Braves Sign Ex-Cardinals Hurler After Down Year To Add Organizational Depth

Atlanta is taking a chance on a former member of the Cardinals

One former St. Louis Cardinals hurler is getting a fresh start with the Atlanta Braves.

Atlanta recently announced its 2024 Spring Training non-roster invitees and included in its list was former Cardinals reliever Jake Walsh who was signed to a minor league deal, according to MLB.com's John Denton. 

"Former Cardinals reliever Jake Walsh is headed to Spring Training with the Braves on a minor league contract," Denton said.

Walsh was selected by the Cardinals in the 16th round of the 2017 Major League Baseball June Amateur Draft and he has spent his entire professional career in the organization to this point.

The 28-year-old worked his way up the Cardinals' farm system and made his big league debut with the club in 2022 and appeared in three games and allowed four earned runs in 2 2/3 innings pitched. 

Walsh spent the 2023 campaign with the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds before suffering an injury and being released by the club. The righty appeared in 27 games with Memphis and had a 5.28 ERA and 34-to-23 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 30 2/3 innings pitched. He was released in July and has been a free agent ever since.

The righty will now have a chance to work his way back from injury as a member of the Braves. It's unclear what his role will be, but he likely will spend a good chunk of the season in the minors if he can impress in Spring Training. 

It could never hurt to add depth at the minor-league level will big league upside. If he can shine, maybe at some point he could get a call up to the big league level.

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