Atlanta Braves left-handed pitcher Luiz Gohara takes a step forward to returning

Braves LHP has been out all spring, are we close to seeing his return?

Good news from the Atlanta Braves camp this afternoon…left-handed pitcher Luiz Gohara, who has been sidelined all Spring Training and regular season, continues to improve and looks to be healthy.

Gohara started Spring Training off with a groin strain that he suffered while running early in camp. Once that healed, he was set to pitch the following day, but he sprained his left ankle during pitching drills.  He underwent x-rays on March 9th and was seen on crutches on March 10th.

The Braves placed him on the disabled list on March 29th — retroactive to March 26th — and told us we’d likely see him by some point in May…unless another setback.

Another setback is key.  You never know what’s going to happen.

Gohara has avoided any setback is his first few rehab processes.  He’s thrown bullpens, side sessions, BP and now he threw a simulated game.

Braves manager Brian Snitker told the media on Monday afternoon that Gohara threw two innings of a simulated game in Orlando, Florida and has gone through PFP’s (pitcher’s fielding practice) without any issues.

“He threw a sim game, two innings, kind of a (batting practice) where he got up and down,” Snitker told the media members on Monday.  “Everything’s good.

He’s done the defensive work and the PFPs (pitcher’s fielding practice).  He missed spring training pretty much, so he’s just got to go through the spring training regimen.  The ankle’s good, he’s doing all the stuff.  Everything is pointing to his normal progression now.”

Great news, but it’s still going to be a little while before we see Gohara in an Atlanta Braves uniform.  Since the 21-year-old didn’t throw a single meaningful pitch during Spring Training, he’s extremely behind.  I’d say he’s a solid month / month and a half behind all other pitchers.

One positive from the report from Snit was Gohara’s timeline to return is still on point.  They’re still thinking around late April to early May.

After being called up to Atlanta at the end of the 2017 season, Gohara went 1-3 in five starts with a 4.91 ERA, 2.5 BB/9 and 9.5 SO/9 over 29 1/3 innings.  He was supposedly a shoe-in for a Braves rotation spot heading into the Spring Training.

Next: Braves trade for added catching depth

Say Gohara can return to the Braves by the beginning of May…say the May 8th – 10th series against the Tampa Bay Rays…the Braves will need Aníbal Sánchez — who they just called up today (Monday) to pitch five games.

Only five starts because the Braves won’t need their fifth starter until April 10th.  Let’s see what Sánchez has and maybe we can trade him if he performs well enough.  Or just put him back in the bullpen for long relief.