Former Atlanta Braves infielder Zack Short was given another opportunity with injuries continuing to mount for the Houston Astros. Another former Atlanta infielder, Luis Guillorme, was moved to the injured list, opening up the chance for Short to return to a Major League roster. Braves fans will remember the limited hitter from last year's injury-plagued season, with Austin Riley going down and forcing the team to search for an emergency answer. Short offered consistent quality at-bats when first joining the team, but was clearly overmatched.
Atlanta gave the infielder every chance to prove his value, but was forced to move on when the offense became increasingly untenable. Short bounced around the league the rest of the 2024 season and would sign with the Astros the following offseason. This resulted in Short being forced to accept a minor league assignment and wait for another chance to change his fortunes at the next level. With mounting injuries for Houston, that chance has arrived for the former Atlanta infielder.
Former Braves' Infielder Zack Short Earns Another Chance
As much as the Braves have struggled to find depth, there isn't any regret when it comes to the decision to part ways with Short. There is no shortage of strong defensive options in Atlanta's current system. What Atlanta needs so badly right now is an offensive boost off the bench. This is something that has eluded Short so far in his career.
While Atlanta fans wish Short the best with his new team, there isn't any viable reason to believe the results are going to change. Houston's lineup might be a bit stronger than Atlanta's last season, but this isn't going to fix the offensive issues facing the infielder. The best thing he can bring to the plate is a level of patience that is going to frustrate pitchers and create free passes. This is the most likely path to Short sticking on the roster, and what he did early for Atlanta last season. Regardless of the outcome, it is a welcome chance for a player who continues to fight to stick on a Major League roster.