Nick Weglarz to sit out remainder of 2013 season

Free agent outfielder Nick Weglarz will sit out the remainder of the 2013 season, a source has confirmed to MLBDailyDish.com. Although he received interest from teams following his release from the Atlanta Braves, he has made the decision to stay home with his wife and newborn son for the rest of 2013 in hopes of landing a job this offseason.

Weglarz, a third round draft pick of the Cleveland Indians in 2005, was a highly-rated prospect as he ascended through the Indians system, and was ranked as the 58th best prospect in Baseball America before the 2009 season. After a 2012 campaign with Double-A Akron in which he hit .239 with 14 HR and 58 RBI in 109 games, Weglarz drew interest from many teams over the offseason, and signed with the Tampa Bay Rays in late November. He was released by Tampa Bay on March 4th, and became a free agent once again before signing with the Braves in April.

Weglarz appeared in two games for Double-A Mississippi (0-5, 3 K) before the Braves granted his release, and then made the decision to sit out the remainder of the 2013 season. Because he owns a career .252/82 HR/319 slash line and has shown spurts of power in nine minor league seasons, the 25-year old will likely draw interest from teams looking for a left-handed depth bat this winter.