Braves veteran utilityman making late-career switch to the mound

Charlie Culberson was selected 51st overall by the San Francisco Giants 2007 MLB Draft and made his big-league debut in the Bay Area in May 2012. Culberson played just six games with the Giants that year before being traded to the Colorado Rockies in July for infielder Marco Scutaro (who won the 2012 NLCS MVP and was a 2013 All-Star) and cash.

The 34-year-old spent three seasons with the Rockies as a part-time player in both the infield and outfield but missed the entire 2015 campaign due to a herniated disc in his back. Culberson signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers ahead of the 2016 season and continued to see action all over the field, but also gained sporadic playing time.

He was traded along with five-time All-Star first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, three-time All-Star pitcher Scott Kazmir, pitcher Brandon McCarthy and cash out of Los Angeles to the Braves in December 2017 for three-time All-Star outfielder Matt Kemp.

Culberson made the most of his opportunity in 2018, playing in a career-high 113 games and recording career-bests in home runs (12), RBI (45) and other offensive categories. Culberson also made his first career pitching appearance that season, facing five batters and allowing one run on two hits with no walks or strikeouts on Aug. 17 against the Rockies.

He stayed with the Braves for the 2019 and 2020 seasons and then played with the Texas Rangers in 2021 and 2022. Culberson recorded seven scoreless appearances on the mound from 2019-22 and hasn't allowed a run since his first outing in 2018.

After signing a minor league deal with the Tampa Bay Rays in February 2023, he was released in March, before re-joining Atlanta one week later. Culberson made only one appearance with the Braves last season, earning a pinch-hit single.