AP
Atlanta / 20.08.2024 13:03:39
Los Atlanta Braves signed the infielder Gio Urshela on Tuesday after placing the third baseman Austin Riley on the disabled list with a broken hand.
Gio Urshela signs with his seventh MLB team
Urshela, 32, hit .243 with five homers and 37 RBIs for the Detroit Tigers before being released Sunday.
The #Braves today signed INF Gio Urshela to a major league contract and placed INF Austin Riley on the 10-day injured list, backdated to August 19, with a fractured right hand. To make room on the 40-man roster, Atlanta transferred A.J. Minter to the 60-day injured list.
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) August 20, 2024
The Braves signed him quickly, deciding he was the best option available as Riley was expected to miss at least the rest of the regular season after being hit in the right hand by a pitch. The timetable for his recovery is six to eight weeks.
Atlanta is Urshela’s seventh team in a nine-year career. He spent most of this season playing third base, though he has also seen action at the other infield positions during his time in the big leagues.
Urshela’s best season came in 2019, when he hit .314 with 21 homers and 74 RBIs for the Yankees. He has two other double-digit home run seasons, and the Braves are hoping he can add some punch to a lineup that has been decimated by injuries.
Atlanta Braves deal with injuries
National League MVP Ronald Acuña Jr. is out for the season with a knee injury, second baseman Ozzie Albies is recovering from a broken wrist, and now Riley is likely out for the year unless the Braves make a deep playoff run.
Atlanta also lost star pitcher Spencer Strider to a season-ending injury, and reliever AJ Minter also appears to be ruled out because of a hip issue. The left-hander was transferred to the 60-day injured list to make room for Urshela on the 40-man roster.
