Alex Verdugo, whose quiet offseason puzzled many in the baseball community, ultimately signed a one-year, $1.5 million contract with the Atlanta Braves on March 20.
Following an accelerated rehab, Verdugo was promoted to the majors on April 17, with the Braves aiming to establish him as a regular contributor.
With outfielders Jarred Kelenic, Bryan De La Cruz, Stuart Fairchild, and Eli White all underperforming in the wake of Jurickson Profar’s suspension, Verdugo had a clear opportunity to secure an everyday role.
After his performance on Sunday, it’s safe to say he’s seized it.
On April 19, during a game against the Minnesota Twins in Atlanta, Verdugo was seen leading off first base—solidifying his presence in the Braves’ lineup.
Even though the Braves fell short of a sweep against the red-hot Arizona Diamondbacks in a 6-4 loss, Verdugo stood out by going 4-for-4 with a double, two RBIs, and a walk.
Through his first eight games with Atlanta, Verdugo boasts a .333/.368/.472 slash line, an .841 OPS, and a 134 wRC+, thriving in the leadoff spot and far from the pressure-filled spotlight of New York.
He garnered offseason attention when a March 18 report revealed he hadn’t received a single major league offer at that point.
Although Verdugo had a rough 2024 season with the Yankees, his strong arm and reliable defense made him a worthy candidate for at least a depth role.
So far in 2025, he has significantly improved his strikeout rate (9.1%), whiff rate (10.2%), and expected batting average (.326) compared to last year’s 15% strikeout rate, 15.5% whiff rate, and .250 expected average.
Verdugo has emerged as a much-needed catalyst for Atlanta’s struggling offense.