The Atlanta Braves made a move that feels less like a roster tweak and more like a desperate plea for answers. The team optioned infielder Jim Jarvis and recalled outfielder Brewer Hicklen on August 24, 2026. This decision comes after a month of absolute futility at the plate. Per Battery Power, the question hanging over the franchise is simple: “What are the Braves doing at shortstop?”
The Jarvis experiment hits a wall
Jim Jarvis was supposed to be a fun story, a guy who could hit right-handers. He arrived as a non-return for Rafael Montero and looked solid in July with a 111 wRC+. That number looked great on paper, but the underlying stats were shaky. His .336 wOBA and .308 xwOBA showed he was getting lucky. Then the calendar turned to August, and the luck ran out. In just 42 plate appearances, Jarvis posted a -36 wRC+. Yes, that is a negative number. His expected weighted on-base average plummeted to .208. Even if he improves his contact, a .208 xwOBA is a disaster. The team now has 124 major league plate appearances and a 56 wRC+ to show for it. That is not a player; that is a liability.
Hicklen brings heat from Gwinnett
Brewer Hicklen returns to Atlanta with a different kind of energy. He has been on an assault on International League pitching while playing for Triple-A Gwinnett. Before the All-Star Break, he put up a 130 wRC+ in the minors. He hit incredibly well in 23 major league plate appearances before his previous stint ended. Now he is back to help a lineup that is struggling to score runs. The Braves need someone who can actually make contact, not someone who strikes out looking at bad pitches. Hicklen offers a spark that the current infield group lacks.
Shortstop remains a gaping hole
The real issue here goes deeper than one player optioned in late August. From 2024 to 2026, the Braves are dead last in shortstop fWAR with a meager 1.3 over 1673 plate appearances. The Rockies, usually the team at the bottom of the barrel, have more than double that production at 2.7. While the defense has been okay thanks to guys like Nick Allen, the offense is non-existent. The team sits at a 64 wRC+ at the position, which is a sad tier of performance. Even the Guardians and Rays have better numbers. Mauricio Dubon will likely get a longer run at shortstop, but he is also struggling with an xwOBA under .300. The Braves have to hope for a miracle or a trade, because the current group is not getting it done.
