Atlanta Braves add Jeremy Walker and it’s Duvall time
By Fred Owens
This morning the Atlanta Braves selected the contract of Jeremy Walker from Gwinnett, putting a bandaid on their sagging bullpen.
The Atlanta Braves optioned Wes Parsons after his disappointing outing last night, providing an opening for Walker’s addition earlier today. This move requires a corresponding 40-man roster adjustment; placing Luiz Gohara on the 60-dal IL following his recent shoulder surgery seems the obvious choice.
UPDATE: Shane Carle has been designated for assignment by the Braves.
As the Athletics’ David O’Brien noted when announcing the promotion, the Braves selected Jeremy Walker in the fifth round of the 2016 Rule 4 Draft and handed him a $250K signing bonus. Eric Longenhagen ranked him the Braves #44 prospect prior to 2017, and Baseball America slotted him in at #29 before the 2018 season.
He worked as a starter in 2017 and 2018, but consistently high WHIP and ERA numbers combined with a relatively low 6.8 K/9 rate led to a move into relief that resulted in what. O’Brien calls his 2019 “a breakout year” after his move to the pen.
As Alan noted three weeks ago, Walker’s success earned him a spot on the Southern League All-Star team.
What’s the Atlanta Braves latest call-up?
Baseball Prospectus says Walker flashes above-average stuff, but all sources say his mechanics and command needed improvement. Working out of the bullpen and from the stretch apparently mitigated those concerns.
Walker started the season with Mississippi and made one start before moving to the pen for good. He tossed 53-1/3 innings in relief over the next 20 games, striking out 53, and walking five while pitching to a 2.53 ERA, 2.12 FIP. That work earned him a promotion to Gwinnett earlier this month.
The jump to a higher level usually includes a transition period, and Walker’s first two games reflected that. He allowed three runs in each game – six over a total of three innings – before finding his footing. His last three games indicate he figured it out/settled in, as he threw eight shutout innings without allowing a hit or a walk while striking out ten.
Walker features a groundball rate in the mid-50’s off a sinker-slider-changeup arsenal and historically produces a popup rate near 20%. Those things and his ability to pound the strike zone earned him this call-up.
Same old song?
The Braves just called up and sent down Patrick Weigel without seeing him throw a pitch; will manager Brian Snitker use Walker, or is he a warm body?
Snitker tends to wait for blowouts to give a new pitcher his first taste of the majors, but the way recent experienced young pitchers performed of late doesn’t indicate that waiting helps. The Braves have to make a move on Sunday when Max Fried’s expected to return, is that Walker’s ticket back to Gwinnett? If so, then why juggle the roster?
Trying to read tea leaves in situations like this is interesting, but we won’t know if it means anything until something’s announced. Alan believes this move means no trade is imminent. It could mean just the opposite; relievers currently on the roster could be part of a trade for someone like Jake Diekman. (That’s a hint Mr. Anthopoulos sir.) In any event, we’ll know within the next week.
An unrelated but newsworthy note
This afternoon, Adam Duvall reminded the Atlanta Braves front office that he’s way past ready for a call-up, hitting a 490-foot homer – #29 on the season, and a new home run record for the Stripers.
Austin Riley’s lost at the plate and needs low-pressure time to get back on track. The Braves need a bat between Josh Donaldson and the bottom of the lineup. Duvall’s major league proven player who slumped last year but clearly figured it out since then.
Why are the Braves waiting? Rookies get demoted and return all the time, even Mike Trout. Send Riley down to relax and get ready for September and give Duvall the chance he earned.
That’s a wrap
Walker’s a North Carolina guy who grew up loving the Braves, getting a chance to pitch for them must thrill him. He’ll be nervous, and I wouldn’t recommend inserting him an inning with men on base and the game in the balance. However, there’s little reason to wait for just the right moment since that moment may never come.
I doubt Walker gets a chance to pitch unless everything goes downhill as it did last night, or the Braves score a dozen early. Meanwhile, we continue to search for an answer in the ninth inning.