ATLANTA – The Atlanta Braves optioned right-hander Didier Fuentes following Sunday afternoon’s game against the Kansas City Royals and purchased the contract of left-hander Martin Perez for the upcoming series against the Athletics, which begins Monday.
Manager Walt Weiss on Monday praised Fuentes, who threw 56 pitches over four innings of relief in Sunday’s 4–1 loss to the Kansas City Royals. With no way he’d be available over the next five days — and with the team opening the season with a 13-game stretch — the club optioned him to Triple-A Gwinnett, where he will continue developing as a starting pitcher.
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When Fuentes was given an Opening Day roster spot, it was understood it would be short-lived. Weiss had said Fuentes would serve as a long reliever out of the bullpen before eventually being sent down to continue refining his craft.
“(Fuentes) did a great job of saving our pen,” Weiss said. “The best-case scenario was him going four innings and giving our pen a day off. That’s exactly what happened. We lost the game, but it wasn’t what I call an expensive loss, where you’re using your leverage guys and lose a game. I mean, they actually got a whole day off.”
The 20-year-old retired 26 of the first 27 batters he faced during a dominant spring — a complete 180 from what Fuentes experienced in his first stint with the Braves last July. He posted a 13.85 ERA over four starts, suggesting his promotion may have been premature.
There’s plenty of upside with Fuentes, and given how quickly he was optioned, it’s likely the Braves will bring him back once he builds up to around 90 pitches with Gwinnett.
“(Fuentes) was wide-eyed last year. Who at his age is ready for that?” Weiss said. “We were so decimated on the mound, and he was so talented that he became a next man up. Tall task for him last year, and took his lumps, but he learned from it.”
“He said if that didn’t happen last year, he wouldn’t have made changes to his secondary stuff, which he did. He tightened up the breaking ball. He tweaked the change-up a bit. He’s always had the power and the fastball, and he just looked more controlled yesterday on the mound. He looked like a seasoned guy out there.”
As for Tuesday night’s game against the Athletics, Weiss has yet to announce who will oppose A’s right-hander Aaron Civale. He said Monday that the decision will depend on how that night’s game unfolds.
According to Weiss, the two candidates to start are Perez and left-hander Jose Suarez.
“(Perez) is a guy who goes out there and certainly defends himself,” Weiss said. “He had a good year last year. He knows how to pitch. I have a good feeling when he’s on the mound.”
Injury updates
Weiss told reporters Monday that right-hander Spencer Strider and catcher Sean Murphy are both in a good place with their respective injuries.
#Braves Walt Weiss said Spencer Strider and Sean Murphy are in good places right now regarding their injuries. Murphy will be with High-A Rome on Wednesday. The team hasn’t decided if it’ll be for live BP or if he’ll begin a rehab assignment that night.
— Aaron Schmidt (@AaronTSchmidt) March 30, 2026
Murphy will play in a simulated game at High-A Rome on Wednesday, while Strider will travel with the team to Arizona and Los Angeles on the upcoming road trip and continue his throwing program.
Either way, Murphy is expected to return sometime in May.
For now, the team will continue to split catching duties between Drake Baldwin and Jonah Heim. Against left-handers, Baldwin will serve as the designated hitter while Heim catches. Against right-handers, Baldwin will catch and Heim will rest, with Heim stepping in behind the plate whenever Baldwin gets a day off.
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