LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – The Braves hurried Matt Marksberry to the majors last season on July 30, barely one month after the left-hander was promoted directly from high Single-A to Triple-A.
On Monday, they basically sent Marksberry back to the minors to fill in some gaps in his development.
“He was a rush job last year; he went from A-ball to Triple-A in whatever,” Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said of the reliever, whose arrival last year was expedited because of injuries and trades of other relievers. “And he did OK. But we feel like he needs to go back now.
“He’s got major-league experience. Now he can go back down and pitch and work on some of his stuff in a setting where he’s going to be more successful.”
Marksberry, 25, had an 8.10 ERA in four Grapefruit League appearances, almost all the damage coming Sunday against the Astros he gave up two hits, three runs and a walk and recorded only one out.
It was less than eight months ago when Marksberry, a 15th-round draft pick in 2013 out of Campbell University in North Carolina, was thrust into the big leagues sooner than expected. He posted a 5.01 ERA in 31 appearances for Atlanta and had 16 walks with 21 strikeouts in 23 1/3 innings.
He showed some flashes of big potential after getting comfortable in the majors, and the Braves think Marksberry can become a solid piece in their bullpen. But after adding some experienced lefties in the offseason, they wanted Marksberry to get a little bit more seasoning in the minors.
Coincidentally, he was optioned to Double-A, a level he never experienced in his quick climb to the big leagues.
