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Nationals' Jhancarlos Lara: Jettisoned from 40-man roster
Rotowire
The Nationals designated Lara for assignment Wednesday.
Lara possesses a big arm capable of regularly reaching triple digits, but he's often struggled to throw strikes. After walking 65 batters over 68.2 innings between Double- and Triple-A in 2025, he's posted a 10.13 ERA and 22:31 K:BB across 16 frames at the Double-A level in 2026. That said, Lara is just 23 years old and could draw interest via waivers because of his upside.
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Nationals' Jhancarlos Lara: Claimed by Washington
Rotowire
The Nationals claimed Lara off waivers and optioned him to Double-A Harrisburg Friday.
The 23-year-old was designated for assignment by Atlanta on Wednesday and will remain in the National League East after being claimed by Washington. A change of scenery could be beneficial for Lara, who has struggled to an 8.22 ERA, 2.65 WHIP and 21:29 K:BB across 15.1 innings at the Double-A level this year.
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Braves' Jhancarlos Lara: Moved off 40-man roster
Rotowire
Atlanta designated Lara for assignment Wednesday.
Lara was a roster casualty with Atlanta needing to clear a 40-man spot for first baseman/designated hitter Rowdy Tellez, who was promoted from Triple-A Gwinnett in a corresponding move. A 23-year-old righty, Lara was up with Atlanta for a brief spell last September but didn't get the chance to make his big-league debut. He had pitched exclusively for Double-A Columbus thus far in 2026, logging an 8.22 ERA, 2.65 WHIP and 21:29 K:BB in 15.1 innings.
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Braves' Jhancarlos Lara: Cut from big-league camp
Rotowire
Atlanta optioned Lara to minor-league camp Thursday.
Lara got a cup of coffee in the majors last season but didn't make an appearance. The 23-year-old was moved to a relief role in the minors in 2025 and will continue to work on throwing more strikes at Triple-A Gwinnett. The hard-throwing Lara struck out 104 over 68.2 frames between Double-A Columbus and Gwinnett last season but also issued 65 walks and held a 7.73 ERA.
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Braves' Jhancarlos Lara: Optioned to Triple-A
Rotowire
Atlanta optioned Lara to Triple-A Gwinnett on Monday.
Lara's contract was selected by Atlanta on Friday, but the 22-year-old right-hander didn't end up seeing any action during the three-game weekend series against Detroit. He'll return to Triple-A, where he has posted a 6.58 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 80:47 K:BB across 52 innings this season.
Atlanta selected Lara's contract from Triple-A Gwinnett on Friday.
Lara has split time between the rotation and bullpen at Double-A Columbus and Gwinnett this season, posting a 7.73 ERA and 104:65 K:BB over 68.2 innings. The 22-year-old has electric stuff but has really struggled to throw strikes at every level. Atlanta will take a look at Lara as a bullpen arm down the stretch.
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Braves' Jhancarlos Lara: Shifted to bullpen
Rotowire
Lara made his debut for Triple-A Gwinnett on Tuesday, working a scoreless inning of relief with one walk and one strikeout.
Atlanta kept the flame-throwing right-hander in the rotation at Double-A Columbus to begin the season, but an 11.21 ERA and 19 walks in 17.2 innings may have finally settled the question of whether Lara would be better suited to the bullpen. Per Gwinnett broadcaster Dave Lezotte, Lara topped out at 101.1 miles per hour with his fastball in his Triple-A debut -- the fastest pitch thrown by a Gwinnett pitcher since velocity readings became available in 2023. On the other hand, only five of his 11 pitches found the strike zone, so the shift to a relief role hasn't solved his control issues. If Lara can harness his stuff a little better, he could be a high-leverage option for the big-league bullpen later this season given his dominant fastball/slider combination.
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Braves' Jhancarlos Lara: Jumps up to Double-A
Rotowire
Atlanta promoted Lara from High-A Rome to Double-A Mississippi on Tuesday.
The 21-year-old from the Dominican Republic will make the move to the Southern League after he compiled a 3.92 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 72 strikeouts over 62 innings at Rome. The right-hander was particularly sharp over his last four outings at High-A, turning in a 1.19 ERA and 34:7 K:BB over 22.2 frames.
Braves' Jhancarlos Lara: Moves past hamstring injury
Rotowire
Lara (oblique) has compiled a 5.28 ERA, 1.81 WHIP and 45:30 K:BB in 44.1 innings since reporting to High-A Rome on May 2.
Though he didn't open the season on Rome's injured list, he missed all of April while he completed his recovery from an oblique strain. Lara seems to have avoided any setbacks on the health front since joining Rome's rotation, but he's gotten off to a rough start to the season thanks in large part to his bloated 14.1 percent walk rate. The 21-year-old will likely need to improve his control if he's to stick on a starter's developmental track, but Lara probably has at least a couple of years to iron things out before Atlanta would contemplate shifting him to a relief role.
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Braves' Jhancarlos Lara: Out with oblique injury
Rotowire
Lara has been held back in extended spring training to begin the minor-league season as he recovers from an oblique strain, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.
Lara is one of the few high-upside prospects left in Atlanta's farm system, but he'll have to wait a few weeks before he makes his season debut. The 6-foot-3 righty only logged 9.1 innings at High-A Rome last season after pitching 72 innings at Single-A Augusta, so he'll presumably head back to Rome once he's fully healthy.
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