For a small community college tucked in the high desert of Susanville, California, Lassen CC doesn't get much big-league representation — but Ray Kerr is making the most of his moment in Atlanta.
The left-handed reliever returned to the Braves bullpen this week, logging back-to-back appearances against the Minnesota Twins that signaled his reactivation into Atlanta's pitching mix. Kerr worked 1.1 innings on Monday, August 17, then came back two days later on Wednesday, August 19, to toss a clean 1.0-inning frame — a pair of outings totaling 2.1 innings across a three-day stretch.
Back-to-back appearances are a quiet vote of confidence from a manager. For Kerr, being trusted in consecutive games against a Twins lineup that has remained competitive deep into the season is no small thing. The Braves have leaned on their bullpen throughout 2026, and slotting Kerr into that rotation of options suggests the organization sees him as a reliable arm when healthy and available.
The broader context matters here: Atlanta was otherwise riding the bat of Matt Olson, who homered in the series, giving the Braves offense a jolt while the bullpen worked to protect leads. Kerr's return fit neatly into that winning effort — the kind of low-profile, high-leverage work that relievers rarely get credit for but that winning teams depend on.
For Lassen CC alumni tracking their program's footprint in professional baseball, Kerr's continued presence on a playoff-contending roster is the story. He's not just hanging around the margins — he's pitching in meaningful August games for one of the National League's marquee franchises. That's a thread worth following the rest of this season.
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