Braves sign pitcher Taylor Widener to a minor league deal

Widener, a 12th-round selection of the New York Yankees in 2016 out of the University of South Carolina, will begin the season in AAA Gwinnett. 

Only 29, Widener debuted in 2020 with the Arizona Diamondbacks and appeared in 49 games for them (including 13 starts) across three seasons. Going 2-3 with a 4.26 ERA, Widener suffered from walk and homer issue, putting up a 4.5 BB/9 and a 1.8 HR/9 over that span. 

He went back to starting last season in Korea, pitching in the KBO with the Samsung Lions and the NC Dinos. Across 20 starts (and 21 total appearances), he was 7-5 with a 4.54 ERA.

And starting depth is the role he projects to have in Atlanta's minor league system - with the first four spots of the rotation seemingly set (as of now), Atlanta figures to have multiple options cycle through the 5th spot in the rotation. Top prospects AJ Smith-Shawver and Hurston Waldrep will be fighting for the final rotation spot in spring training, but Atlanta used sixteen different pitchers to start games in 2023 and have been accumulating depth ever since. 

Widener will be battling Allan Winans, Dylan Dodd, Darius Vines, and other for starts as Atlanta needs them in 2024. 

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