The Atlanta Braves continue reshaping their roster as they work through the final stretch before the trade deadline. While Monday’s spotlight was on franchise star Ronald Acuña Jr. returning from his rehabilitation assignment, the series of roster moves also resulted in the departure of a veteran infielder.
Atlanta reinstated Acuña after his lengthy injury absence, creating room on the active roster by sending an outfielder to Triple-A. That move triggered additional adjustments throughout the organization, including the release of veteran shortstop from Triple-A Gwinnett.
According to Schunk’s official MiLB transactions page, the “Gwinnett Stripers released SS Aaron Schunk.”
Ronald Acuña Jr.’s Return Sparks Organizational Shuffle
Aaron Schunk’s release was recorded Monday in the official transaction log, the same day the Braves made their corresponding major league roster move.
“The Braves today returned OF Ronald Acuña Jr. from his rehabilitation assignment and reinstated him from the injured list, and optioned OF Brewer Hicklen to Triple-A Gwinnett,” the team announced on X, formerly Twitter.
Although Schunk’s release was not the direct roster move tied to Acuña’s activation, it appeared to be part of the broader organizational reshuffling required to accommodate the former MVP’s return.
Braves Part Ways With Veteran Infielder
Schunk spent the season serving as infield depth for the Gwinnett Stripers after signing with the Braves organization during the offseason.
Atlanta marked the first organization of Schunk’s professional career outside the Colorado Rockies, who selected him in the second round of the 2019 MLB Draft.
When the signing became official in December, MLB Trade Rumors’ Darragh McDonald noted the significance of the move:
“Schunk, 28, changes organizations for the first time in his career,” McDonald wrote. “He was drafted by the Rockies in 2019, selected in the second round, and has been with that club until a few weeks ago. With Colorado, he got into 55 big league games over the past two seasons. He stepped to the plate 131 times but struck out in 31.3% of those plate appearances and only drew a walk 3.1% of the time as he put up a tepid .222/.246/.302 line.”
While Schunk did not earn a return to the major leagues with Atlanta, he provided experienced infield depth and defensive versatility at the Triple-A level throughout the season.
With Acuña back in Atlanta and the Braves continuing to adjust their organizational depth for the stretch run, Schunk once again enters free agency. At 29 years old and with major league experience on his résumé, he could attract interest from clubs looking to add experienced infield depth before the season ends.