Verdugo is out of the lineup for Wednesday's contest against the Cardinals.
Verdugo started each of the first five games upon being called up from Triple-A Gwinnett, but he'll get a breather for Wednesday's series finale. Eli White will cover left field and bat seventh for Atlanta.
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Braves' Alex Verdugo: Leads offense with four hits
Rotowire
Verdugo went 4-for-5 with two doubles, an RBI and two runs scored in Saturday's 4-3 win against the Twins.
The veteran outfielder went hitless in his 2025 debut Friday, but he was much more productive in his second game for Atlanta. Verdugo has stepped into the leadoff spot of a struggling offense and should bat there against most right-handed starting pitchers, at least until Ronald Acuna (knee) is ready to make his season debut, which could happen early in May.
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Braves' Alex Verdugo: Hitless in season debut
Rotowire
Verdugo went 0-for-5 with a strikeout in Friday's win over the Twins.
The 28-year-old outfielder hit leadoff in his debut for Atlanta, but he was unable to reach base despite a couple hard-hit balls. Verdugo is hoping to regain his form after a rough 2024 campaign with the Yankees -- over the five seasons prior, he slashed .283/.338/.432 between the Dodgers and Red Sox.
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Braves' Alex Verdugo: Batting leadoff in Atlanta debut
Rotowire
Verdugo will start in left field and bat leadoff in Friday's game versus the Twins.
Verdugo is not only being thrown right into the lineup for his Atlanta debut, but he's being placed at the top of the batting order, as well. The veteran outfielder should play regularly for his new club, at least against right-handed pitching. Verdugo slashed only .233/.291/.356 across 149 regular-season games for the Yankees in 2024.
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Braves' Alex Verdugo: Recalled to Atlanta
Rotowire
Atlanta recalled Verdugo from Triple-A Gwinnett on Thursday.
Verdugo played nine games at Gwinnett after signing with Atlanta in late March, slashing .207/.303/.448 with two home runs and a 2:2 K:BB over 33 plate appearances. The 28-year-old is coming off a lackluster 2024 campaign that saw him post a .647 OPS across 149 regular-season contests, but with Atlanta's injuries and lack of production in the corner-outfield spots, along with Jurickson Profar's PED suspension, Verdugo should receive something close to everyday playing time.
Braves' Alex Verdugo: Expected to join Atlanta this week
Rotowire
Verdugo is expected to join Atlanta's active roster this week, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.
Verdugo has participated in seven games with Triple-A Gwinnett, going 4-for-22 with a pair of home runs, including one long ball on Sunday. It's uncertain whether Verdugo will join Atlanta on Monday for the start of its series in Toronto or on Friday when the club begins a homestand, but "all signs point" to the veteran outfielder being recalled this week, per O'Brien. Jarred Kelenic and Bryan De La Cruz have both struggled, so Verdugo figures to immediately get an opportunity at regular playing time in the outfield corners for Atlanta.
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Braves' Alex Verdugo: Inks $1.5 million deal with Atlanta
Rotowire
Atlanta signed Verdugo to a one-year, $1.5 million contract and optioned him to Triple-A Gwinnett, Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Verdugo's free-agent market has been quiet all winter, but he's finally managed to land a major-league deal a week before Opening Day. It's not clear when Verdugo might be able to play, and by the time he's ready Ronald Acuna (knee) may have already rejoined the Atlanta lineup, so the 28-year-old could be viewed purely as corner outfield insurance by Atlanta. Verdugo slashed only .233/.291/.356 across 149 regular-season games for the Yankees in 2024.
Verdugo has yet to receive an offer for a major-league deal since becoming a free agent in November, a league source tells Brendan Kuty of The Athletic.
Verdugo lacks the power profile most teams value in corner outfielders, but as an under-30 player with a career 101 wRC+ over parts of eight seasons in the majors, it comes as a surprise that he apparently hasn't been offered anything more than a minor-league deal throughout the winter and spring. Given his track record in the big leagues, Verdugo has understandably been unwilling to sign what he perceives as a below-market deal, but he may have to wait for a team's outfield depth to be tested by injuries early in the season before he gets an offer to his liking. While he waits for an opportunity, Verdugo has reportedly kept himself in playing shape by training on his own at his home in Arizona.
Verdugo is running out of time to sign with a team before the start of the season, Matt Ehalt of the New York Post reports.
Verdugo had been linked to the Mets, Blue Jays, Astros, Angels and Pirates this offseason, but those clubs either no longer have interest or they're simply not willing to offer the veteran outfielder what he feels he's worth. The 28-year-old slashed only .233/.291/.356 across 149 regular-season games for the Yankees in 2024 but graded out as a plus defender in left field.
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