Young Atlanta Braves pitcher Didier Fuentes is set to make his Atlanta debut on Friday night in Miami. Just after turning 20, the Braves promoted the starter in an attempt to boost the rotation and a team that has begun rolling after completing a sweep of the New York Mets.
Atlanta's continued ownership of its division rival, even in a frustrating year, was a refreshing break from the consistent underachieving that had happened for much of the 2025 season. Calling up Fuentes will hopefully help keep this energy rolling into another important series against the Marlins.
However, the promotion of Fuentes required a demotion, and it is José Ruiz who is the odd man out. This doesn't come as a surprise for a pitcher who simply isn't a productive option a the back of the bullpen. It would make far more sense to keep Scott Blewett in that role or to give Craig Kimbrel a better chance to prove himself.
Regardless, it is a roster spot that is being wasted; the Braves will now utilize it for another starter. A wise decision that could present Atlanta with an interesting debate based on how the rookie fares.
Braves Reliever José Ruiz Earned Recent Demotion
Jose Ruiz has been DFA’d to make room for Didier Fuentes to start tomorrow
— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) June 20, 2025
Ruiz has an 8.82 ERA this season in a relief role, which really is the only explanation needed for this demotion. While the stat doesn't always present the full picture, it is a fitting headline when it comes to how the reliever has fared throughout the season. Atlanta wouldn't have a difficult time finding a superior option either in its own system or picking any handful of reclamation projects or free agents still searching for landing spots.
Atlanta made the right decision and cannot afford to carry Ruiz if they are serious about attempting to go on a run. It wouldn't be the first time we've seen the Mets fold while the Braves go on a hot streak. However, the one notable difference is the missing franchise cornerstones and Atlanta's lack of depth.
Still, there is reason for excitement that perhaps one piece of this could be found in the debuting rookie pitcher. At the very least, it adds some excitement to a series that could be viewed as a letdown spot after an impressive sweep over the Mets.