Smoltz offers tips to Braves pitchers
Before the Braves honored John Smoltz for his recent induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame, Smoltz had a pitching session with the team’s current pitchers.
Smoltz met offered tips to a handful of Braves pitchers in the Turner Field bullpen on Friday. One of them, All-Star Shelby Miller, said that among the helpful advice offered by Smoltz was the utility of bullpen sessions between starts.
“We don’t take advantage of those things sometimes as much as we should,” Miller said. “Having him there really locks you in and makes you want to be the best you can be and let him see your best stuff. It was awesome to have them there to help. Right away he noticed some things that were wrong and we corrected them.”
Smoltz pitched for the Braves from 1988 to 2008. He was voted to the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. The Braves celebrated Smoltz’s induction during a ceremony before the game against the Diamondbacks on Friday.
Miller said it was the first time he’d talked in depth with Smoltz, and he came away impressed by his knowledge and confidence.
“He’s somebody you want to (model) yourself after,” Miller said. “A guy who obviously is confident in his game, and you look back at what he’s done in his career and the way he went about it, it’s one of a kind. To have somebody like that come around and help us and get to pick his brain a little bit is pretty special.”
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