After a rough start to his 2016 season, Braves prospect Touki Toussaint may have found a way out of Struggleville.
In his first three starts, Toussaint lost all three decisions, and his ERA was 12.66. Over his past four starts, Toussaint is 1-0 with an ERA of 2.57.
In the past four starts, Toussaint pitched 21 innings and allowed six earned runs and 12 hits. He walked nine and struck out 15. Except for the walks, the stats represented radical improvements in all categories.
In his first three starts, he pitched 10 2/3 innings and allowed 15 earned runs and 19 hits. He walked nine and struck out five.
Overall, he is 1-3 with a 5.97 ERA. Hix next start is scheduled for 6 p.m. Saturday against Augusta in Rome
Toussaint, 19, was a first-round draft choice of the Diamondbacks in 2014. The Braves acquired him in a trade with Arizona on June 20, 2015. The Braves sent Phil Gosselin to Arizona for Bronson Arroyo and Toussaint. Arizona general manager Dave Stewart received biting criticism at the time for making the trade.
Toussaint, a 6-foot-3, 185-pound right-hander, is considered one of the Braves’ top young pitching prospects. He turns 20 on June 20.
