The Braves have signed right-handed pitcher Brandyn Sittinger to a minor league deal, according to the club’s transactions log at MLB.com. Sittinger was eligible to sign during the lockout because he was outrighted in October of last year and elected minor league free agency after the season.
Sittinger was originally drafted by the Tigers but was released after topping out at Double-A. The reliever then signed a minor league deal with the Diamondbacks prior to the 2020 season. He wasn’t able to pitch in organized games that year due to the pandemic wiping out the minor leagues. Last year, between Double-A and Triple-A, he threw 39 1/3 innings with an ERA of 4.12. His walk rate was a bit high at 10.6%, but he offset that with a tremendous 33.1% strikeout rate.
That was intriguing enough for the Diamondbacks to give him a shot at the big leagues, as they selected his contract in September. Sittinger was able to log 4 2/3 innings of MLB action, though that small sample yielded a 7.71 ERA, 9.5% walk rate and miniscule 4.8% strikeout rate.
The 27-year-old will now join the reigning World Series champs as minor league depth. The club’s reliever corps was dented somewhat at the end of the season, as hurlers such as Jesse Chavez, Richard Rodriguez, Chris Martin and Josh Tomlin reached free agency. Sittinger still has options, meaning that he can provide Atlanta with a relief arm that can be shuttled between Triple-A and the big leagues, if he can earn himself a roster spot.