Braves Transactions: 7/19/17

A Relief Ace Returns

Activated RHP Arodys Vizcaino from the 10-day DL.

Optioned OF Lane Adams to AAA Gwinnett.

Placed AAA Gwinnett 3B Kyle Kubitza on the 7-day DL.

Promoted RHP Enrique Burgos from AA Mississippi to AAA Gwinnett.

Promoted LHP Corbin Clouse from A+ Florida to AA Mississippi.

Arodys Vizcaino (Photo: Bob DeChiara/USA TODAY Sports)

Activated RHP Arodys Vizcaino from the 10-day DL

With fans losing confidence in closer Jim Johnson, the return of the bullpen’s best pitcher couldn’t come at a better time. If Johnson is traded in the coming weeks or loses his role due to blown saves, Vizcaino will move into the closer’s role.

Optioned OF Lane Adams to AAA Gwinnett

The commensurate replacement level AAAA outfielder, Adams will get back to being above average in the International League (.268/.315/.444) after being below average but not embarrassing in the bigs (.241/.267/.379). Adams likely has a few more years of being the first speed-dial number for major league teams whose OF gets hurt, but that’s probably going to be the extent of it. It’s not the ideal baseball career, but it’s enough to get a pension.

Placed AAA Gwinnett 3B Kyle Kubitza on the 7-day DL

At one point, Kubitza was a prospect who looked like he might make an impact in the majors as a gap hitter who might slug .425 or so. Now he’s batting .232/.321/.324 in his third year of AAA. Perhaps this injury is related to this year’s struggles. Even so, he wasn’t very good last year, either. After reaching the majors in 2015 with LA, something broke, and he’ll still be trying to un-break it when he returns from the DL.

Promoted RHP Enrique Burgos from AA Mississippi to AAA Gwinnett

Just days ago, when Burgos was dropped to AA, I told you it wasn’t due to his performance. Unsurprisingly, the organization got Burgos back to Gwinnett as soon as possible, and he can now resume his (so far) impressive performance.

Promoted LHP Corbin Clouse from A+ Florida to AA Mississippi

Clouse is a legitimate middle relief prospect with a good fastball/slider combo. That combo held Florida State League hitters to a .228 BA and a 29.3% K-rate, earning Clouse a 2.31 ERA and a call-up. FIP (2.45) and DRA (3.96) paint different pictures of Clouse’s season, but that can happen over a relatively small sample. This is an exciting promotion for Clouse and the Braves, and he’s yet another minor league arm that has a realistic chance of making an impact at the major league level. That chance receives a significant boost now that Clouse has made it to AA.

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