Charlie Culberson Switches Sides of the Plate, Re-Signs with Braves as a Pitcher.

According to reports from Jon Heyman of The New York Post and Justin Toscano of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Charlie Culberson, who has been a utility player in the major leagues for more than ten years, has re-signed with the Braves on a minor league contract. Culberson, who will turn 35 in April, has played for multiple teams including the Giants, Rockies, Dodgers, Braves, and Rangers, accumulating 590 games in his career. Although he hasn’t been a significant offensive threat with a career batting average of .248/.293/.385 and a wRC+ of 76, he has consistently received high defensive ratings while playing every position except catcher and center field.

This encompasses a few short periods on the pitcher’s mound that have been successful. In the major leagues, he has pitched for a total of 7 1/3 innings across eight games, in which he only conceded one earned run, three walks, and seven hits while striking out one batter. Additionally, he made four appearances in Triple-A last year, allowing two earned runs in 3 2/3 innings, while recording five strikeouts and two walks. According to Toscano, Culberson’s speed was measured at 93.7 miles per hour during an outing in 2018. In Triple-A last year, he achieved a speed of 93.1 miles per hour.

Transitioning to a full-time pitching role may offer an opportunity for Culberson to increase his velocity, although it may also prove challenging to sustain such improvement with a heavier workload. Opting to become a pitcher at the age of 35 may seem unconventional, but there is some rationale behind this decision for Culberson. As a utility player, he would have struggled to secure a significant role in the future. In 2023, Culberson had two separate month-long periods in the Atlanta Braves’ major league roster, yet he only had one plate appearance for the entire year. Interestingly, he made a single hit and concluded the season with an impressive slash line of 1.000/1.000/1.000 and a wRC+ of 475. Rather than being relegated to the bench or returning to the minor leagues, Culberson has chosen to pursue a different path.

Fans of the club, who have developed an affinity for Culberson during his numerous appearances with Atlanta, will find the upcoming storyline quite enjoyable. Culberson is about to embark on an unexpected and exciting endeavor.