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The Braves are giving infielder Nacho Alvarez reps at catcher this spring.
When Nacho Alvarez Jr. arrived at Atlanta Braves camp, he had a surprise waiting for him: catcher’s gear. The 22-year-old will pick up the tools of ignorance during MLB Spring Training in a move that caught the player off guard. “My reaction was like, uh … what,” Alvarez told reporters, including Justin Felder of Fox Sports.
Alvarez has played in 66 games at the big-league level. He’s made 59 appearances at third base and seven at second base. The infielder also has ample experience at shortstop in his minor league career. He’s never played catcher at any level.
“I feel like it’s an extra tool in the toolbox,” Alvarez said. “Depth is the best thing you can give yourself. I’m versatile at every position in the infield, why not pick up catcher?”
Alvarez was ranked as Atlanta’s No. 6 prospect by MLB.com in 2024. He had a brief eight-game debut with the Braves in the middle of that season. Alvarez emerged as a semi-regular contributor this past year, appearing in 58 games with the club. The 22-year-old slashed .234/.296/.330 across 208 plate appearances.
Nacho Alvarez Looking to Make Atlanta Braves Roster
The Braves have ample infield depth heading into 2026, even after Ha-Seong Kim went down with a torn tendon in his finger. Atlanta brought in Jorge Mateo and Mauricio Dubon in free agency. The club traded for Brett Wisely. Mainstays Matt Olson, Ozzie Albies, and Austin Riley are currently healthy.
The plethora of options on the dirt will make it an uphill battle for Alvarez to break camp with the team. He still has a minor league option remaining, so he could easily find himself back at Triple-A Gwinnett when the regular season gets underway. Adding positional flexibility certainly won’t hurt his case to stick around. “I’m just giving myself an opportunity to make this team,” Alvarez said.
Catching Depth in Question for the Braves
The catcher position seemed to be locked down for Atlanta. Reigning NL Rookie of the Year Drake Baldwin was set to handle the bulk of the work. Veteran Sean Murphy was heading toward backup duty. Then, reports emerged about Murphy dealing with a right hip labral tear. He’s expected to miss at least the first month of the season.
The Braves will have a handful of veterans vying for the backup gig behind Baldwin. The spot will be valuable, considering the chance Baldwin gets reps at DH. Longtime designated hitter Marcell Ozuna is now with the Pittsburgh Pirates, opening up more playing time at that spot. Atlanta will likely do whatever it can to keep Baldwin healthy and in the lineup, which likely means more days at DH.
Former Braves Sandy Leon and Chadwick Tromp are both in camp with the team. Atlanta also recently added former Texas Rangers backstop Jonah Heim. With Heim securing a major-league deal, he’ll be the favorite to back up Baldwin to begin the year. Teams typically carry two catchers, though having a utilityman who can go behind the plate has value. Alvarez will get a chance to learn the craft alongside Baldwin, as the pair are Spring Training roommates.
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