Veteran catcher Chris Stewart was outrighted by the Braves to Triple-A Gwinnett on Friday, accepting the assignment rather than opting for free agency after clearing waivers.
Stewart went 3-for-14 with three RBIs in five games, including three consecutive starts after both of Atlanta’s primary catchers, Tyler Flowers and Kurt Suzuki, were injured in the first two games of the season.
The Braves scrambled last weekend to trade for another catcher, Carlos Perez, and designated Stewart for assignment Wednesday when they needed a roster spot for a fresh bullpen arm. Stewart was out of minor league options and had to be designated and go through waivers.
Flowers is on the disabled list and out indefinitely with a strained oblique, while Suzuki (bruised hand) avoided a stint on the DL and returned to the lineup Friday for the series opener at Colorado. Perez will be his backup for now, with Suzuki set to catch two of three games in Colorado and then catch about four of every five games while Flowers is out.
Stewart was the second Brave in as many days to be outrighted and accept a Triple-A assignment, following reliever Miguel Socolovich on Thursday.
