The Atlanta Braves have promoted Cuban infielder Hector Olivera from Triple-A Gwinnett on Tuesday as the rosters expanded for the month of September. Olivera was one of several moves made by the Braves this afternoon.

Left-handed pitcher Manny Banuelos was activated from the disabled list today and will start tonight against the Miami Marlins. Atlanta called up right-handers Brandon Cunniff and Dan Burawa, as well as infielder Daniel Castro.

It was anticipated that Olivera would make his debut tonight, as reports have come out in recent days he would be called up once September 1st came around. Expect Olivera to man the third base duties the remainder of the season.

Olivera, 30, will be making his Major League tonight at third base and will bat sixth in the Braves batting order. The Cuban infielder was the centerpiece of the trade for the Braves that sent left-handed starter Alex Wood, top prospect Jose Peraza, and relievers Jim Johnson and Luis Avilan to the Los Angeles Dodgers on July 30th (Link).

Olivera signed a six-year, $62.5 million dollar deal with the Dodgers this past offseason. Atlanta was in the running for one of the top international prospects, but Los Angeles took advantage of their abundance of funds and outbid the Braves. Now they have the guy they wanted and at a cheaper rate as the Dodgers already paid $28 million of that contract in the form of a bonus.

The Cuban infielder was hitting the ball well before suffering a hamstring injury on June 20th. In 42 plate appearances in his rehab assignment with Triple-A Gwinnett, Olivera is slashing .231/.286/.308 with three RBI and three extra-base hits.

Banuelos, 24, landed on the disabled list with bone spurs in his elbow. In five games (four starts) with the Braves, he went 1-2 with a 2.49 ERA. Banuelos has struck out 16 batters in 21.1 innings pitched.

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Parker White
Sports journalist from Midlothian, Virginia. Co-editor and writer for the NBA and MLB sections at VAVEL USA. Follow me on Twitter @spudwhite1022