Braves Designate Elieser Hernandez For Assignment

The Braves announced Saturday that right-hander Elieser Hernandez has been designated for assignment. Right-handed reliever James Karinchak has been recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett in his place.

Hernandez, 31, seems to have stepped into the Carlos Carrasco/Jesse Chavez role in Atlanta. The Braves near-habitually stash a veteran righty who can’t be optioned in Gwinnett and cycle that pitcher on and off the active roster via frequent DFAs whenever an extra arm is needed. Said pitcher then immediately re-signs on a new minor league deal (typically with slightly better salary terms, new opt-out dates, and other perks) upon clearing waivers and electing free agency.

Atlanta designated Carrasco for assignment seven times in the span of one calendar year and went through a similar gambit with Chavez before him. The pitchers, of course, are generally on board with the setup. It gets them occasional big league service time and salary. The arms the Braves typically use in this role aren’t the type that would likely stick on a major league roster elsewhere, so agreeing to ride the DFA shuttle between Gwinnett and Atlanta is a nice means of picking up some extra salary and service in short stints.

Hernandez has made a pair of appearances with Atlanta this season — both of them three-inning relief outings. He’s earned a win and his first career save while allowing just one run on six hits and four walks with six punchouts. Hernandez has had less success in Gwinnett, where he’s sporting a 4.83 earned run average in 76 1/3 innings.

Earlier in his career, Hernandez looked the part of a promising rotation arm in Miami. He posted big minor league numbers and, after a few rocky big league stints in 2018-19, broke out with a 3.84 ERA, 26.3% strikeout rate and 5.7% walk rate in 17 starts for the Fish from 2020-21. Injuries derailed that trajectory, however. By 2024, the Marlins granted the right-hander his release so he could sign with the LG Twins in the Korea Baseball Organization. Hernandez had a couple decent seasons in the rotation there, logging a mid-4.00s ERA with solid strikeout and walk rates. He signed a minor league deal with Atlanta back in November.

The Braves technically have until Monday afternoon’s deadline to trade Hernandez, but he’ll almost certainly be placed on waivers. A team in need of some bullpen length could potentially claim him, but it’s much likelier that he’ll clear waivers, elect free agency, and re-sign to return to Gwinnett until the next time the Braves need a fresh long man in the ‘pen.