Braves Sign Ian Hamilton to Non-Guaranteed Major League Deal

The Atlanta Braves just quietly added another arm to their bullpen, signing right-handed reliever Ian Hamilton to a non-guaranteed deal. It’s not a flashy move, but sometimes these low-risk, upside plays matter most over a long season—especially for a club with October dreams and a constant need for fresh relief options.

Who Is Ian Hamilton? A Once-Promising Reliever Looking for a Reset

Hamilton, now 30, heads to Atlanta after spending several seasons with the New York Yankees. He managed to carve out a steady role in one of baseball’s highest-pressure environments.

His path’s never been straightforward. Still, he’s shown enough raw stuff and resilience to keep contenders interested.

From White Sox Draft Pick to Bronx Bullpen Mainstay

The Chicago White Sox picked Hamilton in the 2016 MLB Draft. He made it to the majors in 2018.

Early on, he bounced between organizations, searching for a permanent spot. That stability finally came with the Yankees, where he became a reliable bullpen arm in 2023.

With New York in 2023, Hamilton:

It was his first real shot to show what he could do over a full season.

Hamilton’s Performance with the Yankees: Strengths and Red Flags

During his time in pinstripes, Hamilton showed both durability and the ability to miss bats. Those traits always catch the eye of front offices looking for bullpen depth.

Durability, Strikeouts, and Overall Production

Hamilton’s workload with New York was solid:

A 122 ERA+ means he pitched about 22 percent better than league average after adjusting for context. His strikeout rate stayed above 25 percent, which is exactly what you want from a modern reliever who needs to get outs in tight spots.

Even when his role changed and he bounced between the majors and minors, Hamilton still made 35 MLB appearances in 2024 and 36 appearances the year before. That kind of availability matters over 162 games, especially when injuries and fatigue start piling up.

Control Issues and Velocity Dip Raise Questions

For Atlanta, the question is whether Hamilton’s recent struggles are just a blip or something more. In 2025, his control got shakier, with his walk rate jumping to 13.8 percent.

He doesn’t have upper-90s velocity, so that’s a bit risky.

Last season, he finished with:

Those ERA numbers all sit pretty close together, so the 4.28 ERA seems about right. The drop in fastball velocity to 95.4 mph isn’t a disaster, but it does leave less room for error, especially if the walks keep coming.

What the Non-Guaranteed Deal Means for the Braves

The Braves are bringing Hamilton in on a non-guaranteed contract, making it clear they’re just taking a look at a live arm with some history. If it doesn’t work out, no harm done.

He’s not locked into a back-end role. He’s a depth play with a bit of upside, and sometimes those are the ones that surprise you.

Role, Roster Fit, and Triple-A Possibility

Hamilton will show up at camp fighting for one of those last bullpen spots. Still, he might start the year in Triple-A as experienced insurance.

For a club eyeing a deep postseason run, having a reliever with big-market, high-leverage experience stashed in the upper minors is valuable. That’s just the kind of backup you want tucked away.

The Braves’ thinking probably hinges on a few hopes:

There’s a bit of baseball poetry here. Hamilton once got traded for former Braves catcher Sandy León, and now he’s finally in Atlanta himself.

If the Braves’ pitching staff can help him tighten up his command and sharpen his pitch mix, maybe this turns into one of those quiet reliever signings that looks pretty clever later on. For now, Hamilton is exactly what the Braves want: cheap, flexible bullpen depth with real strikeout upside. Worth a shot, honestly.

 
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