Kris Medlen’s dominant 2012 season was followed by some rough outings during spring training. They were only exhibition games but Medlen still was looking for some positives when he stayed behind in Florida to pitch in a minor-league game.
The right-hander said he got what he wanted out of that outing and also a bullpen session Tuesday in preparation for his first start of the season Thursday against the Phillies.
“It was better,” Medlen said. “Sure, I was facing some minor-league guys but they were some Triple-A guys and I got crushed in Triple-A last year. So, for me, everything felt better.
“I made a couple little adjustments. I’m trying to stay back a little longer. (That) helped my location and I made more quality pitches.”
Medlen pitched four innings against the minor-league squad and allowed four hits and one run with no walks and three strikeouts. Braves catcher Brian McCann, who is on the disabled list, knocked a ground-rule RBI double off Medlen (“terrible change-up”) but that was the only damage.
“Still trying to work on the curve ball,” Medlen said. “I think I’m overthrowing it a little bit—casting it out, I think, and it’s getting a little flat. But I thought I made some progress (with) that last start.”
Medlen’s spring included outings with nine and six runs allowed, though he noted his “bad luck” with blustery conditions. Medlen was 9-0 with a 0.97 ERA in 12 starts for the Braves in 2012.
This is the first spring in which Medlen prepared to be a full-time starter in major-league camp. He logged 23.2 innings in six games.
“I never threw that many innings, especially with the longer spring,” he said. “I felt good the entire spring. I had a couple bad innings but, constructively, you just learn from then and make the adjustments.”
