On June 13th, the Atlanta Braves made a surprising move by releasing veteran utility player Charlie Culberson just one day before his father was scheduled to throw out the first pitch at SunTrust Park. This move came as a shock to many, as Culberson had been with the Braves since 2018 and was a fan favorite.
Culberson was signed by the Braves in 2018 after being released by the Los Angeles Dodgers. He quickly became a key part of the team, playing multiple positions and providing a spark off the bench. He was also an important part of the team’s run to the National League East title in 2019.
The decision to release Culberson was made due to the team’s need for a roster spot. The Braves had recently acquired outfielder Adam Duvall from the Cincinnati Reds and needed to make room for him on the 25-man roster. The team felt that Culberson was the most expendable player, as he had been struggling at the plate and was not playing as much as he had in previous seasons.
The timing of the move was especially unfortunate, as it came just one day before Culberson’s father was scheduled to throw out the first pitch at SunTrust Park. Culberson had been looking forward to the moment and had even posted a photo of his father on social media with the caption “My dad is throwing out the first pitch tomorrow! Can’t wait!”
The Braves have since apologized for the timing of the move and have offered to fly Culberson and his father to Atlanta so that his father can still throw out the first pitch. It remains to be seen if Culberson will accept the offer, but it is clear that the Braves regret their decision to release him at such an inopportune time.
Overall, the Atlanta Braves’ decision to release Charlie Culberson was a difficult one, but it was made out of necessity due to roster constraints. While it is unfortunate that it happened just one day before his father was scheduled to throw out the first pitch, the Braves have since apologized and offered to fly Culberson and his father to Atlanta so that his father can still have that special moment.
