The Braves recently claimed a pitcher.
The Atlanta Braves made the move to claim left-handed pitcher Ken Waldichuk off waivers on Thursday, the team announced. After claiming Waldichuk off waivers from the Athletics, the Braves designated infielder Vidal Brujan for assignment.
Waldichuk, a 28-year-old pitcher, made his MLB debut in 2022 with the A's. He made just seven starts, pitching to a 4.93 ERA across 34.2 innings. In 2023, Waldichuk made 35 total MLB appearances, 22 of which were starts. HIs numbers did not get any better, though, as he finished the season with a 5.36 ERA in his 141 innings of work.
In 2024, the southpaw underwent Tommy John surgery. He would not return until the summer of 2025. Between 16 outings (15 starts) at Triple-A and one start at Single-A, Waldichuk pitched to an 8.17 ERA in 54 total innings. While his performance was underwhelming, some rust was to be expected after returning from Tommy John surgery.
However, the Athletics designated the left-hander for assignment in late 2025 -- which led to the Braves claiming him off waivers. At only 28 years old, Waldichuk is a guy who could figure things out and play an important role at the MLB level. He has primarily been a starter, but one has to wonder if Waldichuk could end up in the bullpen in the future.
What Will Ken Waldichuk's Role be With the Braves?
The Braves are in the market for starting pitching help, but their current options are more reliable than Waldichuk at the moment. In order for Waldichuk to receive a starting opportunity at the MLB level, he would need two things to go his way. First, he will need to pitch well enough in the minor leagues to catch the big league ball club's attention. Additionally, Waldichuk would need a spot in the rotation to open up.
If he is moved to a relief role, the road back to MLB would likely be faster. Left-handed relievers are especially valuable.
It remains to be seen what Waldichuk's role will ultimately be with his new team. Regardless of whether he starts or pitches in relief, claiming Waldichuk provides Atlanta with potentially impactful pitching depth. He is not a superstar and won't make or break the Braves' season, but fans will want to keep an eye on the southpaw to see if he ends up receiving a big league opportunity at some point down the road.