Braves DFA former 35-home run hitting slugger

The Atlanta Braves made a roster change on Thursday, recalling infielder Jim Jarvis from Triple-A Gwinnett while designating veteran first baseman Rowdy Tellez for assignment ahead of the team’s series finale against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Jarvis, 25, earned his second major league call-up of the 2026 season after an outstanding run at Triple-A. Through 76 games, he has reached base in 69 contests, batting .316 with an .867 OPS, six home runs, 32 RBIs and 32 stolen bases. He also set a Gwinnett franchise record with four stolen bases in one game, helping the club set a team record of 10 steals in that contest.

His performance has opened some eyes, helping him climb quickly through Atlanta’s farm system, going from unranked to the organization’s No. 29 prospect. Jarvis previously appeared in two major league games earlier this season, recording one hit in five at-bats after making his MLB debut during the Braves’ West Coast trip. He is expected to start Thursday night’s game.

Jarvis has impressed with both his ability to reach base and his defensive versatility, giving Atlanta another infield option as the team continues to adjust it’s lineup.

The corresponding move ends Tellez’s latest stretch with the Braves after just seven games over around three weeks. The 31-year-old primarily served as a pinch hitter, finishing 2-for-10 with one home run, four RBIs, a .200 batting average and a .773 OPS across 11 plate appearances.

Tellez signed with Atlanta on a minor league contract before the season and was promoted to the majors in early June. His role remained limited, as the Braves already had Dominic Smith handling most designated hitter opportunities, leaving Tellez mainly as a left-handed power bat off the bench.

The former Milwaukee Brewers slugger, whose career-high 35 home runs came during the 2022 season, owns a career .234/.299/.437 slash line across parts of nine major league seasons with six organizations. Since debuting in 2018, this year’s 11 plate appearances mark the fewest of any season in his career.

The Braves will now attempt to trade Tellez before placing him on waivers. If he clears waivers, he has enough major league service time to reject an outright assignment and become a free agent. A return also remains possible after he produced a .259/.367/.483 line with eight home runs in 49 Triple-A games for Gwinnett earlier this season.