Former Dodgers Walk Off Hero DFA'd by Braves
A Dodger legend recently got designated for assignment by the Atlanta Braves. Legend is probably too strong of a word, but he's certainly a fan favorite from the last decade or so of Dodgers baseball. Old friend Charlie Culberson was DFA'd by the Braves over the weekend which opened the door to some odd headlines for Atlanta.
First, Culbie was DFA'd on Father's Day. His father was set to throw out the first pitch at Truist Park on Sunday but that plan changed with the transaction.
Cold.
Second, Culberson had also spent the last month on the Braves' 26-man active roster... and somehow never got into a game. How does that even happen?
At any rate, the veteran infielder signed a minor league deal with Atlanta after opting out of a contract with the Tampa Bay Rays late in the spring. He's spent parts of the last few seasons with the Braves as well as the Texas Rangers.
Of course, he became a legend while donning Dodger blue. Culberson spent parts of two seasons in Los Angeles and hit one of the more enduring home runs in franchise history back in 2016. It was Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully's last home game behind the mic before retiring. After a clutch Corey Seager home run to keep the game alive, Culberson got his shot in the bottom of the 10th inning.
The walk off homer not only won the game for Vin and the Dodgers, it also secured a 5th consecutive NL West crown for the club.
That was Charlie Culberson's only regular season home run for the Dodgers. He also connected on a homer in the World Series against the Houston Astros during a postseason where he was pressed into action while Corey Seager was dealing with back and arm injuries.
Altogether, Culbie got into just 49 games with LA, plus 14 more in the postseason over the 2016 and 2017 seasons, he made his mark on the franchise.
And now he'll soon be free to sign with any organization if he elects free agency.
