LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- The Braves traded for hard-throwing prospect Billy Bullock from the Minnesota Twins in exchange for left-hander Scott Diamond, whom the Twins had taken from the Braves in the December Rule 5 draft.
The Twins decided not to keep Diamond on their 25-man roster and had to offer him back to the Braves for half of the original $50,000 claiming price, or work out a deal.
The teams swapped prospects and the Braves got Bullock, a 6-foot-6, 230-pound right-hander who had 27 saves and a 105 strikeouts in 74 innings last season with the Twins’ Class-A Fort Myers and Double-A New Britain affiliates.
Bullock, 23, features a slider and a fastball in the mid-90 mph range. He went 2-8 with a 3.53 ERA in 58 relief appearances, and allowed 73 hits and 43 walks. He ranked 11th in the minor leagues in saves and fourth in strikeouts among pitchers who worked solely in relief.
A second-round pick out of the University of Florida in 2009, Bullock has recorded 150 strikeouts and 38 saves in 107-2/3 innings over two minor league seasons. He will likely begin the season at Double-A Mississippi.
Diamond, 24, was 8-7 with a 3.46 ERA in 27 starts last season for Mississippi and Triple-A Gwinnett, and 28-20 with a 3.28 ERA in three seasons in the Braves’ minor league system.
The Braves chose to add other pitchers over Diamond to their 40-man protected roster before the Rule 5 draft in December. By working out a trade with the Braves, the Twins can send Diamond to the minors rather than being forced to keep him on their 25-man roster.
Florida finale rained out
The Florida portion of the Braves’ spring schedule ended with a Monday night rainout, which allowed the team to get home to Atlanta six hours sooner than expected.
They were pleased to get the extra rest, since the Braves will play exhibition games against Minnesota at Turner Field on Tuesday night and Wednesday before flying to Washington to open the regular season on Thursday. It's a busy stretch.
Manager Fredi Gonzalez said the rainout didn't hamper the Braves. The team planned to use regulars for only a couple of innings and use minor league pitchers Monday against Washington before the game was called nearly five hours before the scheduled start.
“We haven’t lost a day of spring training [before this],” Gonzalez said. “The guys that were going to play were just going to get one at-bat. None of the [roster] pitchers were going to pitch. So it doesn’t do anything except gives us a little breather.”
Gonzalez said the Braves would use all seven relievers in Tuesday's game against the Twins, but wasn't sure about the order. On Wednesday, Brandon Beachy and Rodrigo Lopez are set to pitch three or four innings apiece against the Twins.
Hanson, Hudson work under cover
Tim Hudson and Tommy Hanson had been scheduled to pitch in a minor league game on Monday, but instead threw in covered batting cages after all games at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex were cancelled.
Gonzalez decided last week to not pitch Hudson and Hanson against the Nationals so soon before facing them in the season-opening series. Hanson is scheduled to pitch Game 2 against the Nationals on Saturday, and Hudson gets the series finale Sunday.
About the Author
