Arodys Vizcaino pitched his first game with Triple-A Gwinnett on Friday after serving his 80-game suspension for performance-enhancing drugs.
He allowed two runs on three hits and one walk while striking out two in one inning of Gwinnett’s 11-2 loss.
Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said before the game Saturday that he had no estimate when and if Vizcaino would get called up to the Braves this year.
“The plan of action is that we’re going to let our minor-league people decide when he’s ready to go to a big-league club,” he said. “We’re not bringing him up tomorrow or anything like that. So that’s the plan of action.”
The Braves traded second baseman Tommy La Stella to the Cubs for Vizcaino, 24, in the offseason. In five relief appearances with Chicago in 2014, Vizcaino allowed three earned runs on five hits and three walks while striking out four.
Players are granted 16 games on minor-league rehab assignment during their suspension, so Vizcaino, who was suspended in spring training, made six appearances this season with Single-A Rome and Double-A Gwinnett. He compiled a 3.06 ERA with seven hits, two walks and 11 strikeouts in seven innings.
Rookie lefty Andrew McKirahan, also serving an 80-game suspension for PEDs, arrived in Gwinnett on Saturday. He’s set to begin his rehab assignment games July 20.
McKirahan, 25, was suspended after the Braves’ 12th game this season. He appeared in three games, allowing two earned runs on three hits and a walk while striking out two over 4 1/3 innings.
McKirahan compiled a 2.08 ERA in 44 appearances with the Cubs’ Single-A and Double-A affiliates last season, and Gonzalez said he’s thrown simulated games with the Braves’ Gulf Coast League team while serving his suspension.
The Braves claimed McKirahan off waivers April 1. McKirahan was a Rule 5 selection from the Cubs in December, so the Braves must place him back on the 25-man roster when his suspension ends. If not, the Braves must offer him back for the Cubs at half the original claiming price — $50,000.
