The Atlanta Braves are calling up outfielder and the club's top prospect Cristian Pache, the team announced Tuesday.
In a corresponding move, Nick Markakis has been placed on the injured list as a precaution after potentially being exposed to COVID-19.
Markakis originally opted out of the 2020 season after discussing COVID-19 symptoms with Freddie Freeman, who notably tested positive and suffered from a high fever prior to the season getting underway. However, as the season progressed, Markakis opted in on July 29.
Pache, 21, ranks as the No. 14 prospect in all of baseball, according to MLB Pipeline, and is the fourth-best outfielder behind Jarred Kelenic, as well as the already promoted Jo Adell and Luis Robert.
The news also comes in the wake of the Braves placing Ronald Acuna Jr. on the 10-day injured list with a wrist injury. Pache will join an outfield comprised of Ender Inciarte and Adam Duvall, with Marcell Ozuna acting primarily as the designated hitter.
The natural center fielder has earned impressive grades in fielding, arm strength, and run speed by scouts. Pache hit .277/.340/.462 with 12 homers and eight steals in 130 games across two minor-league levels last year.