Jose Bautista will join the Braves in their series opener against the Giants, the team announced on Saturday (AEST).
The #Braves today selected the contract of INF José Bautista from Triple-A Gwinnett. Bautista will wear No. 23. pic.twitter.com/D6Jmxf18fQ
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) May 4, 2018
Bautista, who signed a minor-league contract with Atlanta in mid-April, hit .400 with a home run in his last 15 at-bats with the Triple-A Gwinnett Stripers.
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Bautista is expected to start at third base for Atlanta, according to a report from MLB Network.
José Bautista officially added to @Braves active roster. He is expected to get a majority of starts at third base for the foreseeable future. @MLB https://t.co/7eSCbBJ5wR
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) May 4, 2018
Bautista is a 14-year veteran. He broke out with the Blue Jays in 2010, hitting 54 home runs and driving in 124 runs that year. Bautista made the AL All-Star team for six straight seasons, 2010-15.
Bautista started 140 games in right field for Toronto last season, hitting 23 home runs while batting just .203. The Blue Jays declined to pick up his $17 million option in the offseason.
On Friday, he penned a heartfelt note to the Blue Jays and their fans on The Players Tribune, writing in part:
"And before I take the field tonight, wearing another team’s jersey — it just feels like there’s one thing left that I have to do. One thing that I still want to get off my chest.
"I want to say thank you.
"I want to say thank you, to the Blue Jays organization, for wanting me in the first place. When you traded for me, back in 2008, I was a part-time player — closer to 30 than 20 — who had already bounced around between four teams in this league. But you gave me a chance, a real chance, to come in and prove myself. And that’s one of the things that I will always appreciate about Toronto as a franchise."
Atlanta optioned Preston Tucker to Triple-A in order to clear space on its roster for Bautista.
The Braves have jumped out to a surprising 19-11 start in 2018. They’ve won their last five, including a sweep of the Mets.