SAN DIEGO – They Braves lost a former fireballing prospect in Thursday’s Rule 5 draft, and gained a rehabbing right-hander who could be an intriguing bullpen piece when he’s ready to pitch again.
They lost J.R. Graham, taken by the Twins as the fifth player selected in the major league phase of the draft. Six selections later, the Braves took Rockies right-hander Daniel Winkler, 24, who impressed in 12 starts for Double-A Tulsa – 1.41 ERA, 0.714 WHIP, 71 strikeouts, 13 walks in 70 innings — before Tommy John elbow surgery in June.
The Twins have to keep Graham on their 25-man major league roster for all of 2015 or offer him back to the Braves for half of the $50,000 claiming price they paid to take him. The Braves would gladly welcome him back if they get the chance.
The Braves aren’t subject to that same keep-him-on-the-big-league-roster rule with Winkler, since he’ll spend most or all of 2015 on the disabled list. They would be required to keep him on their 25-man roster for 90 days in 2016.
Winkler is 33-22 with a 3.35 ERA in 76 starts over four seasons, with 447 strikeouts and 130 walks in 429 2/3 innings. This despite a modest 88-92 mph fastball.
“He’s got a lot of deception, very funky,” Braves assistant general manager John Coppolella said. “Really good breaking ball.”
Coppolella said Winkler could be a contrast to power arms in the Braves bullpen. His stingy .139 opponents’ average last season included .103 by right-handed batters.
The Braves added Triple-A catching depth by selecting Steven Rodriguez from the Diamondbacks’ Double-A roster in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft. He threw out 44-percent of would-be base stealers and hit .263 with no homers and a .365 OBP in 163 PAs in high-A and Double-A.
The Braves were happy to not lose right-hander Cody Martin, who had a 3.52 ERA at Triple-A Gwinnett with 142 strikeouts in 156 innings.
“He won’t throw 103 miles an hour, but he can really pitch,” Coppolella said.
Graham was a 100-mph-throwing prospect on the rise before a shoulder injury in May 2013. He’s still trying to regain velocity and had a 5.55 ERA in 27 games (19 starts) for Gwinnett, with 50 strikeouts and 26 walks in 71 1/3 innings.
