Atlanta Braves News: The Morning Chop, Kyle Wright close to deal?
By Jeff Schafer
Dodgers’ Jair Jurrjens suspended 80 games after failing a PED test
Tomahawk Take Editor’s Note: You never want to see this pop up in your news feed, but unfortunately it still does. Former Braves pitcher Jair Jurrjens got busted for a failed PED test this week and will be suspended 80 games. Jurrjens was trying to resurrect his career within the Dodgers organization. The 31-year-old was pitching for the Dodgers Triple-A team and was having a solid season.
Jurrjens was acquired by the Braves on October 29, 2007 when the Braves and the Detroit Tigers made a deal. Braves sent Edgar Renteria to Detroit and we got Gorkys Hernandez and Jurrjens. From 2008 to 2012, Jurrjens was a part of our rotation. He had his best seasons in 2009 and 2011 — in 2011, he made the NL All-Star team.
We all believed in Jurrjens and he showed a lot of success in two seasons with Braves, but eventually, would fall off the map. After a horrible 2012 season, the Braves released him after the season.
We wish Jurrjens the best and hope he can overcome this. He’s still young and should have plenty left in the tank.
"Former big-leaguer Jair Jurrjens has been suspended 80 games after failing a PED test with Triple-A Oklahoma City. Jurrjens, 31, tested positive for exogenous testosterone.An All-Star with the Atlanta Braves in 2011, Jurrjens has not pitched in the majors since 2014 with the Colorado Rockies and was out of baseball entirely last season. The Dodgers signed him this spring after he pitched for Team Netherlands in the World Baseball Classic.Jurrjens was 4-3 with a 4.64 ERA in 11 games (10 starts) for the OKC Dodgers."
Heyman | Kyle Wright close to deal with Braves
Tomahawk Take Editor’s Note: What’s a reason to not be excited about this big righty? The 6’4″ 220-pound right-handed pitcher from Vanderbilt is already 21-years-old and seems ready to pitch at a high level. Wright will slot in very nicely with Kolby Allard, Mike Soroka, etc…even tho they are just 19-years-old. I see Wright flying through the Braves system!
Jim Callis of MLB.com said this morning that he thinks if Wright signs quickly, he could “get his feet wet this summer and probably start his career in High Class A”…the Florida Fire Frogs. Callis went on to say he could see Wright in the big leagues by the end of 2019.
Bill Shanks of ESPN.com replied to Callis prediction and said “I think Wright could follow the same path as (Mike) Minor and (Alex) Wood and be in the bigs a little over a year after he is drafted….correct me if I’m wrong, but folks that date is around June 2018!!
That’s gotta get you excited, eh?
The Atlanta Braves had to be happy to see Vanderbilt pitcher Kyle Wright there at No. 5 as he was in consideration for the top overall pick until the final day or days and has a chance to be a front-line starter.
He is said to be close to a deal for $7 million, and will add to the Braves’ impressive pitching stockpile.
Baseball America listed Wright as their No. 2 overall prospect. The 6-4, 220-pound right-hander finished the season with a 3.40 ERA in 16 starts and a 5-6 overall record. He struck out 121 batters in 103.1 innings while walking 31 and surrendering just 3 home runs. Batters hit .216 against him.
Next: Braves Draft Signing Tracker: See Who We've Signed
A conversation with Coppolella: The draft and Sean Newcomb
Tomahawk Take Editor’s Note: A great interview here and a must read. Mark Bradley of Atlanta Journal Constitution spoke with Braves GM John Coppolella on draft night to talk about the draft, Sean Newcomb and the future of the organization.
I pulled out this one question, but there is a lot of great information in this article. Go check it out!
It’s interesting to me that we’re all still questioning the Andrelton Simmons/Sean Newcomb trade. I feel this is the one trade that Coppy is being graded for. Newcomb has to perform and I’m sure Coppy was sweaty bullets last Saturday and again will be tonight.
"So you’re happy with the way this draft played out?Thrilled. We got the best pitcher in the draft. We got somebody we love who’s from here and who we hope will be here fairly quickly. We’re not going to put expectations on him that he’s got to be here by X-date, but this is a great kid from a great family. Father is a long-time high school baseball coach; mother is an engineer at NASA in Huntsville; older brother is also a baseball coach – this is a good baseball family. This is a good Southern kid.Plus you’re loading up on Vanderbilt players. You’re Nashville’s team if nothing else.(Scouting director) Brian Bridges and I went to go visit Kyle before spring training in January. We sat down with him for about an hour and a half. It just so happened that Dansby Swanson was working out at Vanderbilt at the time of the interview. It was just serendipitous timing, but obviously Dansby’s a big fan of his. Look, if we can get really good players who’ll have an impact for us – he has a chance to start a playoff game for us."