The Braves signed veteran outfielder Eric Young Jr. to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training, where the speedster will compete for a bench job and could be another option to serve in a left-field platoon with Jonny Gomes.
Young, 29, hit a career-worst .229 with 16 extra-base hits (one home run), a .299 OBP and 30 stolen bases in 100 games for the Mets last season, after leading the National League with 48 stolen bases in 2013 for the Rockies and Mets.
He hit .249 with 36 extra-base hits (seven triples, two homers) in 148 games in 2013, getting almost twice as many plate appearances (598) as he had in 2014.
The switch-hitter has a .252 career average with a .320 OBP, 54 doubles, 18 triples and eight homers in 1,589 PAs over six seasons with the Rockies and Mets, and 138 stolen bases in 171 attempts. He was caught six times in 36 attempts in 2014.
Young has been caught just 18 times in 126 career attempts against right-handed pitchers, including three times in 31 attempts last season.
He has started 264 games in the outfield and 46 at second base, but has been almost exclusively a left fielder and pinch-hitter and runner the past two seasons, making just two starts at second in that span.
Young could compete against former Yankees prospect Zoilo Almonte for a left-field platoon spot with Gomes, who still feasts on left-handed pitching. Almonte had a strong showing recently in the Dominican Winter League and was particularly impressive against right-handed pitching.
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