If you’ve thought to yourself in the past couple of weeks, “this season couldn’t get any weirder,” then you might have to think again. In a bizarre season for the 2025 Atlanta Braves, this might be the most bizarre development, as the club cut minor league reliever Jacob Gomez from the Rome Emperors after he was arrested for shoplifting at Wal-Mart. No, seriously.
According to WSB-TV, Gomez had shoplifted some sports trading cards that were only worth $60 and was promptly cut a few days later. Yes, this kid may have just lost his career in baseball over some football cards.
Braves minor leaguer Jacob Gomez released from organization after shoplifting arrest
If you haven’t heard of Jacob Gomez, you’re not alone. The 23-year-old was an undrafted signee in 2024 after he pitched four years at Old Dominion. Gomez was not ranked within the team’s top 30 prospects. To Gomez’s credit, the lefty reliever pitched well for the Braves minor league clubs before his arrest and subsequent release.
Last season, Gomez threw 13.2 innings and only allowed one run in low-A Augusta. This season, he had a 2.82 ERA between Augusta and Rome in 51 innings. However, despite his success on the mound, his baseball career is now in jeopardy after making a truly bafflingly stupid decision.
On August 28, Gomez was caught taking NFL trading cards and putting them in his shorts pocket. After a worker reported it, Wal-Mart’s loss prevention confirmed it via surveillance video. Police later identified the shoplifter as the Braves minor leaguer and Atlanta released him just three days later.
Because of Gomez’s age, lack of pedigree, the fact that he only reached High-A ball, and now has to deal with legal issues (though shoplifting under $500 is a misdemeanor), this one mistake might cost the reliever his entire career.
There’s certainly a chance some team might want to take a flier on a lefty who was able to keep a sub-3.00 ERA through his first two seasons as a minor leaguer, but the Braves clearly felt there was no reason to keep him after this arrest.
