The Atlanta Braves designated left-handed reliever Danny Young for assignment on Sunday, August 16, 2026, in a corresponding move to select fellow southpaw Ray Kerr from Triple-A Gwinnett.
Young, who has been in the big leagues since his 2022 debut with the Seattle Mariners, was activated from the 60-day injured list on July 3 after recovering from reconstructive elbow surgery.
He signed a one-year split contract with Atlanta this past offseason following a stint with the New York Mets. The 32-year-old initially looked sharp upon his return, posting a 2.08 ERA across 8 2/3 innings in 12 appearances during July while inducing ground balls effectively.
That early success faded quickly in August. In four outings this month, Young allowed nine earned runs on nine hits in just 3 2/3 innings.
His overall 2026 line with the Braves stood at 0-1 with an 8.03 ERA, 2.27 WHIP, 15 strikeouts, and 13 walks in 12 1/3 innings over 16 appearances (including one start as an opener). The struggles included a recent mop-up appearance in a loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks in which he surrendered three earned runs.
Young has long shown the ability to miss bats. Across his MLB career spanning time with the Mariners, Braves, Mets, and a return to Atlanta, he has recorded 93 strikeouts in 73 innings for a solid strikeout rate.
In stronger stretches, such as his 2024 season with the Mets (48 strikeouts in 37 2/3 innings) and limited but effective work in prior Braves appearances, the swing-and-miss stuff has been evident. Career numbers show a 4-2 record with a 4.68 ERA.
Yet consistency has eluded him. Control issues and the inability to sustain success over longer stretches have prevented Young from locking down a reliable big-league role.
Walk rates have spiked at times, and injuries—including the Tommy John surgery that limited him in 2025—have interrupted his progress. Despite the tools and occasional dominance, he has not fully put it all together as a consistent contributor.
Young has under two years of major league service time. The Braves previously outrighted him during an earlier stint with the organization.
He now has the opportunity to clear waivers and potentially elect free agency if he rejects an outright assignment, though doing so would forfeit remaining salary guarantees given his service time.
The move opens a bullpen spot for Kerr as the Braves, sitting near the top of the National League East, continue to manage their roster down the stretch.
For Young, the designation marks another chapter in a career defined by flashes of promise that have yet to fully materialize into sustained major league success.
