Braves Select Elieser Hernández

The Braves are selecting the contract of right-hander Elieser Hernández, according to a team announcement. The club has an open spot on its 40-man roster, so no corresponding move is needed there. To make space on the active roster, fellow righty Owen Murphy is being optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett.

Hernández, 31, joined the Braves on a minor league deal back in November. He spent most of 2025 with the LG Twins of the Korea Baseball Organization, for whom he posted a 4.23 ERA across 14 starts. Hernández’s 26.4% strikeout rate was above average, ranking 12th in that league among pitchers with at least 50 innings. However, the middling run prevention led the Twins to cut him loose in August. Hernández signed a minor league deal with the Blue Jays that month but posted a 7.91 ERA in 19 1/3 innings at Triple-A before electing free agency after the season and eventually joining Atlanta.

Hernández has been better this year than he was with the Blue Jays’ top affiliate, but a notch below his output in the KBO. In 76 1/3 innings for Gwinnett, he has a decent 21.6% strikeout rate and an 8.1% walk rate, but also a 4.83 ERA. Hernández started most of his appearances through the first two months but has worked out of the bullpen in all but one appearance since June 9th. Those results – a 4.02 ERA in 15 2/3 innings – have been better but not drastically so.

It’s simply a temporary move to give the Braves an extra bullpen arm. Murphy was recalled on July 11th and has since made two appearances. He came out of the ‘pen for three innings that day, then drew a start yesterday against the Rangers. Murphy surrendered three runs (two earned) in 2 2/3 innings and threw 49 pitches in the process, so he wouldn’t be available for a few days anyway no matter his role.

With Martín Pérez set to return from the injured list early next week, Murphy was no longer needed in the rotation, so he’ll go down to the minors to continue getting work. The 22-year-old rates as Atlanta’s No. 5 prospect according to MLB.com, and he has a 3.88 ERA and an above-average 27.0% strikeout rate at Triple-A. He’s likely to get called up again as the need arises, though barring an injury, he’ll need to stay with Gwinnett for at least 15 days this time around. Meanwhile, Hernández’s selection gives the team nine relievers until Pérez’s turn in the rotation, at which point the former may be designated for assignment.