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Atlanta Braves Scouting Report on LHP Kyle Muller

By Benjamin Chase

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FL - MARCH 03: The glove, batting gloves, and bat of Matt Lipka #86 of the Atlanta Braves it on the field before the game against the New York Mets on March, 3 2014 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Rob Foldy/Getty Images)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FL - MARCH 03: The glove, batting gloves, and bat of Matt Lipka #86 of the Atlanta Braves it on the field before the game against the New York Mets on March, 3 2014 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Rob Foldy/Getty Images) /
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Atlanta Braves
MIAMI, FL – APRIL 01: Members of the grounds crew clean the pitcher’s rubber before a game between the Miami Marlins and the New York Yankees at Marlins Park on April 1, 2012 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /

The Atlanta Braves have a very deep farm system, but the emergence of this Texan lefty has given the Braves even more depth in elite arms.

This is the first in what will be a series of scouting reports as we prepare for Opening Day 2019, looking at the prospects still in the minor league system for the Atlanta Braves. Today, we will start with one of the biggest risers in the farm system in 2019, Kyle Muller.

Before we get into the report, a quick note that this report is based on multiple views on the player via video views of him in-game, not views at the ballpark. Rather than 1-2 views in person, this report is based on 5-7 full games viewed on video for each player. This also means players who aren’t yet able to be viewed on video will not be part of this series.

Player background

Exceptionally well-developed at 6’6″ and 200 pounds as a high schooler, Kyle Douglas Muller was a high school standout in his final year at Dallas Jesuit Prep. Muller had a commitment to the University of Texas as a two-way player, with an impressive bat from the left side to go along with incredible exploits on the mound and projectable stuff with his frame and strength, once recording 37 consecutive outs via strikeout!

The Atlanta Braves gambled on the Gatorade High School Player of the Year in 2016. They selected Muller with their third selection of the 2016 draft, the 44th pick overall at the beginning of the second round. Muller signed for $2.5 million.

The Braves assigned Muller to the Gulf Coast League in his draft season, and he was incredible. He made 10 appearances, 9 of them starts, with 27 2/3 innings thrown. He posted a 0.65 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, a 10.9% walk rate, and a 34.5% strikeout rate.

Atlanta was intentional in easing the transition for the former two-way player to full-time work on the mound, and he spent extra time in spring training in 2017 before spending all of the season with Danville. He put up solid, albeit not spectacular numbers, with 11 starts, 47 2/3 innings, a 4.15 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, an 8.7% walk rate, and a 23.7% strikeout rate.

Muller opened the 2018 season with low-A Rome, but by the end of the season, he would have climbed over high-A Florida to AA Mississippi. In all, Muller made 25 starts, tossing 139 2/3 innings, posting a 3.03 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, an 8% walk rate, and a 22.6% strikeout rate.

Muller then represented the Atlanta Braves in the Arizona Fall League. He made 7 appearances, all in relief, tossing 10 2/3 innings. He posted a 2.53 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, and he had 8 walks to 15 strikeouts.

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