The Atlanta Braves made a notable roster move ahead of their Wednesday, April 29 contest against the Detroit Tigers, choosing to designate veteran right-handed pitcher Carlos Carrasco for assignment. This decision was made in order to open up space on the active roster for reliever Dylan Lee, who was returning to the team, while also ensuring that fellow right-hander Didier Fuentes would remain with the major league club.
For many Braves fans, this development comes as encouraging news, particularly given Fuentes’ recent pattern of movement between the big-league roster and the minor leagues. The young pitcher, who has shown flashes of promise, had just been recalled to the team on Tuesday, April 28, filling in while Lee was away on the paternity list.
During his latest stint with Atlanta, Fuentes delivered an impressive performance, throwing two scoreless innings in a 5–2 victory. His outing not only helped secure the win but also earned him the first hold of his major league career, marking an important milestone for the rookie.
Given the circumstances, it would have been easy for the Braves to option Fuentes back to the minors once Lee was ready to rejoin the team. That type of transactional shuffle is common in Major League Baseball, especially with younger players who still have minor league options remaining. However, Atlanta opted to take a different route. Rather than sending Fuentes down again, the organization decided to part ways at least temporarily with Carrasco, a seasoned veteran who had not seen much recent action.
MORE: Angels Officially Face With Major Injury Concern
Carrasco’s most recent appearance came nearly a week earlier, when he pitched a scoreless inning against the Washington Nationals in a game played on Thursday, April 23. Although he performed effectively in that outing, he had not been called upon in the days since, which may have contributed to the team’s willingness to move on. With the Braves needing to reintegrate Lee into the bullpen and wanting to keep Fuentes available after his strong showing, Carrasco ultimately became the odd man out.
This roster adjustment highlights the balancing act teams often face between maintaining experienced depth and giving opportunities to emerging talent. In this case, the Braves appear to be prioritizing the upside and recent performance of a younger arm while still managing the return of a key reliever.
Atlanta Braves News Update: Carlos Carrasco Designated for Assignment, Dylan Lee Reinstated
Carlos Carrasco entered the 2026 season hoping to revive his career after securing a non-roster invitation to Major League Baseball Spring Training. This opportunity gave the veteran right-hander a chance to compete for a spot despite not being on the team’s 40-man roster. However, his performance during spring exhibitions did little to strengthen his case.
Over the course of 6.1 innings, Carrasco struggled significantly, surrendering nine earned runs and failing to establish any real consistency on the mound. Those difficulties ultimately led to the organization assigning him to Triple-A to begin the regular season, as he was unable to earn a role with the big-league club out of camp.
MORE: Braves to part ways with $71M All-Star amid Spencer Strider return
Despite his rough showing in spring, Carrasco managed to turn things around once he reported to Gwinnett. Pitching at the Triple-A level, he displayed a much sharper form, putting together an impressive stretch across four starts.
During that span, he recorded a stellar 1.71 earned run average, demonstrating improved command, better pitch execution, and a renewed ability to keep opposing hitters off balance. His strong performance at that level did not go unnoticed, and it gave the organization confidence that he could still contribute when needed.
That opportunity arose when left-hander Dylan Dodd was placed on the injured list, creating a vacancy on the major league roster. With the team in need of a reliable arm to help cover innings, Carrasco was called up as a temporary solution. His promotion was a testament to his solid work in Triple-A and his experience as a seasoned pitcher who could step in during a time of need. Even so, the call-up was more about filling a short-term gap rather than signaling a long-term role in the rotation.
At 39 years old, Carrasco is in the twilight stage of his professional career, and his recent journey has been marked by inconsistency. He initially joined the organization just before the 2025 trade deadline, when the Braves acquired him from the New York Yankees in exchange for cash considerations. The move was viewed as a low-risk attempt to add depth and veteran experience to the pitching staff. However, his tenure with the club during that stretch proved to be challenging.
Over 11 appearances with Atlanta in 2025, Carrasco struggled to find any rhythm or effectiveness. He posted a 7.09 ERA across 45.2 innings, frequently allowing hard contact and having difficulty limiting damage in key situations. His outings often put the team in difficult positions, and he was unable to provide the stability the club had hoped for when they brought him in. As a result, his performance raised questions about how much he still had left to offer at the major league level.
MORE: Mets Officially Cut Ties With Tommy Pham, Sign Career Lefty-Killer
Following the conclusion of the season, Carrasco entered the offseason without much interest from other organizations. Despite his long track record and past success earlier in his career, teams were hesitant to take a chance on a pitcher nearing 40 who had struggled so noticeably in recent years. With limited options available, he ultimately found himself returning to the same organization, accepting another opportunity to compete and prove he could still be effective.
Now, as the 2026 season unfolds, Carrasco’s role appears to be that of organizational depth rather than a key contributor at the big-league level. While he has shown flashes of effectiveness in the minors, the reality is that his age and recent track record make it difficult for teams to rely on him in a significant role. For Atlanta, however, having a veteran like Carrasco available provides a measure of insurance, particularly when injuries inevitably test pitching depth over the course of a long season.
