Rain limited Mike Minor’s first game action this spring to only 1 1/3 innings against the team’s “Future All-Stars” on Saturday, but when he was out there, he was sharp.
Minor missed the strike zone on the first two pitches he threw to leadoff hitter Jose Peraza but only once in his next 12 pitches. He retired the four hitters he faced, three on groundballs, and had two strikes on Edward Salcedo when a pop-up shower ended his game.
Minor threw 11 of his 14 pitches for strikes in his first game action of the spring. Minor’s normal spring routine was delayed after he underwent urinary tract surgery on Dec. 31. He couldn’t throw in January and then battled some shoulder soreness as he tried to ramp up his throwing program at the start of spring training.
“I felt good to actually play in a game without the L screen in the game atmosphere,” Minor said. “I didn’t really throw that many pitches but everything feels good.”
Minor and Gavin Floyd, who’s rehabilitating from Tommy John surgery, will open the season on the disabled list and head out on minor league rehabilitation assignments to build up to about 100 pitches. They’re on both on track to join the Braves rotation around April 26, 27.
Hursh impresses
Jason Hursh impressed in two scoreless innings to set the tone for a 13-4 win by the “Future Stars” over the Braves Saturday at State Mutual Stadium in Rome, home of the Braves low Single-A affiliate. The win was the first for the collection of Braves minor leaguers over the parent club in the three years the team has been doing these exhibitions, first in Gwinnett, then Mississippi.
Hursh gave up singles to Freddie Freeman and Jason Heyward in the first inning but got out on the jam on a double play groundball by Chris Johnson. He struck out three, including both Upton brothers, and threw 19 of his 25 pitches for strikes.
Hursh, last year’s first-round pick from Oklahoma State, will open the season in Double-A Mississippi. If he continues on the trajectory Minor was on, he could have a shot at the big leagues by the end of the season.
Hursh went 3-0 with a 3.60 ERA in three relief appearances while in big league camp.
“It felt like a dream the whole time,” said Hursh of the experience. “I learned a lot with my offspeed pitches, and I think I’m right where I need to be to start the season.”
Braves icon Bobby Cox, who was managing the Future Stars Saturday, likes what he’s seen this spring from Hursh.
“He’s got great movement on his fastball which a lot of pitchers are more in love with velocity, four seamers now,” Cox said. “And this kid has got good sink on it and is going to be a typical groundball pitcher with some strikeouts in there also. I like him a lot.”
Josh Elander hit a grand slam off reliever Atahualpa Severino to help the Future Stars put up an eight-spot in the seventh inning. Kyle Wren started the scoring with a bases-loaded RBI single, the first of his two hits in the game. The inning started with Ian Thomas taking an Edison Sanchez line drive off the left hip, and he was taken out of the game for precautionary reasons. Manager Fredi Gonzalez said after the game, the injury was not serious.
As for the results of the game?
“There comes a time during the course of the spring training season you’re tired of playing spring training games and you’re ready to start the season,” Gonzalez said. “I think we were at that point about three days ago.”
