Braves right-hander Lucas Sims faced the minimum three batters in the first inning of his Grapefruit League debut on Friday. He started the second by striking out Phillies slugger Ryan Howard.
That’s when it came unraveled for Sims. He walked the next batter, Cedric Hunter, on four pitches and ended up facing seven Phillies in the inning before manager Fredi Gonzalez pulled him.
“That was probably my best sequence of the day and then I think in a way it was: ‘I just struck out Ryan Howard and I’m going to blow this next guy away,” Sims said. “ It was an immature move on my part. I got a little bit away from my game. That’s not who I am. Learn from it and move on.”
Sims retired Nick Williams after walking Hunter but that was the last out he recorded. Darnell Sweeney singled to score Hunter and later went to second on a wild pitch. Ryan Jackson walked, Cameron Rupp singled to score a run and Tyler Goeddel lined a two-run double to right.
Sims was charged with two more runs when Victor Mateo replaced him and gave up a homer to Maikel Franco. Sims allowed three hits and five earned runs with three walks and a strikeout in 1 2/3 innings.
“The competitive part inside of me wanted to do better and show what I can do,” Sims said. “But I also learned what I need to do to improve. Also, what happens when you throw a breaking ball for a strike and they start sitting on the fastball. But that’s all right. I’m looking forward to taking the ball in five days or whenever it is.”
The Braves selected Sims with the No. 21 overall pick in the 2012 draft out of Brookwood High. He was once rated among the top prospects in the organization but has been overshadowed by the several new youngsters acquired by the Braves in trades over the past two years as his own performance slipped.
“I know the ballplayer I am,” Sims said. “I know I am better than what I showed today. I don’t necessarily worry about what other guys do. I try to stay within myself and know who I am and know who I’m not.
Sims struggled at High-A Lynchburg in 2014 and Carolina early in 2015. After a disabled-list stint following injuries sustained in a team bus crash last May, Sims rebounded with a strong showing for Double-A Mississippi and at the Arizona Fall League to earn an invitation to big-league camp.
