Branyan, 28, spent 2003 in the Cincinnati Reds' organization, hitting .216 with 9 home runs and 26 RBI in 74 games for the Major League team and .327 in 14 games with AAA Louisville.

Selected by the Cleveland Indians in the seventh round of the 1994 June draft, Branyan has hit .227 with 70 home runs and 180 RBI in 400 career Major League games in parts of six seasons with Cleveland and Cincinnati.

He joins infielders Julio Franco and Jorge Velandia, right-handed pitchers Tim Drew, Ryan Glynn and Chuck Smith; left-handed pitchers Sam McConnell and C.J. Nitkowski; catchers Jean Boscan, Joe DePastino, Lee Evans, Brayan Pena and Bryce Terveen and outfielders Damon Hollins and DeWayne Wise as Braves Spring Training invitees.

Braves pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report to Spring Training at Disney's Wide World of Sports in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, Feb. 19, with their first workout scheduled for Feb. 20. The rest of the team will report Feb. 24, with the first full-squad workout set for Feb. 25.

The Atlanta Braves, a division of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., is Major League Baseball's winningest franchise since 1991. Since then, Braves teams have earned a record 12 consecutive division championships, five National League pennants and a World Series title. Based in Atlanta since 1966, the Braves franchise is the longest continuously operating franchise in Major League Baseball. Atlanta Braves games are carried nationally on TBS Superstation and regionally on Turner South.

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