The Atlanta Braves released veteran catcher Sandy Leon on Wednesday, clearing the way for him to sign with the Saraperos de Saltillo of the Liga Mexicana de Beisbol.
Leon, 37, has played in 559 games in Major League Baseball over 13 seasons, though never more than 89 in a single year, and has a career slash line of .207/.275/.311 with 32 homers and 152 RBIs, appearing with Washington, Boston, Cleveland, Miami, Texas, Minnesota, and Atlanta.
The Venezuela-born catcher was batting .118 in 10 games with the Atlanta Braves’ Triple-A affiliate in Gwinnett, recording just four hits in 34 at-bats. He struggled at the plate over the winter with the Navegantes del Magallanes in Venezuela’s professional winter league, the Liga Venezolana de Beisbol Profesional, going 4-for-28 in 18 games.
With Saltillo, Leon replaces former MLBer Patrick Mazeika, who was released on April 20 after appearing in two games and going 0-for-5. Julio Esteban Rodriguez has caught in three games and is 0-for-8. Saltillo is 1-3 on the season.
Photo: Sandy León hits into a fielders choice that scores a run on an error in the second inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros, Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard)
