ATLANTA -- Mike Yastrzemski's return from the injured list led the Braves to release Kyle Farmer on Tuesday afternoon. A couple other roster-related decisions will soon have to be made regarding Ronald Acuña Jr. and Ha-Seong Kim.
Farmer experienced the thrill of playing for his hometown team this year. But he totaled just 17 plate appearances, with two of those coming since May 15. So despite Farmer being an incredibly strong clubhouse presence, it was easy to part ways with him to create a roster spot for Yastrzemski.
Yastrzemski went 0-for-2 on Tuesday before being lifted for pinch-hitter Joey Bart in the sixth inning.
When Acuña makes his expected return from the injured list this week, Brewer Hicklen might be the odd man out. Hicklen entered 5-for-14 since joining Atlanta’s roster earlier this month. But he doesn’t provide as much with his legs or glove as Eli White, who has a .755 OPS and a 18.5 at-bats/home run ratio against left-handed starters.
The most interesting decision will center on Kim, who is 4-for-15 (.267) with three doubles through four rehab games for Gwinnett. Seven of his 11 batted balls have been considered hard-hit (95 mph exit velocity or higher).
Kim signed a one-year, $20 million contract this offseason and then tore a right middle finger tendon when he slipped on ice a couple weeks later. He missed the season’s first six weeks and then hit .068 (5-for-73) before the Braves put him on the IL on July 4.
Kim’s rehab stint runs through Aug. 1. So the Braves could allow him to keep playing for Gwinnett through next week before making a decision about whether to keep him around or possibly attempt to trade him.
Even if Kim starts to create optimism offensively, Mauricio Dubón and Jim Jarvis appear to be the better defensive options at the shortstop position.