With one week to go before 2025 Opening Day, Alex Verdugo found a home. The 28-year-old Verdugo signed a one-year with the Braves, giving Atlanta additional depth with Ronald Acuna Jr. unavailable thanks to knee surgery recovery.
A Look at Verdugo
The Yankees hoped that Alex Verdugo, a left-handed hitter, would be able to seamlessly slot in at left field after he was acquired in December 2023. New York, heading into the winter, needed a corner outfielder with Jasson Dominguez hurt. However, Verdugo’s run as a Yankee did not go as planned.
A .281/.338/.424 (.761 OPS, 105 OPS+) hitter with the Red Sox, Verdugo slashed just .233/.291/.356 (.647 OPS) with the Yankees over 149 regular-season games. Verdugo wasn’t a big factor in the 2024 MLB Postseason. However, the 28-year-old did hit a home run and drove in five against his old team in the World Series.
Verdugo isn’t a power hitter whatsoever. That much was obvious while he was a Red Sox. Verdugo is a good contact hitter with an extremely short swing (6.3” in 2024) and below-average bat speed, often looking to hit ground balls and line drives. He’ll go with pitches the other way, including inside-outing balls, without trying to actively pull the baseball.
The problem with that, though, is that while Verdugo is a patient hitter who doesn’t chase a lot (25.5% Chase% in 2024), he’ll often be at the mercy of the old BABIP. Verdugo posted a career-low .253 BABIP in 2024. For reference, his career BABIP is .301, roughly around the average.
Defensively, though, Verdugo was largely solid for the Yankees. Verdugo posted a +2 Outs Above Average in 2024 and ranked in the top six percent of the league in arm strength. He does have some experience in center field. However, he profiles best as a corner outfielder
Alex Verdugo is joining the Braves on a one-year deal worth $1.5MM. The team announced Verdugo was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett after he signed.
Analysis
Optioning Verdugo gives the veteran outfielder a chance to get up to speed for the season after missing all of Spring Training.
Verdugo joins a lengthy list of Braves outfielders. It’s a group that currently includes Jarred Kelenic, Michael Harris II, and newcomers Jurickson Profar & Bryan De La Cruz. Ronald Acuna Jr. will begin the 2025 season on the IL.
If Verdugo is ready and gets called up before Acuna Jr. is ready, the 28-year-old can serve as a platoon option against right-handed pitchers. He’s been significantly more productive against right-handed pitchers (.781 OPS) as compared to left-handers (.651 OPS).
But unless numerous injuries arise, Verdugo is likely looking at being a non-regular for the first time since his days as a Dodgers prospect.
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