Fastball

Former Batting Champ Inks Deal with Atlanta Braves

On the same day that they learned that Spencer Strider would miss the rest of the season, the Atlanta Braves inked former batting champion and World Series winner Yuli Gurriel to a minor league deal.

Brady Farkas

Aug 1, 2023; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Marlins first baseman Yuli Gurriel (10) tosses the baseball
Aug 1, 2023; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Marlins first baseman Yuli Gurriel (10) tosses the baseball / Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
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On the same day that they learned that Spencer Strider would miss the rest of the season with elbow surgery, the Atlanta Braves signed free agent infielder and former batting champion Yuli Gurriel to a minor league deal.

Cuban Baseball Insider Francys Romero had the information on social media:

BREAKING: The Atlanta Braves and Cuban INF Yuli Gurriel are in agreement on a deal, per sources.

It's a Minor League deal. Yuli should be assigned some time to Triple-A.

The two-time World Series champion is back.

Gurriel, who is now 39-years-old, spent the 2023 season with the Miami Marlins, helping them reach the National League playoffs. Prior to Miami, he had a strong seven-year run with the Houston Astros. With Houston, he won a batting title in 2021 (.319) and helped them win the World Series in both 2017 and 2022.

Lifetime, he's a .281 hitter with 98 homers and 462 RBI. While still a good contact hitter, Gurriel's power is essentially gone: He hit just four homers last season with Miami and eight in 2022. He also only hit .242 and .245 in the last two years, respectively.

There's no telling exactly how he'll fit in with Atlanta. Matt Olson is implanted at first base and Marcell Ozuna is the designated hitter. Perhaps Gurriel can be a fill-in or can be a veteran off the bench who can provide a solid at-bat.

One of the best teams in the league, the Braves certainly also give Gurriel an opportunity to win another ring.

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Brady Farkas
BRADY FARKAS

Brady Farkas is a baseball writer for Fastball on Sports Illustrated/FanNation and the host of 'The Payoff Pitch' podcast which can be found on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Videos on baseball also posted to YouTube. Brady has spent nearly a decade in sports talk radio and is a graduate of Oswego State University. You can follow him on Twitter @WDEVRadioBrady. 

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