Atlanta Braves Bolster Bullpen with Ian Hamilton
The Atlanta Braves have secured a non-guaranteed one-year deal with right-handed pitcher Ian Hamilton, the club announced this Friday. This addition aims to strengthen the team’s bullpen for the upcoming season.
Hamilton, 30 years old, has a six-season career in the Major Leagues, highlighting his last three campaigns with the New York Yankees.
His best performance was recorded in 2023, where he established himself as a key reliever for the Yankees. He achieved an ERA of 2.64, with 69 strikeouts in 58 innings, a whiff rate of 34.6%, and a ground ball percentage of 56.0%.
In the following two seasons, Hamilton’s performance was affected by injuries. In 2024, he was out of action for approximately three months due to a strain in his right side. Last season, he pitched 40 innings with an ERA of 4.28, and finished the last two months of the schedule in Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
The non-guaranteed agreement suggests that this is a minor league contract or a split contract, implying that Hamilton will receive Major League salary only during his time on the team’s active roster.
With this acquisition, the Braves are betting on the recovery of a pitcher who has demonstrated his ability to be effective in crucial moments, thus reinforcing their bullpen for the next season.
