In a move to bolster their lineup, the Atlanta Braves have signed former Cleveland Indians infielder Gio Urshela. The 32-year-old veteran joins the Braves as a replacement for star third baseman Austin Riley, who is expected to miss the remainder of the regular season due to a broken hand.

Urshela's signing with the Braves came just two days after his release from the Detroit Tigers, whom he had signed with in February. During his time with the Tigers, Urshela showcased his skills, hitting .243 with five home runs, 37 RBI, and a .619 OPS in 92 games this season.

Making his debut for the Braves on Tuesday night against the Philadelphia Phillies, Urshela had a quiet start, going 0-for-3 at the plate with one walk and one RBI. Despite the rough beginning, Braves manager Brian Snitker expressed optimism about Urshela's potential impact on the team, stating, "You go back and look, and he's been a very productive major leaguer. It's a great opportunity for him, and I think we're very fortunate that a guy like that was available."

The Braves find themselves trailing the Phillies by six games in the National League East division. However, they currently hold a 2.5-game lead for the final National League wild card spot. With the acquisition of Urshela, the Braves aim to reinforce their roster and make a strong push for the playoffs.

Prior to joining the Braves and the Tigers, Urshela has played for several major league teams. He spent one season each with the Los Angeles Angels in 2023 and the Minnesota Twins in 2022. Urshela also had a successful stint with the New York Yankees from 2019 to 2021, particularly in 2019, when he recorded a career-high batting average of .314 along with 21 home runs, 74 RBI, and an .889 OPS. Additionally, he played a season for the Toronto Blue Jays in 2018.

Urshela's professional baseball career began in Cleveland, where he signed as an amateur free agent from Colombia at the age of 16 in July 2008. He made his MLB debut for the Indians on June 9, 2015, and played as a third baseman and utility infielder for parts of two seasons in 2015 and 2017.

Throughout his nine-year MLB career, Urshela has maintained a solid batting average of .273, hitting 69 home runs, driving in 317 RBI, and recording a .730 OPS in 756 games.

With Urshela now in their ranks, the Atlanta Braves are hopeful that his experience and offensive skills will help elevate their performance and increase their chances of securing a postseason berth.