Braves Call Up Top Prospect Didier Fuentes for Marlins Start
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The Atlanta Braves are making a bold move, calling up their highly touted pitching prospect, Didier Fuentes, to start Friday's game against the Miami Marlins. This comes after the Braves swept the Mets on Thursday, showcasing their commitment to both present success and future development.
To make room for Fuentes, right-hander José Ruiz will be designated for assignment. Ruiz had a brief stint with the Braves, appearing in two games. While he pitched a scoreless inning against the Brewers, he also allowed three runs in a game against the Rockies.
Fuentes, just 20 years old, has rapidly ascended through the Braves' minor league system. Signed out of Colombia in 2022, he's quickly become one of the organization's top prospects. He started the season in High-A Rome and quickly progressed through Double-A and Triple-A.
His performance at Spring Breakout in March caught the attention of many. He pitched three scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and striking out seven Detroit Tigers' prospect hitters. His fastball, often thrown up in the zone, proved particularly effective.
Why the Aggressive Promotion?
Braves manager Brian Snitker often likes to give his starting rotation an extra day of rest when possible. Starting Fuentes allows the established starters to recharge during a demanding stretch of 13 consecutive games.
The Atlanta rotation has also faced some setbacks this year with injuries to key pitchers such as AJ Smith-Shawver and Reynaldo López. Currently, the starting group includes Chris Sale, Spencer Strider, Spencer Schwellenbach, Bryce Elder and Grant Holmes.
Fuentes' rise has been meteoric. Baseball America ranked him as the #7 prospect in the Braves' system prior to the season, highlighting his mid-90s fastball and slider. He's also been working on a splitter to improve his effectiveness against left-handed hitters. FanGraphs now ranks him as the #3 prospect in the Atlanta system and #82 in all of MLB, drawing comparisons to Bryan Woo of the Seattle Mariners.
What to Expect from Fuentes?
While his ERA at Triple-A Gwinnett was a somewhat inflated 4.81, his peripherals suggest he pitched better than the numbers indicate. He boasts a strong strikeout rate (28.9%) and a low walk rate (7.2%). His FIP (Fielding Independent Pitching) of 2.81 suggests he's been unlucky.
The Braves are banking on Fuentes' talent and potential to provide a spark. It remains to be seen if this is just a spot start or if Fuentes can carve out a more permanent role in the rotation. Either way, it's an exciting opportunity for the young pitcher.