Braves Sign Infielder-Turned-Pitcher

He hasn't appeared in a major league game since 2018, but anyone who saw him play back then won't recognize him this time around. The Atlanta Braves have signed 28-year-rold Ryder Jones, but not as the 1B he used to be.

This year may look a little different🤟🏼Heading full circle 10 years later to get back on the bump! Excited to get to pitch and learn a new craft with the @braves for the next couple of years! https://t.co/0DvF4sgJkb

— Ryder Jones (@Jonesy_56) December 31, 2022

It's a minor league contract for Jones, who will now transition from a corner infielder to a pitcher, as per his social media post. 

"This year may look a little different🤟🏼," wrote Jones on Instagram and Twitter. "Heading full circle 10 years later to get back on the bump! Excited to get to pitch and learn a new craft with the @braves for the next couple of years!"

His two stints with the San Francisco Giants in 2017-18 as an infielder consisted of a total of 158 at-bats, and a .184 average with a .566 OPS. Those certainly sound like pitcher-worthy batting numbers. 

He actually did throw one scoreless inning of mop-up duty at Triple-A last season, and perhaps he got the bug back from his pitching days in high school. 

An interesting signing by the Braves, to say the least.

Photo: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports