MLB Rumors: Braves' Yuli Gurriel Playing 3B in Triple-A amid Austin Riley Injury
August 20, 2024
As the Atlanta Braves scramble to find a viable option to replace Austin Riley, Yuli Gurriel is going to get work at third base in the minors.
Per Joel Sherman of the New York Post and MLB Network, Gurriel will get some run at the hot corner in Triple-A even though he hasn't played the position in the big leagues since 2019.
Riley could miss the remainder of the regular season after being diagnosed with a fractured right hand that will keep him out for six to eight weeks.
The Braves announced earlier in the day they signed Gio Urshela to a major league deal. He was released by the Detroit Tigers on Sunday after hitting .243/.286/.333 over 325 plate appearances in 92 games.
Urshela has played 624 of his 756 career games at third base. He also has some experience at first base, second base and shortstop, but the hot corner has been his primary position.
Gurriel hasn't appeared in an MLB game this season. His last appearance was for the Miami Marlins against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Oct. 1, 2023. The 40-year-old played either first base or DH every year since 2020.
The last time Gurriel started a game at third base was for the Houston Astros on July 23, 2019. He's been playing very well at Triple-A Gwinnett since signing a minor-league deal with the Braves in April.
Gurriel owns a .300/.380/.498 slash line with 12 homers, 46 RBI and 11 stolen bases in 72 games. Atlanta is in a desperate position right now because of all the injuries that have piled up for the team throughout the season.
There are just under six weeks remaining in the regular season, so Riley would have to make a fast recovery in order to play in games. Ozzie Albies is expected to return at some point in September as he continues to recover from a fractured wrist that has had him on the injured list since July 21. Ronald Acuña Jr. and Spencer Strider are out for the season.
Despite all of their injury issues, the Braves (66-58) are still in line to make the playoffs right now. They own the final wild-card spot in the NL with a 1.5-game lead over the New York Mets entering play on Tuesday.