Atlanta Braves claim Andrew Velazquez off of waivers; Yonny Chirinos' season is over

The Braves reliever was transferred to the 60-day IL to make roster space for Velazquez, ending his season

The Atlanta Braves claimed infielder Andrew Velazquez off of waivers from the Los Angeles Angels today, sending him to AAA Gwinnett, the team announced today. 

The #Braves today claimed INF Andrew Velazquez off waivers from the Los Angeles Angels and optioned him to Triple-A Gwinnett. To make room on the 40-man roster, Atlanta transferred RHP Yonny Chirinos to the 60-day injured list.

— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) September 5, 2023

Velazquez, 29, was a 7th round pick of the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2012 out of high school and made his debut in 2018 with the Tampa Bay Rays. He was then traded to Cleveland, who eventually waived him in 2020. After being claimed by Baltimore off of waivers for the 2020 season, he was signed to a minor-league deal by the Yankees and later DFA'd, where Los Angeles claimed him off waivers and he's been with the organization until just this week.   

In 2023, he played in fifty-four games for the Angels, batting .173/.264/.284 in just under 100 at-bats, spending time at short, second, and centerfield. He's been sent to AAA Gwinnett by Atlanta. 

The corresponding move to make room on the 40-man roster was moving RHP Yonny Chirinos to the 60-day IL, ending his season. Chirinos was 5-5 with a 5.40 ERA in his twenty games (nine starts) between Tampa Bay and Atlanta this season, although his five Atlanta starts resulted in a 1-1 record and 9.27 ERA. He was put on the 15-day IL with elbow inflamation on Monday, August 21st. 

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