LAKELAND, Fla. – There are still at least three spots up for grabs in the Braves bullpen, and the field was narrowed some more Monday when Arodys Vizcaino and Michael Kohn were dropped from the spring-training roster.
Each averaged one walk per inning this spring, and control issues were the main reason both right-handers were sent down.
Vizcaino, a hard-throwing prospect in his second stint with the Braves organization, was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett. Kohn, a non-roster invitee with plenty of major league experience, was reassigned to minor league camp and is also expected to begin the season at Gwinnett.
“They’ve got to be more consistent, throw strikes,” Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. “We’re going to see both of these guys before the season’s over. It’s just a matter of time, going down to the minor leagues and work on the stuff that Roger wants them to work on.”
The Braves reacquired Vizcaino, 24, in November from the Cubs in the trade for second baseman Tommy La Stella, a deal that also netted the Braves a couple international bonus slots.
Vizcaino came to spring training with a good shot at a spot in the opening-day bullpen. But he gave up nine hits, eight walks and eight runs in eight innings d a 9.00 ERA in seven Grapefruit League appearances, with seven strikeouts and a .333 opponents’ average.
Kohn, 28, had a 3.67 ERA in 126 relief appearances over the past four seasons with the Angels, with 107 strikeouts in 110 1/3 innings. He signed a minor league contract and came to camp as a leading candidate for one of several available spots in the bullpen.
While some aspects of his performance – a .179 opponents’ average and eight strikeouts in 8 1/3 innings – were encouraging, he also issued eight walks and hit a batter in eight appearances.
“When that door opens from the bullpen, the last thing you want to see is a guy who can’t throw the ball over the plate,” Gonzalez said. “It’s not a good feeling. Usually those (middle relievers) are coming in in the sixth, seventh or eight inning, where those walks are magnified.”
With only a week to go before opening day, closer Craig Kimbrel and setup men Jason Grilli and Jim Johnson are the only certainties for the Braves opening-day bullpen, but Gonzalez indicated that left-hander Luis Avilan also seems assured of a spot at this point.
That would leave three ‘pen jobs still undecided and at least six candidates: lefties Josh Outman and Brady Feigl, right-handers Juan Jaime and Aaron Kurcz, and whoever among starting pitchers Cody Martin, Mike Foltynewicz and lefty Eric Stults doesn’t win the fifth spot in the rotation.
Jaime is another hard thrower with control issues, but the rookie is out of options, meaning he would have to be exposed to the waiver wire before he could be sent down.
“We have three solid guys with Kimbrel, Johnson and Grilli,” Gonzalez said. “And the other guys, it’s something where we’re trying to look for guys who’ll fit. Every (team) has their guys (to use) when they’re up, no matter what team you are. We can run out Grilli, Johnson, Kimbrel, right? When we’re down, you want guys who are going to keep that team there, to give your offense a chance to catch up.
“You don’t want to bring in a guy — your starter goes out, you’ve got to pinch-hit for him in the sixth, you’re three runs down — then all of a sudden that three-run lead for the other team becomes a seven-run lead because you can’t throw the ball over the plate.”
