Triple-A Gwinnett is the next stop for right-hander Kris Medlen’s comeback attempt with the Braves. After two effective outings for Double-A Mississippi, Medlen is expected to start for Gwinnett against Charlotte on Friday at Coolray Field.
Medlen is trying to make it back to the majors following a second Tommy John elbow surgery in 2014 and shoulder issues that hampered him while pitching for the Royals in 2016.
“It’s just about the workload right now and making the starts and repetitions,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “He’s been right on time. … All reports, you look at the numbers, and it’s good.”
Medlen, 31, signed a minor-league contract with the Braves in January. He made two starts at high Single-A Florida and then posted a 1.74 ERA over 10 1/3 innings at Mississippi.
From 2012-13 with the Braves, Medlen posted a 2.47 ERA over 82 games (43 starts). Medlen appeared in 21 games (14 starts) for the Royals over the past two seasons and compiled a 5.12 ERA.
“You are not going to forget how to pitch,” Snitker said. “I don’t know if his stuff—some guys come back and they are not going to be exactly who they were. But a guy like that has a better chance because of his ‘pitchability.’ He knows how to pitch.”
