LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- The Braves' first round of spring-training roster cuts had 14 names, including Julio Teheran, baseball's top-rated pitching prospect.
It wasn't as if the 20-year-old Colombian failed to meet expectations. He and other top pitching prospects, including Arodys Vizcaino, Randall Delgado and Brett Oberholtzer, figure prominently in the Braves' future -- just not at the beginning of the 2011 season.
"We're kind of running out of innings for them to get any," Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "And they need to pitch and get ready for their seasons, too. They've all been impressive, they really have."
Cut from the roster Thursday were right-handers Teheran, Vizcaino, Delgado, Erik Cordier, Michael Broadway and Jay Sborz; lefties Oberholtzer, Lee Hyde and Jose Ortegano; catchers Cristian Bethancourt, Braeden Schlehuber and Jesus Sucre; infielder Tyler Pastornicky and outfielder Mycal Jones.
There are 46 left on the active spring-training roster.
With Braves starters now pitching four innings and set to pitch five the next time through the rotation, relief innings are scarce and must go to those who could be in the big-league bullpen.
Cordier, Hyde and Ortegano were optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett and Delgado to Double-A Mississippi. The others were re-assigned to minor league camp and will get specific assignments later.
Teheran gave up one hit and topped out at 97 mph while pitching the ninth inning of the Braves’ 2-1 Grapefruit League win Thursday afternoon against St. Louis, his second appearance after being slowed early by back spasms.
Vizcaino allowed four hits and no walks with three strikeouts in four scoreless innings. He hasn’t pitched above Class A and missed part of last season for a partially torn elbow ligament.
Delgado allowed four hits, one run and no walks with three strikeouts in three innings. Oberholtzer allowed three hits, one unearned run and two walks in six innings.
“You feel good about their development and our minor league system,” Gonzalez said. “Our people are doing the job because you see kids coming up and throwing 100 [mph] and throwing the ball over the plate. This kid [Teheran] is throwing 96, 94, and throwing strikes.”
The triple-digit reading was by Vizcaino, who registered 101 mph Wednesday on the Champion Stadium gun. General manager Frank Wren said a scout had the same reading.
At least one other scout said Vizcaino topped out at 97 mph. Either way, the 20-year-old throws hard and throws strikes. As do the Braves’ other top pitching prospects.
Lowe putting up zeroes
He has pitched for too long to get overly excited about spring training, but Derek Lowe can still take satisfaction from putting up zeroes regardless of the month.
He allowed two hits and one walk in four scoreless innings Thursday, with four strikeouts. That made it nine scoreless innings in three spring starts for Lowe, who has given up four hits.
“The old saying, it is what it is," said Lowe, 37. "It’s encouraging, though. I’d rather have that than the other way around, where you’re trying to defend what you’re doing."
Prado looks at home in left
Martin Prado already looks at home in left field. The 2010 All-Star second baseman made a splendid running catch in left-center for the third out in the sixth inning, robbing St. Louis' John Jay of an extra-base hit with a runner at third and the score 1-1.
“How ‘bout that play?” Gonzalez said. “That ball’s on the warning track. If you didn’t know any better, you’d have thought he’d been out there his whole life.”
Prado went 2-for-2 with a walk and beat out two infield singles.
Etc.
Kenshin Kawakami is set to make his spring debut Friday in relief against the Yankees at Tampa. The trade-bait pitcher was two weeks late to camp because of visa issues in Japan. Tommy Hanson starts against New York's Phil Hughes. ... Centerfielder Nate McLouth's sore right shoulder was improved a day after he got a cortisone injection. He plans to play Saturday. McLouth was injured Monday. ... Jason Heyward doubled off the right-center warning track, just his second extra-base hit (both doubles) in 21 at-bats, though he's hitting .381. A would-be homer Thursday was pulled foul.
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