The Braves first resisted calling up left-hander Alex Wood from Double-A because they didn’t want to disrupt his development. With the injuries to Eric O’Flaherty and Jonny Venters, they needed him though, so now Wood is doing some of his developing on the fly. That includes learning to handle a bat.
Wood has been taking batting practice with starting pitchers before every home game since before he made his spot start June 18 against the Mets. The Braves want him to work on his bunting skills, which he can use as a long reliever now and down the road when he gets a regular rotation spot.
Wood can use the help. He has struck out in two bunt attempts for Atlanta, including once Tuesday night. He failed in the only other attempt of his pro career earlier this year in Double-A Mississippi.
“It’s something I’ve got to work at for when I do start starting because it’s embarrassing to go up there and not be able to get a bunt down,” Wood said.
Wood hasn’t hit since high school, when he was hitting in the heart of the order and not called on to bunt. He didn’t hit at the University of Georgia or his first professional season after the Braves drafted him in the second round last year.
Harder than it looks?
“You have no idea,” Wood said smiling.
His manager Fredi Gonzalez has an appreciation for how hard it is. He learned some patience as manager of the Marlins working with young pitchers like Josh Johnson, Anibal Sanchez and Ricky Nolasco.
“That takes time, a lot of time,” Gonzalez said. “You see (Wood), he practices but it’s not 97 mph fastballs and sliders….You could bunt all day long off the machine or in the cages but until you start getting bunting in real live games and feel comfortable, that takes a while.”
