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Braves adding former 35-home run slugger

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports
By Renzo Pocholo Salao | Last updated Mar 21, 2026 12:42 AM ET

The Atlanta Braves are taking a flier on a beefy slugger in free agency.

The Braves are reportedly signing left-handed hitter Rowdy Tellez to a contract. According to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, the 270-pound first baseman is getting a minor-league deal.

Slugger Rowdy Tellez, who was frustrated but hoping he’d open some eyes playing for Mexico at the WBC, lands a minor league gig with Atlanta, as @JonHeyman reports
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) March 21, 2026

The 31-year-old Tellez is a couple of seasons removed from his 35-home run campaign back with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2022. His power numbers have waned since then, but he’s still been able to tally at least 13 home runs in each of the last three seasons.

Last season, Tellez batted .228 with 17 home runs, 49 RBIs, and an OPS of .719 across 112 games split between his time with the Seattle Mariners and Texas Rangers.

Atlanta lost some of its home run pop coming into next season when Jurickson Profar got suspended after testing positive for a banned substance. While Tellez is not exactly an on-base machine, having the threat of his lefty bat off the bench could prove useful for the Braves once the season rolls around.

Tellez most recently played for Team Mexico in the recently concluded World Baseball Classic, going 1-for-9 across 4 games.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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