If he remains with the organization, Carrasco is likely to continue serving as a depth option in Triple-A, ready to be called upon if circumstances demand it. His experience and ability to handle innings still hold some value, especially in situations where the team needs a short-term solution. At the same time, his future with the club is far from secure.
There is also the possibility that another team could claim him off waivers, though that outcome seems unlikely given the current circumstances. His age, combined with his struggles at the major league level in recent seasons, makes him a less appealing option for other organizations seeking pitching help. Most teams tend to prioritize younger arms with more upside, leaving veterans like Carrasco with fewer opportunities.
As a result, he is expected to pass through the waiver process without drawing significant interest. Should that happen, he would remain within the organization and continue to provide depth at the minor league level. While his days as a dependable major league starter may be behind him, Carrasco’s persistence and professionalism still allow him to contribute in a supporting role.
In the end, his situation reflects the challenges many veteran players face as they near the end of their careers. While flashes of effectiveness can still appear, maintaining consistency at the highest level becomes increasingly difficult. For Carrasco, the path forward likely involves continuing to compete for opportunities while serving as a fallback option for a team navigating the inevitable ups and downs of a long baseball season.
Fuentes Pushing for More Opportunities
Atlanta entered its series against Detroit facing a significant shortage of available bullpen arms, as a wave of injuries and temporary absences had thinned the relief corps. The team’s usual closer, Raisel Iglesias, was sidelined on the injured list due to a shoulder problem, leaving a major gap at the back end of games.
Meanwhile, Dylan Dodd was also unavailable, dealing with a thoracic spine issue that further reduced the club’s pitching options. Even before the season began, Atlanta had already lost Joe Jiménez and Danny Young to injuries, compounding the strain on the bullpen and forcing the organization to rely on less experienced arms to carry the load.
MORE: Cardinals Make Crucial Roster Move
As if that weren’t enough, Dylan Lee was unavailable for Tuesday’s contest, though his absence was for a positive reason he was away for the birth of his child and was only expected to miss a single game. Still, his temporary unavailability added to the mounting challenges facing the Braves’ pitching staff.
With so many regular contributors either injured or briefly away, the team had little choice but to look deeper into its roster for help. This situation ultimately created an opportunity for Didier Fuentes to step in and make a meaningful impact in a relief role.
Fuentes took advantage of that opportunity, delivering a performance that did not go unnoticed by the coaching staff. Manager Walt Weiss spoke highly of the young pitcher’s contribution following the game, emphasizing how important his outing was to the team’s success that night. According to Weiss, Fuentes played a crucial role in securing the victory by providing two strong innings on the mound, effectively stabilizing the game at a critical moment. His ability to step up under pressure and deliver quality work was a key factor in Atlanta coming away with a win.
Weiss expressed his appreciation for Fuentes’ efforts, noting that the pitcher’s presence and performance made a tangible difference. In a game where the bullpen was already stretched thin, getting reliable innings from an unexpected source proved invaluable. The manager’s comments reflected both relief and optimism, as Fuentes’ showing offered a glimpse of potential depth for a team that has been searching for consistency amid its injury troubles.
For Fuentes, the appearance was part of a broader transition in his professional career. Prior to this season, he had very limited experience working out of the bullpen. In fact, he had made just four relief appearances as a professional, with the majority of his outings coming in a starting role. His background as a starter meant that adjusting to the demands of relief pitching required a shift in mindset and preparation. However, the early returns suggest that he is adapting well to the change.
MORE: Diamondbacks’ Right-Hander Zac Gallen Left His Start With Right Shoulder Contusion
During the current season, Fuentes has already begun to see more action out of the bullpen at the major league level. Two of his three appearances in the big leagues have come in relief, signaling that the team is exploring his versatility and willingness to fill different roles as needed. While he may still view himself primarily as a starter, his recent usage indicates that he is becoming an important option in multiple capacities.
Fuentes himself acknowledged that pitching in relief has been beneficial for his development. He noted that the experience has already helped him improve, suggesting that working in shorter stints has allowed him to refine certain aspects of his game. Even so, he made it clear that his long-term preference remains in the starting rotation, where he is more accustomed to pitching and building his approach over several innings.
Despite that preference, Fuentes demonstrated a team-first attitude when discussing his role. He emphasized that he is willing to do whatever is asked of him if it contributes to winning games. Whether that means continuing to pitch out of the bullpen or eventually returning to a starting role, he made it clear that his primary focus is on helping the team succeed. This flexibility and commitment are valuable traits, especially for a club navigating a period of adversity with its pitching staff.
In the bigger picture, Atlanta’s current bullpen situation highlights the unpredictable nature of a long baseball season. Injuries and unforeseen circumstances can quickly alter a team’s depth chart, forcing players to step into roles they may not have anticipated. In this case, those challenges opened the door for Fuentes to showcase his abilities at the major league level.
His performance not only provided immediate help in a critical game but also offered encouragement for the future. If he can continue to adapt and contribute in different roles, he could become an important piece for the Braves as they work to stabilize their pitching staff. For now, his willingness to embrace whatever role is needed and his ability to deliver when called upon have made him a bright spot during a difficult stretch for the bullpen.
Be the first to comment