A day after the trade for Justin Upton was completed, the buzz meter barely back to over-the-top, the Braves returned to work Friday. For pitcher Brandon Beachy, that meant another morning of rehabilitation and long toss.
Beachy is seven months removed from elbow reconstruction surgery and on track to return sometime around the All-Star break. His next big step is to begin throwing off a mound, which he likely will do shortly after the Braves begin in spring training.
Pitchers and catchers report Feb. 11.
If it’s like all the progress he’s made so far, he’ll just keep “easing along.” But Beachy also knows getting back on the mound — even while throwing at about 50 percent effort at first — might feel a little awkward.
“It’s kind of learning how to throw again,” Beachy said. “Getting my body to become in sync has been a little trying at times, where it just doesn’t feel natural. I’m sure I’m going to go through that on the mound. So I’m excited to get on there and then at the same time, I’m like ‘Ah, I know I’m going to be frustrated at times,’ and I’m not looking forward to that feeling.”
Beachy is an admitted perfectionist. His hard-on-himself nature is one of the traits that helped him go from a virtual unknown to a dominating young pitcher in less than two years.
Beachy made his debut Sept. 20, 2010, at Citizens Bank Park against the Phillies in an emergency start for injured Jair Jurrjens. By June 16 of last season, 40 starts later, he was tied for the National League lead in ERA (2.00), when he tore his ulnar collateral ligament pitching against Baltimore.
He also knows that being overly critical can be counterproductive, especially at a time like this, when patience will serve him well over the next five months.
“I’ve backed off of that at times because especially (pitching coach) Roger (McDowell) has reiterated numerous times it doesn’t have to be perfect,” Beachy said. “It’s about making the adjustments quickly and being better each time, and getting the results that you are looking for, despite sometimes not being perfect.”
Beachy has made a point to come to Turner Field this week to spend time with McDowell and some of the other pitchers, even though he does his long tossing with Braves physical therapist Lloyd Van Pamelen in the mornings at a rehab clinic in Duluth.
One teammate Beachy will miss seeing at Turner Field every day is Martin Prado, a popular Brave who was the centerpiece in the seven-player trade for Upton.
“The guy that comes in here smiling and giving everybody a hug every single day — saying hi to every single guy — isn’t going to be here,” Beachy said. “And it’s sad. It’s part of it. I don’t think you ever get used to it. But then we have to give up something to get something, and we definitely got something.”
The Braves were feeling good, at least, about being able to trade for Upton without giving up a prospect like J.R. Graham. The hard-throwing right-hander has risen within the minor league ranks to become the Braves’ top pitching prospect other than Julio Teheran.
While Sean Gilmartin is expected to provide Teheran his greatest competition for a fifth starter’s spot in spring training, the Braves will keep a close eye on Graham. He’ll pitch in major league camp for the first time, and he already was popping the ball in his throwing session Friday morning.
“I’m real excited,” said Graham, who has recovered from a bout with pneumonia earlier this month. “I’m just going to soak it in. I get to learn from (Craig) Kimbrel, (Jonny) Venters, (Eric) O’Flaherty, Beachy, (Tim) Hudson, (Kris) Medlen, just everyone. It’s exciting.”
Graham, a native of Livermore, Calif., grew up watching Hudson pitch for Oakland. He was 9 years old when Hudson broke in in 1999 and counted Hudson his favorite over Mark Mulder and Barry Zito.
Like Hudson, Graham is undersized, at 6-0, 185 pounds, but his fastball is consistently in the upper 90s.
“All my strength comes from my lower body and my core,” Graham said. “So I try to stay through it and just drive it.”
