Infilelder Pedro Ciriaco probably will stay with the Braves for a while this time.
The Braves promoted Ciriaco from Triple-A Gwinnett on Saturday to fill out their bench. Ciriaco traveled with the Braves for their season-opening series against the Marlins but was sent to Triple-A Gwinnett to clear roster space after the team made the Craig Kimbrel trade on the eve of opening day.
“The way he played during spring training, he made the club,” Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. “The way everything turned out we had to send him down to Triple-A, but he’s back now and we’ll use him the same way. He can play a couple of different positions. He can give as a bat, a guy who’s a (.270) career hitter in the major leagues. He can help us.”
To make room on the roster for Ciriaco, the Braves sent left-hander Ian Thomas to Gwinnett and placed left-hander Mike Minor (shoulder) on the 60-day disabled list.
Ciriaco, 29, played in 188 games for four teams over the past five seasons and hit .270 with a .299 on-base percentage. In 25 games with the Royals last season Ciriaco hit .213 with a .229 OBP.
Ciriaco batted .373 with a .387 OBP for the Braves in 26 Grapefruit League games this spring. In 20 games at Gwinnett he was batting .234 with a .253 OBP.
“He earned it in spring training and he was doing OK in Triple-A,” Gonzalez said. “He’s played all over the place (in the infield) in Triple-A so we’ll use him.”
The Braves now have a full bench. They were carrying an extra pitcher on Friday because Gonzalez wanted bullpen coverage for right-hander Mike Foltynewicz’s first career start. Foltynewicz was called up to take the roster spot created when infielder Chris Johnson was placed on the disabled list on Thursday.
