The Atlanta Braves made a quick roster change on Saturday, designating right-handed pitcher Elieser Hernandez for assignment just one day after his first appearance with the club. To fill the vacancy, the Braves recalled left-hander Connor Thomas from Triple-A Gwinnett ahead of their matchup with the Baltimore Orioles.
Hernandez had signed a minor league deal with Atlanta during the offseason and was called upon to provide innings, tossing three frames in Friday’s game against Baltimore. Across 100 career major league appearances, including 49 starts, the veteran owns a 5.05 ERA while averaging 8.4 strikeouts per nine innings.
According to MLB Trade Rumors, Atlanta may continue using Hernandez as a depth option if he clears waivers, similar to the role previously held by veteran Carlos Carrasco. However, Hernandez has the option to reject an outright assignment and instead elect free agency.
The 2026 appearance marked Hernandez’s first outing in the majors since 2024 after spending the 2025 season with the LG Twins of the Korea Baseball Organization. Before pitching overseas, he split the 2024 campaign between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Milwaukee Brewers, making his brief return to the Braves short-lived.
