It was reported late last week that Hector Olivera could make his major league debut with the Braves as soon as Monday, but David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution hears that he might get some more time in the minors instead.
Acquired from the Dodgers in a three-team, 13-player trade last month, Olivera is 4-for-29 (.138) with no extra-base hits over nine minor league rehab games since missing a month with a hamstring strain. He has only played a handful of games in Triple-A. Rosters are set to expand on September 1, so it’s just a matter of time before he takes over as the starting third baseman for the Braves. But giving him a few more games in Triple-A to shake the rust isn’t the worst idea.
Olivera, 30, signed a six-year, $62.5 million contract with the Dodgers earlier this year after batting .323/.407/.505 over 10 seasons in Cuba’s Serie Nacional.