Anthony Varvaro is back – with a new addition to the family.
Varvaro was activated from the paternity leave list and in uniform Friday. The move came one day after his wife, Kerry, gave birth to the couple’s second child. Jonathan Andrew was born at 4:04 p.m. Thursday and weighed in at six pounds, 11 ounces. Mother and child are healthy and are scheduled to leave the hospital Saturday.
The couple are also parents to 21-month old Anthony, Jr.
“Now AJ has someone to play catch with,” the right-handed reliever Varvaro said. “He was smaller than AJ. We were hoping for a catcher but I think we got a second baseman.”
The Braves optioned right-hander Gus Schlosser to Triple-A Gwinnett in the corresponding roster move.
The Varvaros went to the hospital around 5 p.m. on Wednesday. Twenty-three hours they had a bigger family. Varvaro said he sent a text message to Braves pitching coach Roger McDowell after the delivery and said he would be back Friday.
“It’s a good day for the Varvaro family,” Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. “It’s good to have him back.”
Varvaro showed of pictures of his son in the clubhouse before the Braves opened a four-game series with the Padres. A baseball button adorned the child’s wool cap.
Varvaro said he got limited sleep Wednesday night but a full night sleep on Thursday with the child in the nursery.
“I’m ready to go,” Varvaro said.
