Braves Designate Chadwick Tromp for Assignment After Acquiring Austin Wynns from Angels

Catcher Chadwick Tromp became a free agent after being designated for assignment by the Atlanta Braves. The move came following Atlanta’s acquisition of Austin Wynns in a minor trade with the Los Angeles Angels. Tromp spent two weeks on the active roster after being called up in mid-May to replace an injured Drake Baldwin.

Tromp made 12 total appearances for the Braves, starting six of them. He batted 5-for-25 with a double, no walks, and seven strikeouts. Defensively, he committed two errors and a passed ball while throwing out one of six attempted base stealers. The move leaves Sandy León and newly acquired Wynns as Atlanta’s catching options for now.

The Braves found themselves in a catching crunch after losing Sean Murphy and Baldwin. Murphy returned from hip surgery but broke his finger shortly after, and Baldwin then landed on the injured list with a strained oblique. That forced Atlanta to promote Tromp as part of a rotation that included León, a veteran with 12 seasons of MLB experience.

Tromp has now played in the majors in each of the last seven seasons but has yet to surpass the 64 plate appearances he had as a rookie with the 2020 Giants. The Braves have shown enough faith in the out-of-options catcher to give him MLB time every season since 2022. Despite his .169/.253/.325 line in 24 games with Triple-A Gwinnett, it wouldn’t be surprising if Atlanta brings him back on a minor league deal.

The organization is short on catching depth at the moment. Triple-A Gwinnett placed 40-man catcher Maverick Handley on the injured list, leaving Jair Camargo and 25-year-old Adam Zebrowski as the catching tandem. Neither Camargo nor Zebrowski has more than five games of MLB experience. Baldwin could return within two weeks, but Murphy is expected to be sidelined beyond the All-Star Break.

Tromp’s free agency opens the door for other teams to pursue his services. He remains a viable option as a backup catcher, particularly for teams seeking a veteran with major league experience. His defensive versatility and familiarity with MLB pitching staffs make him a potential fit for any club needing depth.

Tromp is now a free agent and could sign with another team or return to Atlanta on a minor league contract. The Braves have 10 days to trade, release, or outright him.