LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla.—There's a list of reasons why there's a lot of anticpiation to see what right-hander Mike Foltynewicz can do with the Braves.
He’s 6-foot-4 with a big arm and only 23-years old, all attributes sure to ignite the imagination about prospects. Foltynewicz came rated as a top pitching prospect. Braves fans know him as one of the players who arrived from the Astros in return for Evan Gattis, the popular catcher.
But trying to make an impression with the Braves is having the opposite effect for Foltynewicz, who was roughed up again in his second spring start for the Braves. He couldn’t get out of the first inning on Friday against the Tigers, though his results were mitigated by an error by second baseman Alberto Callaspo that left an opening for Detroit.
Foltynewicz said he was happy with his pitches for the most part but acknowledged he’s been anxious while trying to show the Braves he’s worth the trade.
“I’m overdoing it a little bit,” he said. “You’ve got a new team, you’ve got to impress coaches and all of that. I’m just out there trying to do too much.”
Foltynewicz gave up three hits and five runs (one earned) with two walks and a strikeout against the Tigers. In his first spring start “Folty” allowed a run on four hits in 1 2/3 innings against the Mets.
The Tigers really had just one hard hit against him, Anthony Gose’s lead-off triple. Gose scored on Jose Iglesias’ groundout and Foltynewicz struck out J.D. Martinez before Callaspo’s error on a sharp grounder extended the inning.
James McCann singled through the middle to score a run and Foltynewicz issued- back-to-back walks to score another. Todd Coffey replaced Foltynewicz and gave up a run-scoring single to Josh Wilson before getting out of the inning.
“For the most part I was around the plate and they found some holes,” Foltynewicz said. “That was just bad luck on my part. I think overall I felt good and threw some good pitches so it stinks that things are falling that way.”
Foltynewicz’s fastball can reach 100 mph and the Victory Field radar gun had it consistently in the mid 90s on Friday. He’s working on commanding his off-speed pitches as he competes for one of two open spots in the Braves’ starting rotation to begin the season.
Foltynewicz said Braves catchers have been calling often for the fastball.
“Being with a new team the catchers really don’t know me so I’ve got to sit down with them and tell them I believe in all my pitches,” he said. “Even if I do throw hard I don’t have to throw it every time out there because they can hit it. Overall my pitches worked well today so no regrets.”
Another Braves starting candidate, prospect Manny Banuelos, also didn’t make it out of the first inning on Friday. Banuelos gave up five earned runs, three hits and two walks to the Mets in 2/3 innings of the split-squad game in Port St. Lucie.
The other players vying for a spot in the rotation include veteran left-handers Wanny Rodriguez and Eric Stults. Rodriguez is scheduled to start against the Astros on Saturday.
