The Braves announced this morning that they’ve promoted right-handed pitcher from Triple-A Gwinnett. Chavez will take the place of righty Nathan Wiles, who has been sent back to Triple-A after making his MLB debut last night. To make room for Chavez on the 40-man roster, the Braves transferred infielder Nacho Alvarez Jr. to the 60-day injured list. Alvarez has been sidelined all season due to a wrist injury.
At 41 years old, Chavez continues to find his way back to Atlanta. Despite stints with the Angels, Cubs, Rangers, and White Sox, he’s pitched for the Braves in each of the last five seasons. Most of his contracts were minor league deals, including his 2025 contract with Texas. Each time he’s opted out of a non-roster agreement, he’s returned to Atlanta.
Chavez has been effective with the Braves, posting a 2.56 ERA since 2021. He’s pitched in a variety of roles, from long relief to opener to setup man. This marks his second time with Atlanta in 2025. He was called up on March 31, designated for assignment after a two-inning appearance, then re-signed to a minor league deal after becoming a free agent.
In his lone Braves appearance this season, Chavez gave up one run on two hits and two walks. However, he’s been dominant in Gwinnett, allowing just one run over 6 1/3 innings and striking out 12 of the 25 batters he’s faced (48%). He hasn’t issued a walk yet. There’s a chance he may stay longer with Atlanta, especially given the struggles of veterans Enyel De Los Santos and Rafael Montero in the season’s first month. If the Braves decide to replace him with another arm, Chavez could be designated for assignment again, leading to a similar cycle of clearing waivers, opting for free agency, and re-signing.
Alvarez, 22, made his MLB debut last season but only played in eight games. He’s considered one of the Braves’ top prospects, having posted a solid .284/.400/.396 batting line during his three-year rise through the minors. Alvarez was injured during spring training with a wrist issue, which led to a 10-day IL stint at the start of the season. The move to the 60-day IL does not reset his injury clock, meaning he’ll need to remain on the IL for at least 60 days from his original placement and won’t return until at least late May.v
Leave a Reply