I read the MLBTR headline that listed ex-Braves pitcher Bruce Chen as one of six players the Royals signed to minor league deals, and I said to myself, there's got to be at least one more ex-Braves player in that group. Sure enough, first baseman Ernesto Mejia also signed a minor league deal.

I thought he was still with the Braves organization, but then I searched back through our archives and realized he was a minor league free agent. He had a breakout year in 2008, but didn't do much after injuring his wrist in 2009. With the Braves set at first base in the minors, he's not much of a loss. It would be interesting to see if the Royals can actually graduate any of our ex-prospects to the majors.

We ranked Mejia as our third-best first base prospect before he became a free agent.