Atlanta Braves free agent profile: Adam Ottavino

The Atlanta Braves are looking for a veteran reliever at the back end of the bullpen. Could a former Colorado setup man be the right fit?

The Atlanta Braves have been focused on finding a veteran to provide stability in the back of the bullpen. Though he’s never been a closer for the Colorado Rockies, could Adam Ottavino be the right fit for the Braves?

Player Profile

Adam Ottavino was originally drafted out of high school in Brooklyn by the Tampa Bay Rays, but he instead chose to attend Northeastern University in Boston. He was able to turn himself into a 1st round selection out of Northeastern, taken by the St. Louis Cardinals with the 30th overall selection in the 2006 draft.

In his draft year, Ottavino worked up to low-A Quad Cities in the Midwest League. He made 14 starts, tossing 65 1/3 innings, with a 3.31 ERA between two levels, a 1.27 WHIP, and a 32/64 BB/K ratio.

The Cardinals moved Ottavino up to high-A Palm Beach in the Florida State League. He spent the entire 2007 season at the level, making 27 starts, tossing 143 1/3 innings, with a 3.08 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, and a 63/128 BB/K ratio.

Ottavino struggled at AA in 2008, posting a 5.23 ERA and 1.60 WHIP over 24 starts and 115 1/3 innings, with a 52/96 BB/K ratio. The Cardinals sent him to Peoria in the Arizona Fall League, where he showed excellent strikeout skills, whiffing 25 over 23 1/3 innings, but posting a 6.17 ERA and 1.84 WHIP.

Ottavino spent the next three seasons in AAA with the Cardinals organization, getting some time in 2010 at the major league level that didn’t go so well, making 5 appearances, 3 of them starts, posting an 8.46 ERA, 2.06 WHIP, and a 9/12 BB/K over 22 1/3 innings.

The Cardinals put Ottavino on waivers during 2012’s spring training, and the Colorado Rockies claimed him just ahead of the season.