Two freak obstacles and a surgery later, Jesse Biddle has made the major leagues.
The Braves recalled Biddle from Triple-A Gwinnett on Wednesday, with struggling right-hander Jose Ramirez placed on the 10-day disabled list with shoulder inflammation. It gives the Braves three lefties in the bullpen.
The team liked what it saw from Biddle, a first-round pick by his hometown Phillies in 2010, in spring training. He appeared in four games for Gwinnett this season, pitching 6 1/3 scoreless innings, striking out eight and walking one.
“He’s got a really good arm,” manager Brian Snitker said. “I was just taking a peak at him yesterday as you look at what minor league guys are doing. We were thinking that that third lefty might be good in the bullpen. I talked to (Gwinnett manager) Damon (Berryhill) today, and he’s been throwing really well, numbers are great down there. This’ll be a good opportunity to get here.”
Biddle, 26, once was a prized prospect who was thrown off course by bizarre circumstances. He was stalled by whooping cough in 2013 that hindered his ability to pitch. Thirteen months later, he suffered a concussion after he was hit by hail in a storm.
After posting a 4.95 ERA across 125-1/3 innings in Double-A and Triple-A, Biddle required Tommy John surgery. The Phillies traded him to the Pirates in February 2016, who flipped him to the Braves roughly a month later.
Biddle returned to the diamond in 2017 with Double-A Mississippi, earning a 3.90 ERA over 49 2/3 innings (27 appearances). He struck out 53, walked 16, allowed three homers and held opponents to a .249 average.
The Braves know what Biddle has had to overcome to finally crack the bigs. Snitker remembers addressing it with him in spring training.
“You just gotta keep grinding. Don’t stop. You’ve been through a lot,” Snitker recalled telling Biddle. “You just need to go down there and keep pitching. Eventually, if you stay healthy and get results, you’ll get an opportunity.
“I’m happy for him. He’s been through a lot. But I really liked what I saw in spring training. He was healthy and stuff was really good. He can be a big help for us.”
