why Atlanta braves welcomed a former Astros in the training Camp

Atlanta braves have welcome a former Astros in the training Camp

Atlanta The Atlanta Braves invited 23 non-roster players, including top

prospect Hurston Waldrep and former Houston Astros closer Ken Giles, to spring training on Friday.

Thirty-seven of the 40-man roster will be present at the six-time NL East

champions’ big league camp in North Port, Florida, which will house 60 players overall.

The 33-year-old Giles signed a minor league contract. In 2017, he recorded 34

saves for the World Series-winning Houston team. The following season, he

split time between the Astros and Blue Jays, recording 26 saves. In 2019, he added 23 saves for Toronto.

However, Giles has had a history of injuries ever since, including one that

required Tommy John surgery on his elbow. During the previous four seasons, he had only nine major league

appearances. He missed all of 2021 and played primarily for the Dodgers Triple-A team last season.

Giles is currently vying for a spot on a team that already has a strong bullpen headed by Raisel Iglesias, the closer.

In his first season as a professional, Waldrep—the University of Florida

product selected by the Braves in the first round of the 2023 draft—rose quickly through the minor league ranks. In eight

starts across Single-A, High-A, Double-A, and Triple-A, he recorded a 1.53 ERA with 41 strikeouts in 29⅓ innings.

The 21-year-old Waldrep might make his way into the Atlanta rotation this season,

but 2025 is thought to be more likely as he works to strengthen his command.

The following players were still not on the Braves’ roster: LHP Ben Bowden, RHP Tommy Doyle, RHP Grant Holmes, LHP

Hayden Harris, RHP Jake Walsh, RHP Taylor Widener, C Drake Baldwin, C Tyler Tolve, C Chadwick Tromp, C

Sebastián Rivero, IF Ignacio Alvarez, IF Phillip Evans, IF David Fletcher, IF Leury García, IF Alejo López, IF Andrew

Velazquez, IF Luke Waddell, IF Luke Williams, OF Luis Liberato, OF Jordan Luplow, and OF Eli White.

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