Gio Urshela, a former Cleveland Indians infielder, has signed with the Atlanta Braves.
Urshela, 32, joins the Braves to replace star third baseman Austin Riley, who is set to miss the rest of the regular season after being placed on the injured list due to a fractured hand.
The nine-year MLB veteran signed with the Braves on Tuesday, two days after being released by the Detroit Tigers, with whom he joined in February. Urshela batted.243 with five home runs, 37 RBI, and a.619 OPS in 92 games with the Tigers this year.
Urshela made his Braves debut Tuesday night against the Philadelphia Phillies, going 0-for-3 with a walk and an RBI. The Braves now trail the Phillies by six games in the National League East and have a 2.5-game lead over the last NL wild card slot.
“You go back and look, he’s been a very productive major leaguer,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “It’s (a) great, great opportunity for him, and I think we’re very fortunate that a guy like that was available.”
Before joining Atlanta and Detroit this season, Urshela spent one season with the Los Angeles Angels in 2023 and the Minnesota Twins in 2022. He also spent three seasons with the New York Yankees from 2019 to 2021, including a breakout year in 2019 when he hit.314 with 21 home runs, 74 RBI, and an.889 OPS. Urshela also played one season for the Toronto Blue Jays in 2018.
Urshela began his career with Cleveland in July 2008, when he signed as an amateur free agent from Colombia at the age of sixteen. He made his MLB debut for Cleveland on June 9, 2015, and spent parts of two seasons as a third baseman and utility infielder between 2015 and 2017.
Urshela has a.273 career batting average, 69 home runs, 317 RBI, and a.730 OPS in 756 games.