Braden Shewmake's Stats, Metrics, Game Logs, Projections & Rankings

The Kansas City Royals announced on Wednesday that they claimed infielder Braden Shewmake off waivers from the Chicago White Sox. Shewmake will remain in the American League Central after being taken off the White Sox's 40-man roster this offseason. The 27-year-old will merely serve as organizational infield depth for KC entering the 2025 season, if he's still on the roster by Opening Day. The former 21st overall pick by the Atlanta Braves in 2019 out of Texas A&M hasn't lived up to his draft stock and has gone 8-for-68 (.118) with a homer, four RBI and five stolen bases in the big leagues since debuting with Atlanta in 2023. Shewmake does have a strong glove on the infielder and came up as a shortstop, but he's most likely to open the season at Triple-A Omaha on the farm.

According to James Fegan of Baseball America, the Chicago White Sox designated shortstop Braden Shewmake for assignment to make room for left-handed pitcher Tyler Gilbert. The White Sox acquired Gilbert from the Philadelphia Phillies earlier on Wednesday. Shewmake appeared in 29 games with the White Sox last summer and held a poor .125/.134/.203 slash line with two doubles, one home run and five stolen bases. Across 209 career games at the Triple-A level, the infielder has posted a career .239/.299/.395 line with 23 home runs and 36 stolen bases. If Shewmake finds a new club, he will likely spend most of the 2025 campaign in the minor leagues given his struggles in the big leagues.

Chicago White Sox shortstop Braden Shewmake (ankle) is back in the team's Cactus League lineup on Saturday against the Seattle Mariners, playing shortstop and batting ninth in the order. Shewmake has recovered quickly from the left-ankle sprain that he suffered last Sunday and is back in the spring lineup this weekend. The 26-year-old rookie make his big-league debut in 2023 with the Atlanta Braves but made only two appearances, going 0-for-4 at the plate with a strikeout. He was traded to the White Sox last November and should be able to win a bench spot on the Opening Day roster as long as he doesn't suffer a setback with his ankle in the next couple of days. Shewmake figures to serve as the primary backup at the 6 in Chicago this year behind Paul DeJong.