Braves pitching prospect Jenkins lands on Triple-A DL
Braves pitching prospect Tyrell Jenkins was placed on the Triple-A Gwinnett disabled list Monday with what was termed arm fatigue.
Jenkins, 23, left his start Sunday against Columbus after just two innings, and no announcement was made at the time regarding the reason. Braves officials were encouraged and relieved when Jenkins did well in strength tests performed later Sunday.
The belief is that Jenkins has a common condition known informally as “dead arm” often associated with an increased workload. He’s pitched a career-high 136 2/3 innings in 24 starts this season with Double-A Mississippi and Gwinnett, after totaling a career-high 98 1/3 innings last year including 74 innings in 13 minor league starts in the Cardinals organization and 24 1/3 innings in the Arizona Fall League.
The Braves are likely to shut him down for a couple of starts, then have him make one or two more starts before the season ends to get his innings total to about 150 for the season. That would allow them to aim for about 180 innings in 2016, according to the guidelines the Braves follow for annual progression in innings for young pitchers.
Jenkins has already had a good season, going 8-9 with a 3.23 ERA and 88 strikeouts (60 walks) in 136 2/3 innings, including a 3.71 ERA and 29 strikeouts in 43 2/3 innings over eight starts since his promotion to Triple-A.
The Braves got Jenkins along with pitcher Shelby Miller from the Cardinals in the November trade that sent Jason Heyward and reliever Jordan Walden to St. Louis.
A former Baylor quarterback recruit and 2010 first-round draft pick, Jenkins’ career has been slowed by injuries, but he’s highly regarded and has been rated a top-100 prospect and potential future top-half-of-rotation starter.
