Braves reunite with former World Series winning catcher

After being designated for assignment earlier this year, veteran catcher Sandy León elected free agency but ultimately returned to the Atlanta Braves organization. León served as the team’s third catcher during the 2024 season, working behind Drake Baldwin and Sean Murphy.

León, 36, has spent parts of 13 seasons in the major leagues, carving out a reputation as a steady defensive presence and respected clubhouse leader. Though he has never appeared in more than 90 games in a season, he’s been part of several notable teams, including the 2018 World Series champion Boston Red Sox.

In addition to his time with the Red Sox and Braves, León has played for the Washington Nationals, Miami Marlins, Cleveland Guardians, Minnesota Twins, and Texas Rangers. Washington remains his longest stop outside of Boston.

León appeared in only five games for the Braves this season but made his mark. In one of those outings, he hit his first home run since 2021. He also reunited with former Red Sox teammate Chris Sale, catching him in a dominant outing that saw Sale toss eight scoreless innings with nine strikeouts against the Nationals.

While León’s days as an everyday starter are likely behind him, his defensive skill set and veteran leadership continue to make him a valuable depth piece. For his career, León holds a .207 batting average, a .275 on-base percentage and a .311 slugging percentage.

He’s expected to begin next season with Triple-A Gwinnett, where he’ll provide depth and experience should the Braves need a call-up behind the plate.