Atlanta Braves Promote Left-Handed Pitcher Sam Freeman
By Jeff Schafer
Braves Call Up LHP Freeman To Help Bullpen
The Atlanta Braves will be promoting left-handed pitcher Sam Freeman to fill the spot in the bullpen. That spot opened up on Wednesday night when the Braves optioned Matt Wisler to Gwinnett.
The 29-year-old was signed with the Braves on October 14, 2016 after being released by the Milwaukee Brewers 10 days prior. After signing a minor league contract with a Spring Training invite, the Braves assigned him to Gwinnett.
Freeman did appear in two Spring Training games for the Braves in 2017, but in only one completed inning, gave up six hits, six runs and two walks.
He’s made nine appearances in 2017 with Gwinnett and has given up only five hits, one earned run (two runs), six walks and has eight strikeouts in 10.1 innings pitched. Very solid stats for this veteran pitcher.
Speaking of veteran…he’s pitched in the MLB for five straight seasons — dating back to 2012 (this will make his sixth straight). He’s pitched with the St. Louis Cardinals, Texas Rangers and Brewers.
| Year | Tm | W | L | ERA | G | IP | H | R | ER | HR | BB | SO | WP | ERA+ | FIP | WHIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | STL | 0 | 2 | 5.40 | 24 | 20.0 | 17 | 13 | 12 | 2 | 10 | 18 | 0 | 72 | 4.24 | 1.350 |
| 2013 | STL | 1 | 0 | 2.19 | 13 | 12.1 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 8 | 2 | 176 | 2.97 | 1.054 |
| 2014 | STL | 2 | 0 | 2.61 | 44 | 38.0 | 34 | 13 | 11 | 2 | 19 | 35 | 3 | 141 | 3.79 | 1.395 |
| 2015 | TEX | 0 | 0 | 3.05 | 54 | 38.1 | 31 | 13 | 13 | 4 | 25 | 40 | 0 | 139 | 4.59 | 1.461 |
| 2016 | MIL | 0 | 0 | 12.91 | 7 | 7.2 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 2 | 9 | 8 | 1 | 34 | 7.97 | 2.870 |
| 5 Yr | 5 Yr | 3 | 2 | 3.87 | 142 | 116.1 | 103 | 53 | 50 | 10 | 68 | 109 | 6 | 102 | 4.32 | 1.470 |
| 162 | 162 | 1 | 1 | 3.87 | 68 | 56 | 49 | 25 | 24 | 5 | 33 | 52 | 3 | 102 | 4.32 | 1.470 |
| STL | STL | 3 | 2 | 3.33 | 81 | 70.1 | 59 | 29 | 26 | 4 | 34 | 61 | 5 | 113 | 3.77 | 1.322 |
| TEX | TEX | 0 | 0 | 3.05 | 54 | 38.1 | 31 | 13 | 13 | 4 | 25 | 40 | 0 | 139 | 4.59 | 1.461 |
| MIL | MIL | 0 | 0 | 12.91 | 7 | 7.2 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 2 | 9 | 8 | 1 | 34 | 7.97 | 2.870 |
| NL ( | NL ( | 3 | 2 | 4.27 | 88 | 78.0 | 72 | 40 | 37 | 6 | 43 | 69 | 6 | 90 | 4.19 | 1.474 |
| AL ( | AL ( | 0 | 0 | 3.05 | 54 | 38.1 | 31 | 13 | 13 | 4 | 25 | 40 | 0 | 139 | 4.59 | 1.461 |
The Braves bullpen staff has been kinda a revolving door this season…hell, when isn’t it. But particular, our lefties haven’t been getting it done. Ian Krol, who we all thought was a shoe-in for a solid season, hasn’t pitched well at all and is carrying a 8.44 ERA.
Freeman will most likely be thrown right into the fire as our bullpen has been overused over the last week and a half. The Braves haven’t had an off day since the rain out in New York on April 25.
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One thing is known though, Freeman is NOT on the Braves 40-man roster. Atlanta will have to make another move prior to the game tonight so that Freeman can be added.
A few options the Braves can do to make room….
- DFA Eric O’Flaherty
- Place Matt Wisler on the 60-day DL so he can figure out whatever he needs
- Move Chaz Roe to 60-day DL
- Move Daniel Winkler to 60-day DL
- Move Armando Rivero to 60-day DL
- Move Micah Johnson to 60-day DL
- DFA Emilio Bonifacio and go with a shorter bench
UPDATE:
Braves will transfer pitcher Daniel Winkler to the 60-day DL. He’s been recovering from an April 2016 elbow surgery. Reports from early April 2017 was that he could possible return at the end of May, early June. Maybe he had another setback or the Braves will just give him additional time to recover.
The #Braves have selected LHP Sam Freeman from Gwinnett and transferred RHP Dan Winkler to the 60-day DL. Freeman will wear number 39.
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) May 4, 2017
The other thing with this move (thank you @BravesOptionsGuy)…
Next: 5 Buy-Low Trade Targets Braves Should Go After
We’ll see what the Braves do in the very near future. It’s been raining in Atlanta all day so it’s possible the game tonight gets postponed and we won’t hear the roster move until tomorrow.