Longtime Atlanta Braves infielder and 2021 World Series champion Orlando Arcia is being called up to the Minnesota Twins, reports Dan Hayes of The Athletic.
Arcia inked a minor league deal with the Twins in January. He received an invitation to Spring Training, but failed to break camp with the club. The veteran has dominated at Triple-A this year, slashing .318/.376/.556 in 39 games. Arcia has popped eight home runs in 165 plate appearances with St. Paul.
The Twins had an opening on the infield with Royce Lewis getting demoted. The former No. 1 overall pick has struggled to a 55 wRC+ this year. Arcia could factor into the infield mix with his new team.
Orlando Arcia Finds New Home With Minnesota Twins After Getting Cut By Atlanta Braves
The Braves acquired Arcia in an April 2021 trade with the Milwaukee Brewers. Atlanta sent pitchers Patrick Weigel and Chad Sobotka to Milwaukee. Arcia played sparingly in his first year with the club, appearing in 32 games. He served primarily as a defensive replacement during the Braves’ run to the 2021 title. Arcia went 0-for-4 with a walk during the 2021 postseason.
Arcia was limited to 68 games in 2022 due to a hamstring injury. He was sidelined to begin the 2023 campaign after fracturing his wrist. Once that injury healed, Arcia emerged as the everyday shortstop in Atlanta. The infielder delivered a career-high 17 home runs as the primary option up the middle for the Braves. He trimmed his strikeout rate to 19.1% and slugged a career-best .420. The standout performance earned Arcia his first career All-Star selection.
The 2024 campaign saw Arcia reach career highs in playing time. It also marked a step back in offensive production. The infielder topped 600 plate appearances for the first time as a big leaguer. He matched his career best with 17 home runs. However, Arcia’s strikeout rate ticked up, and his batting average plummeted to .218. The veteran posted a woeful 72 wRC+.
Arcia continued his slide to begin the 2025 season. Atlanta cut him in May of that year. He latched on with the Colorado Rockies, where he hit .203 with three home runs in 62 games. Arcia elected free agency at the end of the year.
Braves Struggling to Find Consistent Shortstop Production Since Orlando Arcia Left
Atlanta has had a difficult time filling the shortstop spot since moving on from Arcia. The club ranked dead last in OPS at the position last season. The Braves threw a handful of options at the role, with Nick Allen taking the majority of the reps, followed by Ha-Seong Kim. Luke Williams and Vidal Brujan also had brief stints at shortstop.
With Kim recovering from offseason hand surgery, the team opened the 2026 season with Mauricio Dubon at shortstop. Utilityman Jorge Mateo also mixed in at the position. Atlanta has moved up slightly in the shortstop OPS rankings, but the club still ranks just 23rd in the league. Kim returned to action in early May. He’s stumbled to a brutal .053/.143/.053 slash lines across 21 plate appearances. The former San Diego Padres infielder signed a one-year, $20 million deal with the Braves. He’ll get every chance to hold onto the job.
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