The Atlanta Braves recalled 29-year-old outfielder DaShawn Keirsey Jr. from Triple-A Gwinnett on Friday and placed Lane Thomas on the 10-day injured list with a strained left intercostal muscle, backdated to September 8.
The move, announced via the MLB transaction log, comes as Atlanta prepares to open a series against the Philadelphia Phillies at Truist Park.
Keirsey signed a minor-league contract with the Braves last winter after the Minnesota Twins non-tendered him. Atlanta selected his contract on June 4 to protect him from an opt-out clause, then immediately optioned him to Gwinnett. This is his first actual big-league stint with the club.
In 109 games with the Stripers this season, Keirsey has slashed .247/.303/.346 with six home runs and 36 RBI. The standout number is on the bases: 40 stolen bases.
That speed, plus the ability to play all three outfield spots, is the main reason he is in Atlanta. He is a plus defender whose value is more about range, instincts, and disruption than extra-base power.
Keirsey’s major-league résumé remains thin. In 97 career at-bats with the Twins across 2024 and 2025, he hit .113 with three home runs and 10 steals.
A fourth-round pick out of Utah in 2018, he spent eight seasons in the Minnesota system before becoming a free agent. At 6-foot and 195 pounds, the left-handed hitter has long been viewed as a toolsy depth piece rather than an everyday bat.
Thomas, acquired before the trade deadline, has struggled since arriving in Atlanta, hitting .171/.261/.317. The intercostal issue ends a difficult stretch and opens a roster spot for a player who can pinch-run, play late-inning defense, or spell the regulars.
Manager Walt Weiss indicated after Thursday’s win over Tampa Bay that Thomas would head to the IL; the club made it official Friday morning.
Keirsey is unlikely to see a heavy workload. Ronald Acuña Jr., Michael Harris II and the rest of Atlanta’s outfield group remain the primary options. Still, September baseball rewards specialized skills.
Forty stolen bases at Triple-A is not an accident; Keirsey has always run well, and the Braves now have that weapon on the 26-man roster for the stretch run.
The promotion is low-risk depth management. If Thomas returns quickly, Keirsey can return to Gwinnett. If the injury lingers or another outfielder needs a day, Atlanta has a proven baserunner and versatile glove available.
For a 29-year-old who has waited years for consistent big-league time, Friday’s recall is another chance to show he belongs.
