Morning Chop: Braves News 5/30
By Jeff Schafer
Braves promote left-hander Alex Wood
Mar 14, 2013; Jupiter, FL, USA; Atlanta Braves pitcher Alex Wood (82) delivers a pitch against the St. Louis Cardinals at Roger Dean Stadium. The Cardinals defeated the Braves 5-4. Mandatory Credit: Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports
"With their bullpen depleted by season-ending elbow injuries to left-handers Jonny Venters and Eric O’Flaherty and taxed after covering seven innings behind Kris Medlen Wednesday night, the Braves have called on left-handed prospect Alex Wood.Wood, the Braves second-round pick last year out of the University of Georgia, has been recalled from Double-A Mississippi and is expected to join the Braves’ bullpen Thursday in Atlanta."
"….Wood, 22, impressed with his 93-95 mph fastball while allowing only one earned run in seven relief appearances with the major league club in spring training.An unorthodox delivery probably kept Wood out of the first round of last year’s draft, but it hasn’t hindered his progress with the Braves. He was 4-2 with a 1.26 ERA in his first 10 starts for Double-A Mississippi this season, allowing two or fewer earned runs in nine of his 10 starts and three earned runs in the other. He was holding opponents to a .195 batting average, while striking out 57 in 57 innings and walking 15."
Braves’ Walden returns from DL
"The Atlanta Braves activated reliever Jordan Walden from the 15-day disabled list prior to Wednesday’s game against the Toronto Blue Jays.Walden has been sidelined since May 11 with inflammation in his right shoulder. Prior to landing on the DL, the offseason acquisition went 1-1 with a 4.85 earned run average in 14 appearances.To fill a spot on the active roster, the Braves optioned pitcher Cory Rasmus to Triple-A Gwinnett."
Beachy in line for June 18 return to Braves
"If all continues to go well in Brandon Beachy‘s minor league rehab assignment, the Braves won’t have to worry about finding an extra starter for their make up doubleheader with the New York Mets at Turner Field on June 18.Fredi Gonzalez has already penciled in Beachy’s name — if lightly — to start one of those games.“It would be a perfect fit,” the Braves manager said Wednesday.Of course, that is dependent on Beachy having no setbacks. So far, that has been the case."