ATLANTA -- As Joc Pederson prepared to begin his role as Atlanta’s right fielder and leadoff hitter, he revealed he had been expecting to sign with the Braves this past winter.

“If you would have asked me the whole offseason, I’d have probably said I was signing with the Braves,” Pederson said before he homered and had two hits in Atlanta's 9-0 win over the Rays. “It was close enough that we were looking at houses [for] Spring Training and in Atlanta.”

Approximately a week after Pederson agreed to a one-year, $7 million deal with the Cubs, the Braves signed Marcell Ozuna to a four-year, $65 million deal. But nearly six months later, Pederson finds himself as part of Atlanta’s decimated outfield mix.

Already without Ozuna since he fractured two fingers and was arrested on domestic violence charges in May, the Braves’ lineup was further depleted last weekend when Ronald Acuña Jr. suffered a season-ending knee injury.

The Braves responded by trading first-base prospect Bryce Ball to the Cubs in exchange for Pederson, who will now fill Acuña’s roles as Atlanta’s right fielder and leadoff hitter.

“[Acuña] is probably one of the best leadoff hitters in the game,” Pederson said. “I’m not going to fill that role. But I’m going to do what I can do to help this team win some ballgames.”

Pederson quickly gained the favor of his new fan base by saying he’s looking forward to honoring his former Cubs teammate and ex-Brave Jason Heyward by wearing No. 22. He said it’s also a privilege to wear the same number as his close friend and former Dodgers teammate Clayton Kershaw.

“I’m rocking 22 for J-Hey and then for my guy Kersh,” Pederson said. “J-Hey did it here for a long time wearing that number, and Kersh is a great friend. I guess 22 on every team I’ve been on has been legendary. So I’m proud to wear 22.”

Smith vs. Lucroy
When the Braves announced they had acquired Stephen Vogt from the D-backs early Saturday morning, many fans on social media wondered why the team chose to keep Kevan Smith and designate Jonathan Lucroy.

Smith entered Saturday hitting .194 with a .501 OPS in 69 plate appearances for the Braves. Lucroy went 1-for-5 and drew three walks while playing just two games for Atlanta.

The 35-year-old Lucroy was also let go by the Nationals after going 5-for-14 with a double in just five games earlier this year.

So why did the Braves end up keeping Smith and designating Lucroy for assignment?

“I don’t know if it isn’t that they’re pretty much the same guy,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “Right now, at this point in their careers, they’re backup guys. We’re just piecing this thing together to get Travis back.”

Starting catcher Travis d’Arnaud has been sidelined since tearing ligaments in his left thumb on May 1. The Braves are hoping he can rejoin their lineup during the first half of August.

Draft signings
According to MLB.com’s Jim Callis, the Braves have signed three of their 20 selections from the 2021 MLB Draft. The signings include:

• Third-round selection Dylan Dodd, a left-handed pitcher out of Southeast Missouri State. The 23-year-old senior sign accepted an under-slot deal worth $122,500. Slot value for his pick (96th overall pick) was $604,800.

• Fifth-round selection Luke Waddell, a shortstop from Georgia Tech, who agreed to an under-slot bonus of $247,500. Slot value for his pick (157th overall) was $333,300.

With the savings from under-slot selections like Dodd and Waddell, the Braves gained bonus pool flexibility for other selections within the first 10 rounds. They also kept some funds available to take Andrew Hoffman in the 12th round. Hoffman, a 6-foot-5 right-hander out of Illinois, signed for $125,000.

Braves vice president of scouting Dana Brown said he expects to sign 19 of the 20 selections.