo López, Tyler Matzek, and Aaron Bummer occupying key spots. Even if López transitions to the starting rotation, creating potential vacancies, the competition for those spots is fierce. Candidates like Dylan Lee or Daysbel Hernández are poised to contend for these roles, while Doyle is anticipated to begin the year at Triple-A Gwinnett, providing valuable depth for the team.
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