Braves Quietly Add Left-Hander key player from Yankees
The Atlanta Braves have added another arm to their minor league system, signing 24-year-old left-handed reliever Tanner Bauman to a minor league contract.
The move comes shortly after Bauman was released by the New York Yankees and gives Atlanta another potential pitching option to develop within its organization.
The 6-foot-5 southpaw has already joined the Braves’ affiliated system as the club continues to build pitching depth throughout its minor league ranks.
Bauman’s recent stretch has been particularly eventful. The Yankees released him on August 3 following a series of minor league roster evaluations.
New York originally selected the Auburn product in the ninth round of the 2024 MLB Draft, and he spent time working his way through the organization before becoming a victim of the team’s crowded pitching depth.
Rather than remain unsigned, Bauman quickly found an opportunity in independent baseball, joining the York Revolution of the Atlantic League just two days after his release.
His stay with York was extremely brief but productive. Bauman appeared in just one game for the Revolution, entering in relief and working a scoreless inning without surrendering a hit while recording a strikeout.
That performance apparently caught Atlanta’s attention, as the Braves moved quickly to acquire his contract from York on August 9.
The move demonstrates how independent leagues can provide recently released prospects with an immediate platform to showcase themselves to MLB organizations.
Atlanta subsequently assigned Bauman to its High-A affiliate, the Rome Emperors, giving him another opportunity to continue his development in affiliated baseball.
He wasted little time making an impression in his Braves debut on August 11, tossing 1.1 scoreless innings out of the bullpen and striking out three hitters.
While he remains well outside the immediate Major League picture, Bauman’s size, left-handed delivery and early results make him an intriguing depth addition as the Braves continue searching for pitching options throughout the organization.
