TAMPA—The first time right-hander Mike Foltynewicz took the mound for the Braves this spring he was one of four candidates vying for the final rotation slot. Since then the Braves said left-hander Mike Minor would begin the season on the disabled list because of shoulder issues, meaning there are two open spots in the rotation.
When Foltynewicz faces the Tigers on Friday in a split-squad game at Victory Field, he’ll get another chance to show he’s developing command to go with his power arm. In his spring debut on Saturday “Folty” allowed four hits and a run with two walks and a strikeout in 1 2/3 innings against the Mets.
“We want him to obviously build his innings up but we would like to see from him is consistency in the strike zone,” Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. “His arm is a big, live arm. His knock has always been not throwing it in the strike zone. What’ interesting with him, when he misses he just misses around the plate. It’s not like a Bull Durham situation like Nuke (LaLoosh).”
Foltynewicz, who boasts a 100-mph fastball, was a prized piece for the Braves in the January trade with the Astros for Evan Gattis. He was ranked the No. 3 Astros prospect and now is one of the top prospects for the Braves.
Foltynewicz made his big-league debut with Houston in August and ended up appearing in 16 games out of the bullpen. He had a 5.30 ERA with 14 strikeouts and seven walks in 19 innings for the Astros.
The other starting rotation candidates for the Braves include veterans Eric Stults and Wandy Rodriguez and prospect Manny Banuelos
Gonzales said Foltynewicz isn’t nibbling around the strike zone because he’s reluctant to challenge hitters.
“I don’t think he’s afraid of that,” Gonzalez said. “The pattern just needs to be a little tighter. I think that comes a lot with experience and running him out there every fifth day.”
