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Atlanta Braves left-handed relief pitcher Jacob Lindgren healthy and ready for 2018

By Jeff Schafer

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 13: Gloves and hats of the Atlanta Braves sit on the steps of the dugout against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on September 13, 2017 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 13: Gloves and hats of the Atlanta Braves sit on the steps of the dugout against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on September 13, 2017 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
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Braves could add big arm to bullpen

The Atlanta Braves bullpen struggled mightily at times in 2017.  At times it was painful to sit and watch, at others we we’re okay.  Consistency was the biggest thing with our relief pitchers this season.  We’re all hoping that the roster in 2018 will be a little bit more stable.

One arm that could help this is left-handed pitcher Jacob Lindgren.

Lindgren was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 2nd round of the 2014 MLB draft out of Mississippi State University.  In his first season as a pro, he struck out 48 hitters in 24.2 innings pitched.  The following season in 2015, he made his MLB debut.  But his season was cut short when he would undergo season ending surgery to remove a bone spur in his elbow.

Things got worse for Lindgren.  In 2016, he wouldn’t pitch at all during the season because of the elbow and than in August he had Tommy John surgery.

Knowing he would miss the entire 2017 season, the New York Yankees decided to non-tender him and hope they could sign him back to a minor league deal.  The strategy usually works, especially with injured players, to clear space on the 40-man roster, but it didn’t this time.

Knowing the system, former Braves GM, John Coppolella decided to swoop in and snag Lindgren.  At the time, we kinda questioned it, but than we were trusting everything Coppy did.

The move was questionable at the time, but now it may pay off well.

The now 24-year-old is healthy and ready to go in 2018.  He put on his twitter account that he’s finally leaving Florida and heading home.

The Braves signed him to a 600K deal for 2017 with a bonus that could have taken him near $1 million.  Not sure what those bonuses were, but it probably had something to do with playing.

As for 2018, the best decision the Braves could do is give him another contract.  He’s currently on the 40-man roster for the Braves and could bring in huge dividends to this bullpen.

Lindgren has an amazing slider and a low-90’s fastball.  Sitting out the past two seasons, questions will be there, but I think this guy will bring it.  He has a lot of people to prove wrong and I think he will do so.

Next: VIDEO: Ronald Acuna hit by pitch, exits game

We might finally have two solid lefties out of the pen with A.J. Minter and Lindgren.

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