Just when Braves relief prospect A.J. Minter was progressing toward a full recovery from the elbow tightness that sidelined him for much of spring training, the left-hander has landed on the disabled list for an adductor (groin) strain.
The high Single-A Florida Fire Frogs placed Minter on the seven-day DL two days after he pitched a perfect inning with two strikeouts in his first appearance.
Minter, 23, was in major league spring training, but missed several weeks with tightness near his pitching elbow caused by nerve inflammation. He wasn’t healthy to pitch in any Grapefruit League games before being sent down minor league camp.
Since he had continued to do light throwing for most of spring training even when he couldn’t pitch in games, Minter wasn’t as far behind as might have been expected. It’s not clear how long the latest injury will keep him out of action.
Minter has two pitches that are above-average by major league standards — an upper-90s fastball and slider — and was dominant in his first minor league season in 2016, posting a 1.30 ERA and .149 opponents’ average in a combined 31 appearances at the low-A, high-A and Double-A levels, with 47 strikeouts and 11 walks in 34 2/3 innings.
It was his first season after more than a year of rehab for Tommy John elbow surgery he had while at Texas A&M, and the Braves gave him multiple days’ rest between each appearance in 2016.
They started Minter at high-A Florida this season so he could be assured of pitching in warm weather. Team officials have said they expected him to have an impact on the major league team this season, though that was assuming good health.
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