The Atlanta Braves re-signed veteran catcher Sandy Leon to a minor league contract on Tuesday and assigned him to Triple-A Gwinnett. Leon, 37, became available after being designated for assignment on June 18, cleared waivers, elected free agency, then returne
When Atlanta found itself reshuffling the catcher picture. Sandy Leon stayed close to the organization that has relied on him before. The Braves re-signed the 37-year-old veteran catcher to a minor league contract on Tuesday and assigned him to Triple-A Gwinnett Stripers. based on MLB transaction records.
Leon’s path back to Atlanta began with a June decision. He was designated for assignment on June 18, cleared waivers, and elected free agency before returning to the Braves a day later.
On the major league level this season, Leon’s production has been limited. Across 21 games with Atlanta, he has hit .091, going 4-for-44, with 18 strikeouts and zero walks.
That offensive struggle mattered as the Braves reworked their roster after acquiring catcher Joey Bart from the Pittsburgh Pirates in a trade for right-hander Hunter Stratton. Since joining Atlanta, Bart has gone 0-for-7 and is batting .231 with 2 home runs and 7 RBIs.
Atlanta made room for Bart by moving Leon off the active roster, and the timing of Leon’s DFA lines up with that broader adjustment. With starter Sean Murphy on the injured list due to a broken finger, the Braves have Drake Baldwin and Bart listed as their major league catchers.
The depth picture extends beyond them. Jair Camargo is on Atlanta’s 40-man roster, and Maverick Handley remains out.
Leon may not be driving results at the plate right now, but the Braves are still keeping his experience close. The organization has kept him in the system as emergency catching depth at Triple-A Gwinnett.
The underlying story is simple: Leon cleared the waiver process and still returned to Atlanta—because for a team in the middle of a catching squeeze. familiarity can be as valuable as upside. Leon is in his 14th MLB season, having debuted in 2012 with the Washington Nationals. Over 583 career games, he owns a .270 batting average with 32 home runs and 152 RBIs.
His resume also includes a championship moment. Leon won a World Series title with the Boston Red Sox in 2018. He has spent the past two seasons with the Braves and also appeared in a five-game stretch with the team last year.
For now, the Braves’ immediate need is coverage behind the plate—especially with Sean Murphy sidelined—and Leon’s assignment to Gwinnett ensures that coverage stays in place.
Atlanta Braves Sandy Leon Joey Bart Hunter Stratton Triple-A Gwinnett Stripers MLB transactions Sean Murphy injury catchers depth