NORTH PORT, Fla. -- Alex Verdugo served as the Yankees' left fielder throughout last year’s World Series. He will begin this season at the Triple-A level, just hoping the Braves might eventually have a need to add him to their outfield mix.

Verdugo was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett after he and the Braves agreed to a one-year, $1.5 million contract on Thursday. The 28-year-old outfielder adds to the organization’s outfield depth and provides insurance in case of either an injury or another disappointing season from Jarred Kelenic.

Verdugo hasn’t been in camp with any other club. So, he will need a few weeks to prepare for the upcoming season. By the time he is ready to be activated, Ronald Acuña Jr. could be nearing his return from the injured list.

Once Acuña returns in early May, he would join center fielder Michael Harris II and left fielder Jurickson Profar as the starting outfielders. Kelenic, who like Verdugo is a left-handed hitter, currently stands the most likely candidate to stick around as the fourth outfielder.

Kelenic is currently slated to begin the season platooning with Bryan De La Cruz in right field. De La Cruz is a right-handed hitter, while both Kelenic and Verdugo swing from the left side. Carrying Kelenic and Verdugo at the same time would seemingly only be an option if injuries force the Braves to go this route.

Five of the eight position players from Atlanta’s Opening Day lineup last year missed at least two months because of injury. With that in mind, it makes sense to take a chance on a depth piece like Verdugo.

Verdugo, a career .272 hitter with a .742 OPS, saw his production drop significantly in 2024 with the Yankees. He hit .233 with an 83 OPS+ in 149 games, though he did hit 13 home runs, equaling his total from 2023 with the Red Sox.

Verdugo's .291 on-base percentage in 2024 was the lowest of his career. His 34.9% hard-hit rate was his lowest since 2020 (34.4%) and his average exit velocity of 88.3 mph was slightly below league average. Though his whiff (92nd percentile) and strikeout rates (88th percentile) were among MLB's best in 2024, that didn't necessarily translate into hits, as his average bat speed (68.4 mph) was among the 25 lowest in the league. His 49.6% ground-ball rate was his highest since 2021, while his 22.4% line-drive rate was his lowest in a full season.

However, Verdugo still provided good value with his defense. He has a strong throwing arm (in MLB's 94th percentile) and range that's above average (77th percentile), accounting for two Outs Above Average in 2024. He can play all three outfield positions, though he's spent most of his career in a corner spot. He played 141 games in left field for the Yankees in 2024 after playing 140 in right field for the Red Sox in ‘23.