Atlanta Braves Scouting Report on LHP A.J. Minter

Lefty reliever A.J. Minter dominated multiple levels in the minor leagues for the Atlanta Braves in 2016. What does 2017 hold?

Player Profile

The Atlanta Braves drafted A.J. Minter in 2015 in spite of his Tommy John surgery, knowing he wouldn’t throw until 2016.

Alex Jordan Minter was originally drafted by the Detroit Tigers out of high school in Texas in 2012 in the 38th round, but he already had a strong commitment to attend Texas A&M.

After 2 excellent seasons in the bullpen for the Aggies, Minter moved into the rotation in 2015, but after just four, albeit dominating, starts, Minter had to have surgery on his elbow.

In spite of this, the Braves were willing to select Minter in the second round of the 2015 draft, knowing he wouldn’t throw a pitch in the organization that season.

He spent an extra month in extended spring training as part of his recovery, but then he opened with low-A Rome in the South Atlantic League. After not allowing a single run, he was promoted to high-A Carolina in the Carolina League. He still did not allow a run before being promoted to AA Mississippi.

In his second appearance with Mississippi, he finally gave up his first run of the season. The Braves did not allow him to pitch on consecutive days in 2016 as he recovered.

Overall on the season, he made 31 appearances, throwing 34 2/3 innings with a 1.30 ERA, 0.84 WHIP, 8.21% walk rate, and 35.07% strikeout rate.

Minter then made 3 appearances in the playoffs for Mississippi, throwing 3 1/3 innings without allowing a run, hit, or walk, and striking out 4 batters.

Next: Minter's scouting report