The Atlanta Braves today announced the club acquired minor-league 1B/OF Connor Joe from the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for INF/OF Sean Rodríguez. In addition, the club also recalled LHP Max Fried from Double-A Mississippi, recalled INF/OF Jace Peterson from Triple-A Gwinnett and optioned RHP Jason Hursh to the G-Braves. Fried and Peterson will both be in uniform for tonight's game against the Miami Marlins.
The Pirates selected Joe, 24, 39th overall in the 2014 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of San Diego. The 6-foot-0, 205-pound native of San Diego, CA, spent this season with Double-A Altoona, where he hit .240 (58-for-242) with 11 doubles, four triples and five home run in 74 games. He also appeared in three games with Single-A West Virginia as part of a rehabilitation assignment after suffering a left middle finger dislocation.
Joe earned West Coast Conference Player of the Year honors in 2014 with the Toreros, after hitting .367 with a conference-best 51 RBI. That season also marked his first behind the plate, after the San Diego native made the switch from first base to catcher prior to the season. He made his professional debut with West Virginia in 2015 before earning Florida State League All-Star honors with Bradenton last season.
In 264 career minor league games, Joe is hitting .257 (240-for-934) with 50 doubles, 11 home runs, 130 walks and a .352 on-base percentage.
Fried, 23, will wear No. 61 and be in the Braves bullpen tonight. The club's No. 10 prospect according to MLB.com, Fried did not allow an earned run over his final three appearances with the M-Braves.
Rodríguez, 32, signed with the Braves as a free agent last November and appeared in 15 games with the Braves this season. He missed the majority of the season due to injuries suffered in a January car crash.