Normally approachable and quotable, Braves pitcher Brandon Beachy became less of each last year. As his comeback from elbow surgery stalled once and then twice, his frustrations began to show in brief answers or quick exits.
So it seemed apparent Monday morning that Beachy was feeling better about things, even before he confirmed as much. The right-hander stood at his locker at Turner Field on the first day of the Braves’ early pitching camp, smiling as a group of reporters circled him.
“I feel normal and I want to contribute,” Beachy said to a question about his twice-surgically repaired right elbow, which limited him to five starts in 2013. “That’s what I told you guys pretty much most of the season last year. It just didn’t work out that way. But that’s what I want to do. I want to contribute to a staff that’s already positioned itself to be one of the best in the National League.”
He’ll go to spring training without medical restrictions and, provided he stays healthy, Beachy is penciled in for a spot in the rotation along with incumbents Kris Medlen, Julio Teheran and Mike Minor. The Braves lost Tim Hudson to free agency, but return that group that had the three best ERAs – all 3.21 or lower – in the rotation.
Medlen, at 28, is the oldest of that group, followed by Beachy (27), Minor (26) and Teheran, who turned 23 on Monday.
The Braves signed free agent Gavin Floyd, a former 17-game winner who turned 31 on Monday and is also coming off Tommy John surgery. Floyd should be back by May. Until he returns, there are options including rookies Alex Wood (3.54 ERA in 11 starts), David Hale (0.82 ERA in two starts) and 37-year-old Freddy Garcia, who had a 1.83 ERA in three September starts and held his own against Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw in Game 4 of the division series.
But make no mistake: If Beachy is ready, he’ll be in the rotation to begin the season, leaving just one other opening.
He was arguably the top young starter in the rotation before he tore the ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow in June 2012, necessitating Tommy John surgery and a rehab that customarily lasts about 12 months. Beachy had a 2.00 ERA and majors-leading .171 opponents’ average in 13 starts in 2012 prior to the injury.
In his last 35 starts before Tommy John, he was 12-7 with a 2.89 ERA, .208 opponents’ average and 220 strikeouts in 205 1/3 innings.
Rehab went smoothly until a setback 11 1/2 months into his rehab, a case of inflammation just before he was set to come off the disabled list for his first start of 2013. After being shut down for a few more weeks and rebuilding arm strength, Beachy was activated.
He went 2-1 with a 4.50 ERA in five starts last summer through Aug. 20 and had a 2.73 ERA and .198 opponents’ average in the last four. He showed flashes, including eight scoreless innings of three-hit ball against the Marlins on Aug. 9. But Beachy never had the consistent fastball velocity or firm breaking pitches that made him so effective before surgery.
When he conceded that elbow soreness was back, Beachy returned for another checkup with Dr. James Andrews, who did his surgery and several follow-up exams. This time, an MRI showed debris in the elbow and on Sept. 26 Beachy had a less invasive arthroscopic procedure that “cleaned out” the joint and ended his 2013 season.
He is back into his regular offseason throwing program and says he’s had no difficulties. He’s being cautious, having learned lessons about toning down his normally gung-ho nature when it comes to rehabbing.
There are still more than two weeks until pitchers and catchers report to spring training Feb. 13 and more than two months before opening day. Beachy will use pitching coach Roger McDowell’s early camp at Turner Field as another step toward his goals of being healthy and ready when the season begins.
He was asked if he felt more confident throwing now than he did last May as he neared his originally planned return from the DL.
“Absolutely,” Beachy said. “There’s always going to be a little something way back in the back part of the mind until I go out there in April and get a few starts under my belt. But every day I come out here and throw and don’t feel anything just eases that a little bit. I’m progressing exactly how I hoped to.
“It’s going to take me getting on the mound and throwing with a little bit more effort than I’m throwing with now for me to be able to say that for sure. But the way it’s feeling now, it’s feeling great. But it also felt pretty good coming back from Tommy John, up until the 11-1/2 month mark.”
