James Karinchak Returns as Braves Add Arm, DFA Carlos Carrasco
james karinchak is back in the majors for the first time since 2023 after the Braves selected his contract from Triple-A Gwinnett and added him to the roster. The move came the same day Atlanta designated Carlos Carrasco for assignment again and placed Tyler Kinley on the 15-day injured list with elbow inflammation.
Karinchak’s route back
The 30-year-old right-hander returns after a long stretch away from the big leagues. Karinchak had been out of the majors since 2023, then spent nearly the entire 2024 season on the minor league injured list with a shoulder issue and threw only 6 2/3 innings that year.
He had once looked like a bat-missing bullpen arm, posting a 2.51 ERA with a 46.6% strikeout rate through his first 32 1/3 MLB frames from 2019-20. From 2021-23, he worked 133 1/3 innings with a 3.24 ERA, but the shoulder problems and lower velocity changed the shape of his career path.
Gwinnett and Charlotte numbers
Karinchak’s recent work gives Atlanta a fresh read on what he can offer. He threw 29 1/3 innings with a 2.45 ERA for the White Sox’s Triple-A club in Charlotte, then the White Sox released him in June before the Braves signed him in December.
His 2026 line in the minors stayed sharp on the surface: 25 2/3 innings, a 2.45 ERA, walks to 10% of the batters he faced and strikeouts against 38% of them. His fastball is averaging 93.8 mph this year, up from 92.7 mph in Charlotte and 92.1 mph during the injury-hit 2024 season.
Braves shuffle the bullpen
Atlanta’s roster move also pushed JR Ritchie back to the majors after he was recalled from Gwinnett to fill Kinley’s spot. Karinchak still has a minor league option remaining, which gives the Braves a way to move him between Atlanta and Gwinnett as they cycle through relief depth and innings.
Carrasco’s DFA again signals the club is continuing to use the veteran as a roster lever, while Karinchak gets a chance to turn his minor league form into a sustained run in the majors. For now, Atlanta has chosen strikeout history over a static bullpen picture.
