Ronald Acuña Jr. watched as the Braves made the tough decision to designate Orlando Arcia for assignment—but the good news for Arcia is he didn’t have to wait long to find a new team, even if that team is currently in a rough spot.
“Orlando Arcia and the Rockies are closing in on a deal,” reported MLB insider Mark Feinsand on X. “Arcia was released by the Braves on Sunday after he was DFA’d earlier in the week,” he added, citing sources alongside reporter Thomas Harding.
As most baseball fans know, the Rockies are in the midst of a full-blown crisis this season. With a 9–45 record, Colorado currently holds the worst mark in MLB, meaning Arcia joins a club with little left to compete for in 2025.
How long did Arcia share a dugout with Acuña Jr.?
Arcia joined the Braves in 2021 and shared the field with Acuña Jr. for nearly four seasons. The two Venezuelan players spent considerable time together, with Arcia’s best years in Atlanta coming in 2023 and 2024—he appeared in 296 games during his Braves tenure and posted a .240 batting average.
HOUSTON, TEXAS – APRIL 15: Ronald Acuña Jr. #13 of the Atlanta Braves and Orlando Arcia #11 celebrate after defeating the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park on April 15, 2024 in Houston, Texas. All players are wearing the number 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson Day. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
Acuña Jr.’s return to the active roster made Arcia’s departure feel inevitable. He had already lost the starting shortstop role to Nick Allen and was unable to play as much as the last season.
Arcia says goodbye to Atlanta
Despite the disappointing exit, Arcia showed nothing but gratitude in a message shared on his personal Instagram. He thanked the Braves organization and his teammates, saying he would never forget his time in Atlanta and that he’s ready for a new chapter in his career.
