The Atlanta Braves are continuing to prioritize outfield depth as the offseason unfolds, making another low-risk addition to bolster their organizational options. According to his MLB.com profile, the Braves have signed outfielder to a minor league contract. While the move may not generate headlines, it reflects a clear and deliberate strategy by Atlanta to stockpile athletic, versatile players who can contribute in specific roles if needed during the long grind of a major league season.
Keirsey brings a modest amount of major league experience with him. Over parts of multiple seasons, he has appeared in 80 career games at the MLB level. His offensive production has been limited, as he owns a .149 batting average and a .355 OPS, along with three home runs and seven RBIs. Those numbers don’t jump off the page, but raw hitting statistics don’t fully capture the value Keirsey can provide. His most impactful contribution has come on the basepaths, where his speed has played up at the highest level.
During the 2025 season, Keirsey stole 10 bases in 13 attempts, accounting for all of his career stolen bases in the majors. That number is particularly notable given his limited playing time, underscoring how frequently he was used as a situational weapon. With the Minnesota Twins last season, Keirsey often entered games as a pinch runner late or as a defensive replacement, roles that allowed him to leverage his speed and athleticism without being asked to carry an offensive load.
That skill set aligns well with how the Braves have historically utilized similar players. If Keirsey were to find his way onto the big league roster at some point, he could fill a role similar to Stuart Fairchild or the original role Eli White occupied when he first joined the club. These types of players aren’t everyday starters, but they can have an outsized impact in close games by stealing a base, scoring from first on a double, or providing strong defense across all three outfield positions.
Keirsey is far from the only player fitting this mold that the Braves have added this offseason. Back in November, Atlanta signed Brewer Hicklen to a minor league deal, another speedy outfielder with limited major league experience but intriguing tools. Taken together, these moves suggest the Braves are intentionally building redundancy into their depth chart, ensuring they have multiple options available if injuries, underperformance, or roster shuffling creates a need during the season.
Speed has become an increasingly valuable asset in today’s game, particularly with rule changes that have encouraged more aggressive base running. Like Hicklen, Keirsey has consistently demonstrated that speed in the minor leagues. Across his minor league career, Keirsey has accumulated 142 stolen bases, an impressive total that speaks to both his instincts and his willingness to take risks on the bases. He has posted three separate seasons with 36 or more stolen bases, highlighting a level of consistency that organizations value in a depth piece.
His best stolen-base campaign came in 2023, when he swiped 42 bases split between Double-A and Triple-A. That season showcased his ability to impact games even when his bat wasn’t at its best. Players who can change the dynamic of an inning with their legs often find ways to stay relevant, particularly on competitive teams that value every marginal advantage.
For the Braves, Spring Training will be a critical evaluation period. Camp will give the coaching staff and front office a chance to see how Keirsey stacks up against other depth options, both internally and externally. Performance, health, defensive versatility, and baserunning effectiveness will all factor into decisions as the team shapes its final roster. Even if Keirsey doesn’t break camp with the major league club, his presence adds meaningful depth at Triple-A, where he can be called upon if the need arises.
That organizational depth is especially important given how last season unfolded. The Braves cycled through a number of outfielders due to injuries and inconsistent performance, and several players who opened the year with the team did not finish the season in the organization. That level of turnover can strain a system, making it essential to have capable replacements ready to step in at a moment’s notice.
At the major league level, Atlanta’s outfield appears far more stable entering this season. Ronald Acuña Jr. remains the centerpiece, providing elite production on both sides of the ball when healthy. Michael Harris II continues to establish himself as one of the game’s premier young center fielders, while Jurickson Profar offers versatility and experience. This offseason, the Braves also added Mike Yastrzemski, giving them another reliable option who can rotate through the corners and provide left-handed balance.
Eli White is also still in the picture after emerging last season and carving out a role with his speed and defense. Having players like White, Yastrzemski, and Profar ahead of Keirsey on the depth chart means there is no immediate pressure for him to contribute at the big league level. Instead, he can focus on refining his approach, staying ready, and positioning himself as the next man up.
Ultimately, signings like Keirsey’s are about preparation rather than expectation. The Braves aren’t counting on him to be a difference-maker, but they are ensuring that if circumstances demand it, they have a player who can step into a defined role and execute it well. Over the course of a 162-game season, those kinds of contributions can quietly make a meaningful difference.
By adding multiple speed-oriented outfielders on minor league deals, the Braves are reinforcing a philosophy that has helped sustain their success: build depth, stay flexible, and be ready for the unexpected. Whether Keirsey ever sees significant time in Atlanta remains to be seen, but his signing fits neatly into a broader plan to stabilize the outfield and protect the roster from the volatility that defined much of last season.
