Atlanta Braves Sign World Series Winning Catcher & Pitcher

The Atlanta Braves have made moves to fortify their organizational depth, recently announcing the signings of catcher Sandy León and right-handed pitcher Jackson Stephens to minor league contracts.

With catcher Sean Murphy sidelined due to injury, León's addition provides a needed boost, particularly at Triple-A Gwinnett, where experienced catching options have been scarce.

León's 12-year Major League tenure brings a wealth of defensive prowess and game-calling expertise to the Braves' system, offering stability behind the plate despite his modest career offensive statistics.

The Braves have re-signed reliever Jackson Stephens. They also signed veteran catcher Sandy León to provide some depth at Triple A, with Chadwick Tromp currently on the big-league roster and Sean Murphy on IL.
— David O'Brien (@DOBrienATL) April 3, 2024

The 35-year-old won the World Series in 2018 with the Boston Red Sox and again with the Texas Rangers last season, although he appeared in just 21 regular season games. Over his 12-year MLB career, Leon holds a .208/.276/.311 triple-slash line, with 31 home runs, 149 RBIs, and 158 runs scored across 554 games played.

Meanwhile, Jackson Stephens returns to familiar territory, rejoining the Braves organization after rejecting an outright assignment earlier in the week.

The Braves make a couple of moves on Tuesday:

- signed FA catcher Sandy León for veteran depth and assigned him to Gwinnett

- re-signed RHP Jackson Stephens and assigned him to Gwinnett as well
— Matt Chrietzberg (@BravesMattC) April 2, 2024

His decision to opt for free agency speaks to his confidence in the Braves' system, as he aims to contribute to the team's pitching depth.

Stephens' versatility and recent track record, boasting a solid 3.56 ERA since the start of the 2022 season, position him as a nice asset for the Braves' minor league pitching corps, providing reliable innings and potential reinforcements for the big-league bullpen when needed.

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