Acuna, Camargo moves bring some clarity to remaining roster decisions

Utility man Charlie Culberson will be on the Braves’ opening-day roster as their primary backup infielder. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Credit: John Raoux

Credit: John Raoux

Utility man Charlie Culberson will be on the Braves’ opening-day roster as their primary backup infielder. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

This week’s decisions by the Braves to reassign outfield phenom Ronald Acuna to minor league camp and place third baseman Johan Camargo on the 10-day disabled list have brought some clarity to the remaining position-player roster decisions.

Barring a late trade or waiver claim before opening day, the Braves seem set on Rio Ruiz opening as their starting third baseman, with Lane Adams, Preston Tucker and Ezequiel Carrera splitting left-field and backup outfielder duties until Acuna arrives, which could be as soon as April 14, although there are no guarantees and the Braves insist there’s no timetable for his debut.

Charlie Culberson and Danny Santana appear set as the Braves’ utility men, joining seven incumbent starters: infielders Freddie Freeman, Ozzie Albies and Dansby Swanson, outfielders Ender Inciarte and Nick Markakis and catchers Tyler Flowers and Kurt Suzuki.

Besides a possible trade or waiver claim before opening day March 29, the only potential deviation from that position-player roster might be if the Braves decide to carry Chris Stewart as a third catcher to begin the season, in which case they would probably drop one of the extra outfielders.

Manager Brian Snitker said the Braves would take all 36 active players currently in camp to Atlanta for exhibition games Monday vs. the Yankees and Tuesday vs. the team’s “Future Stars,” and said the 25-man opening-day roster might not be announced before Wednesday.

“If we finalize it on Tuesday, who knows, on Wednesday somebody might become available, something might change the whole dynamic of it on that off day,” Snitker said. “I would think of the group we’re taking up there, we’ll know who’s staying (barring any subsequent additions).

“Like I say, something might happen. We’ve all seen that before.”

Camargo has a strain in his right oblique/lower back area and will be placed on the 10-day DL, likely retroactive for the maximum three days of spring training. That would permit him to return as soon as the seventh game of the season, though there is no certainty or timetable for his return.

By keeping Acuna in the minors until at least April 14, the Braves are assured of an extra (seventh) season of contractual control before he could be eligible for free agency. Before he was reassigned to minor league camp Monday, the 20-year-old outfielder led the Grapefruit League in average (.432), on-base percentage (.519), slugging percentage (.727) and OPS (1.247), led the Braves in home runs (four) and stolen bases (four) and was tied for the team lead in RBIs (11) and runs (eight).