Sean Reid-Foley is getting another shot at the big leagues-this time with the Atlanta Braves. The 30-year-old right-hander has signed a minor league deal with the club, hoping to reignite a career that’s seen its share of promise, setbacks, and second chances.
For Braves fans, this is a classic low-risk, high-upside move. For Reid-Foley, it’s an opportunity to prove there’s still something left in the tank after a rocky few years that included Tommy John surgery and a rollercoaster ride through multiple organizations.
A Journey That Started with Promise
Reid-Foley’s name might ring a bell for Blue Jays fans. Back in 2017, he was one of the more hyped arms in their system, ranked 64th on MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 list.
A year later, he cracked the majors and made seven starts for Toronto. The strikeout stuff was there-42 punchouts in 33.1 innings is no joke-but so were the red flags: a 1.560 WHIP, 5.7 walks per nine, and a 5.13 ERA.
It was the kind of debut that showed potential but also screamed “work in progress.”
In 2019, Reid-Foley got another look, but the issues persisted. His strikeout rate dipped, and the command problems stuck around.
Then came the shortened 2020 season, where he quietly posted his best numbers in a Jays uniform-just 6.2 innings, but only one run allowed and six strikeouts. It was a small sample, sure, but enough to keep the intrigue alive.
A New Chapter with the Mets
The following offseason, the Blue Jays flipped Reid-Foley to the Mets in a deal that brought Steven Matz to Toronto. That trade paid off for the Jays-Matz delivered a strong season and parlayed it into a multi-year deal with the Cardinals. As for Reid-Foley, the Mets gave him a fair shot, and for a while, it looked like he might be turning a corner.
From 2021 to 2024, he made 50 relief appearances for New York. His 2024 campaign, in particular, stood out: a 1.66 ERA over 23 games, with 25 strikeouts and just 13 hits allowed in 21.2 innings.
He didn’t give up a single home run and kept opposing hitters in check. That version of Reid-Foley looked every bit the high-upside reliever teams dream of developing.
But just as things were clicking, the injury bug bit again. A right shoulder impingement landed him on the IL in June 2024, ending what had been a promising season.
His 2025 comeback attempt never gained traction. He struggled mightily in Triple-A Syracuse, posting an 8.36 ERA over 15 appearances before being released in May.
A brief stint with the Diamondbacks’ Triple-A affiliate in Reno didn’t go much better-he logged a 5.79 ERA in 16 games before being cut again.
A Glimmer of Hope in Mexico-and Now Atlanta
Still, Reid-Foley didn’t hang it up. He took his talents to the Mexican League and quietly put together a strong showing: 15 innings, one earned run, 18 strikeouts, and just six walks (only one of those intentional). It’s a small sample, sure, but those are the kind of numbers that catch a scout’s eye-especially when they come from a pitcher with big-league experience and a history of missing bats.
Now, the Braves are taking a flyer. For a team looking to stay competitive in a loaded NL East that features the Mets and Phillies, depth in the bullpen can be a game-changer. And if Reid-Foley can carry over even a fraction of that Mexican League success, Atlanta might have found a diamond in the rough.
Reid-Foley’s minor league track record still shows promise: 760 strikeouts in 656.2 innings. The raw stuff has never been the issue-it’s always been about consistency and health. If he can stay on the field and harness his command, there’s a path back to the majors.
For now, it’s a fresh start in a new city. And for Sean Reid-Foley, that might be exactly what he needs.