LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – Outfielder Zoilo Almonte cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Gwinnett after a disappointing spring for the Braves.
Almonte, a former Yankees farmhand, was signed to a major league contract in November by the Braves, who at the time envisioned him as a potential fourth outfielder with a good chance of making the opening day roster.
But that was before they signed or traded for other outfielders, and before Almonte, 25, hit just .245 with a .283 on-base percentage and one extra-base hit (double) in 49 at-bats this spring. Defensively, he’s a serviceable corner outfielder who doesn’t have the range for center field.
Because he was out of minor league options, Almonte had to go through waivers before he could be sent to the minors. He was not claimed by any other team. As a player who had been outrighted previously, he still could opt to become a free agent instead of accepting the minor-league assignment.
Kelly Johnson, Joey Terdoslavich and Todd Cunningham were competing for backup outfield positions, with Cunningham and utility infielder/outfielder Phil Gosselin as the only backup center-field options left in camp. In the past week Johnson had clearly moved ahead in the battle for the last corner-outfield spot.
