Braves Bullpen Gets a Major Boost with the Return of High-Leverage Arm
After spending the past month on the Injured List, one of Atlanta’s top left-handed pitchers is back and ready to bolster the Braves’ late-inning relief options. Despite a solid performance in June, where the Braves bullpen posted the fourth-best ERA despite a packed schedule with limited off days and doubleheaders, the return of A.J. Minter offers a significant upgrade.
Minter’s return necessitated a roster move, leading to the demotion of Saturday’s standout, Daysbel Hernandez, back to Gwinnett.
How A.J. Minter’s Return Enhances the Braves Bullpen
Before his hip injury, Minter experienced a somewhat erratic season. Although his 2.95 ERA was respectable, his strikeout rate had declined, and he was particularly vulnerable to home runs. His home run rate surged to 2.11 per nine innings, a stark contrast to his previous worst of 0.92 in 2019. His struggles were most notable in the 9th inning, where he posted a 13.50 ERA in five outings, compared to a 2.37 ERA in other innings. His mediocre May performance, especially in command, suggested his hip injury was a significant factor.
The Braves took a cautious approach to Minter’s recovery, allowing him two weeks to heal and another two weeks for rehab. In his rehab stint, the 30-year-old allowed just one run over three innings.
With Minter healthy, manager Brian Snitker now has three reliable setup men, easing the workload on relievers Pierce Johnson, Aaron Bummer, Joe Jimenez, and Raisel Iglesias, all of whom pitched ten games in June.
While Daysbel Hernandez was the roster casualty, his impressive performance (no runs in 9.2 innings and a 1.61 FIP) positions him as the top candidate for a call-up should the Braves need another reliever.
Leave a Reply