PHILADELPHIA – Getting called to the major leagues three weeks ago was a dream come true for Tyrell Jenkins. Now, the Braves rookie pitcher will fulfill another part of that dream: starting a game.
Jenkins will make his first major league start Wednesday against the Phillies in place of Braves ace Julio Teheran, who was scratched because of an infection in his right thigh.
Jenkins has made four relief appearances since arriving from Triple-A Gwinnett, where he was a starter until a role change at the end of May.
“Always be ready,” Jenkins said. “Luckily I’m stretched out a little bit, to go out there and be able to provide whatever we need tomorrow. The objective is to go out there tomorrow and go four, five, six strong (innings) and help the guys out a little bit.”
Jenkins, who’ll turn 24 in two weeks, has posted a 5.79 ERA in four relief appearances since he was called up from Triple-A on June 16. He was 4-3 with a 2.96 ERA in nine starts at Gwinnett, with 39 strikeouts, 19 walks and three homers allowed in 51 2/3 innings.
“I really like this kid, in the past year that we’ve had him, just the competitiveness in him,” said Braves interim manager Brian Snitker, who was Jenkins’ manager at Gwinnett before Snitker replaced the fired Fredi Gonzalez on May 17. “The thing I noticed, in Triple-A, he’s one of those kids who never quits pitching — he continues to compete, enjoys the competitive part of what he’s doing, and this will be a good opportunity for him to get back out there and pitch.”
Jenkins’ last start was May 29 for Gwinnett against Syracuse, when he allowed eight hits and two runs in seven innings. In his start before that, he struck out nine in six innings against Norfolk on May 24.
He was moved to the bullpen to hasten his timetable to reach the majors, and after four Triple-A relief appearances the Braves had a bullpen need and called him up.
His four major league relief appearances included a four-inning stint June 27 against Cleveland, after starter John Gant left the game with an injury. He pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings against the Marlins on Thursday, and gave up three hits, two runs and two walks in two innings Sunday against the Marlins at Fort Bragg.
“It’s all about just executing pitches,” Jenkins said Tuesday. “I’ve been working with (Braves pitching coach) Roger (McDowell) a little bit on tightening up some mechanics. Things have gotten better. Results might not show, but I feel like I’m ready for tomorrow.”
Jenkins was asked to compare being told that he would make his first major-league start with being called up to the big leagues for the first time. He laughed and said, “My mom took it all the same; she was just as excited about the start tomorrow as she was when I got called up.
“This is a great opportunity. Circumstances (filling in for injury teammate) are not the best, but hopefully I can go out there and prove that I can be a future starter. It’s a start in the big leagues. It’s an opportunity. I’m just excited to be able to go out there and compete with the boys.”
Snitker said his message to Jenkins was straightforward: “I told him, I’m not looking for you to go nine innings. Just go as hard as you can for as long as you can. We just pretty much need someone to start the game. It was good we got him those couple of innings on Sunday, then a couple of days off. He’s good to go.”
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