Braves release veteran OF Jordan Luplow from minor-league deal

The Braves announced they’ve released veteran outfielder Jordan Luplow to pursue other opportunities. He’d been in camp as a non-roster player after signing a minor league pact in January.

Luplow is a right-handed hitting outfielder who’d been competing for a bench job in camp. Atlanta signed Adam Duvall to a $3M pact Thursday afternoon to play that role instead. 

Carrying both Duvall and Luplow would have been a bit redundant, so the Braves decided to let the latter get an early jump on his next opportunity.

The Duvall signing wasn’t a reflection of Luplow underperforming in camp. To the contrary, the well-traveled outfielder has posted impressive numbers this spring. He was off to a .280/.379/.560 start through 29 plate appearances. 

Luplow had collected two homers and a double among his seven hits. He walked four times against only five strikeouts. Yet the organization has a long history with Duvall, who lingered in free agency deep into the offseason despite hitting 21 homers with a .247/.303/.531 slash for the Red Sox a year ago. Adding him to the bench at such a modest price tag was something the front office didn’t want to pass up.

Luplow shouldn’t have any issue finding another minor league opportunity elsewhere. He has tallied more than 1000 trips to the plate over the past seven seasons between six teams. Luplow got into 39 MLB contests a year ago, hitting .208/.322/.325 between the Blue Jays and Twins.

While he has posted below-average numbers over the past two seasons, Luplow has a decent track record in favorable platoon situations. He has popped 33 home runs in 565 career plate appearances against left-handed pitching. 

Luplow has reached base at a .338 clip with a very strong .495 slugging mark versus southpaws. He hasn’t had anywhere near the same level of success against righty pitching, posting a .197/.287/.343 slash when matched with same-handed hurlers.