Charlie Culberson has decided to re-sign with the Braves on a minor league deal and will be reporting to the minor league camp as a pitcher. The news was reported by Jon Heyman of The New York Post and Justin Toscano of the Atlanta Journal Constitution.
At 35 years old in April, Culberson has been a versatile utility player in the majors for more than a decade. His journey started with the Giants in 2012, and he has since played for the Rockies, Dodgers, Braves, and Rangers, appearing in 590 career games. While not an offensive powerhouse with a career slash line of .248/.293/.385 and a wRC+ of 76, Culberson has earned positive defensive grades, playing at every position on the field except catcher and center field.
Charlie Culberson Attempting To Become Pitcher, Re-Signs With Braves On Minors Deal https://t.co/Q0qLHPORYg pic.twitter.com/LtgA3Q7hPW
— MLB Trade Rumors (@mlbtraderumors) January 12, 2024
Interestingly, Culberson has had brief appearances as a pitcher, showing promise. In eight big league outings, he pitched 7 1/3 innings, allowing just one earned run, three walks, and seven hits while recording one strikeout. Last year, he made four appearances in Triple-A, conceding two earned runs in 3 2/3 innings with five strikeouts and two walks. Notably, he reached a velocity of 93.7 miles per hour in 2018 and hit 93.1 in Triple-A last year.
Focusing on pitching full-time could open new possibilities for Culberson. At the age of 35, this unconventional path might offer him a chance to extend his career. As a utility player, finding a significant role was becoming challenging for him. Despite two short stints on the Braves’ big league roster in 2023, he only had one plate appearance for the entire year, finishing with an impressive slash line of 1.000/1.000/1.000 and a wRC+ of 475.
Culberson, a fan favorite over his various tenures with Atlanta, is now embarking on a surprising and exciting new chapter, transitioning from utility player to a dedicated pitcher.
