The Braves have re-signed righty to a new minor league contract, . Hes been a signed to Triple-A Gwinnett. Stephens previously cleared waivers and rejected an outright a signment in favor of free agency. Ultimately, hell stick with the club for the time being, though its po sible the new Vic Law Jersey deal has new opt-out language down the road. Stephens pitched 3 1/3 innings for Atlanta earlier this season, allowing a run on five hits and a walk with two strikeouts. The 30-year-old right-hander has spent the past three seasons in the Braves organization, with much of that time coming in Gwinnett. Since 2022, Stephens has a 3.52 ERA in 69 big league innings (3.78 FIP, 4.13 SIERA). Stephens 19.7% strikeout rate and 9.5% walk rate are le s appealing than that baseline earned run average, but hes neverthele s generally been effective with the Braves. Hes posted similar mid-3.00s ERA marks with Gwinnett dating back to 2022 as well. An 18th-round pick by the Reds back in 2012, Stephens ranked among Cincinnatis most promising arms through 2018. He pitched in two seasons with the team that drafted him, recording a 4.83 ERA in 63 1/3 innings from 2017-18. Stephens spent the entire 2019 campaign in the minors and became a free agent after the Reds outrighted him following that season. He was out of baseball for the shortened 2020 season (and canceled minor league season) and then spent the 2021 season with the Mexican Leagues Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos before joining the Braves in the 2021-22 offseason. Born and raised in Oxford, Alabama just 90 miles west of Atlanta its not that surprising that Stephens has come to feel at home in the Braves organization. He could certainly have found a minor league deal elsewhere perhaps with a club that has a le s-established bullpen group in the majors but the proximity to home and the familiarity hes developed over three years in the organization both likely appealed to him. Hell head back to Gwinnett and try to pitch his way back onto the big league roster this summer. Cole Anthony Jersey