Just when it appeared Luiz Gohara was about to make his spring debut following a delayed start due to a groin muscle issue, the left-hander suffered a sprained ankle during a pitcher fielding drill on Friday, throwing the fifth-starter spot in the rotation wide open. A new contender for a bench role was also acquired this week and the bullpen situation gained some clarity.
Rotation
Locks: RH Mike Foltynewicz, RH Brandon McCarthy, RH Julio Teheran
Likely: LH Sean Newcomb
Last Spots Candidates: LH Max Fried, LH Scott Kazmir, RH Lucas Sims, RH Matt Wisler
Injured: LH Luiz Gohara
Reassigned: RH Mike Soroka
The team was already making plans to go without a fifth starter to begin the season. Now Gohara won’t be able to resume baseball activities for at least two weeks, and given he hasn’t thrown in game action at all this spring it seems inevitable that he will have some minor league action before he makes his 2018 season debut for Atlanta.
Of the four candidates to fill in once the season begins, this may be a situation where the team doesn’t have to decide right away. Theoretically, they could option Fried, Sims, and Wisler all to AAA Gwinnett and choose the one that is pitching the best in mid-April when a fifth starter is first needed. Scott Kazmir can’t be optioned however, and could factor as a long reliever, but while so far he has shown himself to be healthy — no small feat after missing all of the 2017 season — it’s also clear that he still has a way to go before he can be relied to get major league hitters out consistently.
Many fans were surprised that OFR top Braves pitching prospect Mike Soroka was reassigned to minor league camp this week. With the Atlanta starters beginning to ramp up their pitch counts, it’s important that Soroka be able to do the same, and that wasn’t going to happen in big league camp. That said, Soroka by all accounts has made a impression on coaches and players, with catcher Tyler Flowers especially effusive in his praise and one national writer reporting that at least one rival scout thinks Soroka is one of the best three starting pitchers in Braves camp.
So when will Soroka make his Atlanta debut? Put my guess at June, similar to when Newcomb made his debut in 2017 and when the team can avoid have Soroka make Super Two status in arbitration, but it may be possible that a good start to his AAA season and other circumstances may force the team’s hand.
Bullpen
Locks: RH Arodys Vizcaino, RH Jose Ramirez, LH Sam Freeman, LH A.J. Minter
Likely: RH Dan Winkler, RH Peter Moylan
Last Spots Candidates: RH Aaron Blair, LH Rex Brothers, LH Max Fried, LH Scott Kazmir, RH Anyelo Gomez, RH Lucas Sims, RH Chase Whitley, RH Matt Wisler
Unlikely: RH Shane Carle, RH Josh Graham, RH Luke Jackson, RH Miguel Socolovich
Reassigned: LH Kolby Allard, LH Jesse Biddle, LH Adam McCreery, LH Phil Pfeifer, RH Josh Ravin, LH Ricardo Sanchez
Some clarity to the bullpen situation was provided early in the week when righty Josh Ravin cleared waivers and was outrighted to AAA Gwinnett. That means the Braves are clear to option or reassign all of the other last spot bullpen candidates with the exceptions of Kazmir (service time/contract) and Gomez (Rule V status). The Braves followed that move by reassigning Allard, McCreery, and Pfiefer and optioning Biddle and Sanchez. None of those were surprises, though I thought Biddle might get a longer look.
I am inclined to think Kazmir and Gomez have the inside track now on the presumably two remaining bullpen spots. If Kazmir moves to the rotation, I think the spot will go to someone already on the 40-man roster since the position will only be open until Gohara is ready to come back.
Bench
Locks: C Kurt Suzuki
Likely: OF Lane Adams, IF Charlie Culberson, OF Preston Tucker
Last Spots Candidates: IF Christian Colon, IF Rio Ruiz, IF Ryan Schimpf, UT Danny Santana
Unlikely: C Rob Brantly, C William Contreras, OF Jaff Decker, C Alex Jackson, IF Sean Kazmar, OF Dustin Peterson, 3B Austin Riley, C Chris Stewart
Reassigned: UT Ray-Patrick Didder, C Tyler Marlette, OF Cristian Pache, C Kade Scivicque
On the other hand, the Braves bench situation got slightly murkier with the addition of infielder Ryan Schimpf to the equation following a trade with Tampa Bay. Schimpf’s ability to play second base and third base would seem to have the biggest impact on Ruiz and Colon’s chances of making the club. However, Schimpf has had a horrible spring so far (hince, Tampa Bay exposing him to waivers), and is 0-5 with 5 strikeouts and a walk in his two games with Atlanta so far.
In contrast, Colon and Santana have hit well to date. Colon however has a very poor major league track record. With Schimpf still having options, my guess right now is that Santana will get that last bench spot. He can play second or third base in a pinch as well. That will give Gwinnett a deep and experienced infield of Colon, Ruiz, Schimpf, Kazmar, first baseman Carlos Franco, and shortstop Tyler Smith. It would not surprise me to see any of these in Atlanta at some point during the season as needs or performance demand.
Santana would also give the club another option in case Lane Adams’s spring struggles carry over into the regular season. While I still think it very unlikely Adams doesn’t make the team, his struggles do keep the door open for Jaff Decker and Dustin Peterson, who destroyed a baseball Saturday afternoon against the Pirates, showing that last year’s power outage might be in the rear-view mirror.
Of note are catchers William Contreras and Alex Jackson and third baseman Austin Riley remaining in camp. While there is no chance any of these three make the Opening Day roster, that the coaching staff still wants to have these three around is an indicator that they are making good impressions with the club.
The outfielder isn't even moving on this one. Dustin Peterson extends the #Braves' lead with a two-run homer, his first of #SpringTraining. No. 16 on the @Braves' Top 30: https://t.co/AkfjjcxoJ8 pic.twitter.com/M2D7QKndU7
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) March 10, 2018
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