Braves option James Karinchak to Triple-A

Karinchak provides Atlanta with a fresh bullpen arm as they continue churning through low-leverage relievers. The 30-year-old allowed two runs over 9 2/3 innings for the Braves earlier this season.

Karinchak heads back to the minors after allowing two runs over 9 2/3 innings for the Braves. The 30-year-old was a borderline elite high-leverage reliever just a couple years ago before injuries, among other factors, altered the trajectory of his career.

Karinchak is up to replace Tyler Kinley, as Kinley was placed on paternity leave in the corresponding move. He’ll be a middle-inning option in this stint with Atlanta.

Karinchak has actually pitched well in his first MLB innings since 2023. The 30-year-old has allowed two runs on four hits in 8 2/3 innings. He no longer has elite strikeout upside with just a 7/4 K/BB ratio, but we’d imagine this is just about getting a fresh arm up in the bullpen since Karinchak has thrown 42 pitches in the last three days and the Braves had to use four relievers on Thursday.

There’s a blast from the past. Karinchak was once the closer-in-waiting for the Guardians, but has not appeared in an MLB game since 2023 due to various injuries. He was with the White Sox last season and pitched to a 2.45 ERA in 29 1/3 Triple-A innings, but also had a 16.5 percent walk rate. This season, he has a 2.45 ERA in 25 2/3 innings in Triple-A for Atlanta, but that has come with a 10 percent walk rate. He’s likely no longer a late-inning option, but he could provide some excitement in the middle innings for the Braves.

The latest batch of cuts trims Atlanta’s spring training roster to 50 players. Carrasco is one of the highest-profile non-roster invitees in Braves camp this spring as he attempts to make it back to the big leagues for a 17th season since 2009. He figures to gobble up low-leverage innings at some point in the year. The same goes for Hernández and Karinchak, who were notable pitchers earlier this decade.

Karinchak hasn’t pitched in the big leagues since the 2023 campaign when he was with the Guardians. He missed most of the ensuing season with shoulder problems. The 30-year-old reliever was cut loose by the White Sox back in June after posting a respectable 2.45 ERA across 29 1/3 innings (24 appearances) for Triple-A Charlotte. He’ll compete for a spot in Atlanta’s bullpen during spring training.

Karinchak was one of the most promising young relievers in baseball earlier this decade, but his career went sideways a couple years ago and he hasn’t appeared in the majors since the 2023 campaign. He was in camp this spring with the White Sox as a non-roster invitee. The 29-year-old righty was cut loose over the weekend after posting an encouraging 2.45 ERA across 29 1/3 innings (24 appearances) for Triple-A Charlotte. It’s possible he’s headed overseas to pursue an opportunity to pitch in Korea or Japan.

A few “high profile” names here. Dalbec, Wilson and Karinchak have all had various levels of success in the majors, but none were good enough to make the White Sox out of camp. No comment. Several of these players likely have opt-outs, so none are guaranteed to report to Triple-A Charlotte when the season begins.

The 29-year-old right-hander has struggled badly with his command this spring, and that was on full display in Thursday’s outing. He came on to start the fifth inning and walked each of the first three hitters that he faced — while also allowing three stolen bases. Jackson Chourio then lined into a sacrifice fly to plate a run. Karinchak battled back to get each of the next two hitters (while allowing his fourth stolen base), but on the whole it was an absolutely brutal outing. He now carries an uninspiring 7.20 ERA, 2.00 WHIP and a 6/5 K/BB ratio over five frames on the spring.