Atlanta's Bullpen Gets a Jolt: Ray Kerr Rises From Tommy John, Danny Young DFA'd

ATLANTA — The Braves aren't messing around with their bullpen. Before Sunday's showdown with the Diamondbacks, Atlanta pulled the trigger on a serious roster shakeup: lefty Ray Kerr is back in the big leagues, and Danny Young is out.

Kerr's return is nothing short of a comeback story. The 31-year-old last pitched for Atlanta in 2024 before undergoing Tommy John surgery. He missed all of 2025 recovering. But after grinding his way back, Kerr hit the mound again in mid-July and reminded everyone why the Braves believed in him. Across nine appearances with four minor league affiliates — including Triple-A Gwinnett — he posted a 3.09 ERA with 16 strikeouts over 11⅔ innings.

Danny Young's Rough Ride Ends

To make room for Kerr, the Braves designated lefty Danny Young for assignment. It's been a brutal season for the 32-year-old: 0-1 with an 8.03 ERA in 16 appearances. The final straw came Saturday night in a 10-3 loss to Arizona, when Young gave up three earned runs — including a homer.

Now Kerr gets the chance to prove he's fully back, while Young waits to see if another organization comes calling. Either way, Atlanta's bullpen just got a whole lot more interesting.