Atlanta Braves Scouting Report on LHP A.J. Minter

The Atlanta Braves saw A.J. Minter climb all the way to AA Mississippi this season with incredible statistics out of the bullpen. Where will he be pitching in 2017?

Who Is He?

Alex Jordan Minter was drafted originally out of high school by the Detroit Tigers in the 38th round in 2012, but he chose instead to go to Texas A&M for college, and after being a 1st round possibility before his draft season, injury led to the Atlanta Braves being able to snag him in the second round for an above-slot bonus. Due to surgery, he did not pitch in the minors in 2015.

The Braves chose to take a cautious approach with Minter in 2016, holding him in extended spring to let him get his feet under him before sending him to low-A Rome. Incredibly, Minter sported a 0.00 ERA in Rome and Carolina as he worked up the system, and that’s not due to luck of allowing unearned runs – he allowed ZERO runs!

Minter pitched in 31 games total this season – 5 with Rome, 8 with high-A Carolina, and 18 with AA Mississippi. In those 31 games, he pitched 34 2/3 innings out of the bullpen, with a 1.30 ERA and 0.84 WHIP, posting an 11/47 BB/K ratio as he sliced up hitters at every level. To emphasize the dominance he had, Minter allowed zero home runs, had zero hit by pitch, zero balks, and in spite of having incredibly wicked movement, threw all of 4 wild pitches in the entire season. To top all of it, Minter allowed runs in TWO games in the entire season in 31 games pitched, which means he had 29 scoreless appearances out of his 31 total. Add in the postseason (where he was perfect – no runs, no hits, no walks – over 3 1/3 innings pitched with 4 strikeouts), and you have 32 scoreless appearances in 34 total appearances on the season!

Next: Minter's scouting report