The Braves made a significant roster move at Triple-A Gwinnett on Friday, one that involved two of their prime pitching prospects.
The Braves promoted Chris Ellis to Gwinnett from Double-A Mississippi and demoted Lucas Sims to Mississippi.
Ellis appeared in 13 games for Mississippi, all starts, and was 8-2 with a 2.75 ERA. A 6-foot-5, 205-pound right-hander who played collegiately at Ole Miss, Ellis pitched 78 2/3 innings, allowing 54 hits and walking 35. He struck out 61 and allowed only two home runs.
The Braves acquired Ellis from the Angels in November as part of the Andrelton Simmons trade. Erick Aybar and pitching prospect Sean Newcomb also came in the trade.
Sims struggled at Gwinnett after his April 23 promotion from Mississippi. For the G-Braves, Sims was 2-6 with a 7.56 ERA. He allowed 56 hits and 42 earned runs in 50 innings. He struck out 58, but walked 37. His walk rate was 6.66 per nine innings.
His first stint at Mississippi was much different. He was 0-2, but had a 1.84 ERA, striking out 26 in 14 2/3 innings, to go with only 10 walks.
Sims, a graduate of Brookwood High, was a first-round pick by the Braves in the 2012 draft.
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