The revolving door to the Braves’ training room kept spinning Friday, this time reliever A.J. Minter passing through with the disturbingly ubiquitous sore shoulder.
Minter, in line for important late-inning work this season, threw to one batter in Friday’s spring training game against Toronto, giving up a single to Lourdes Gurriel, before manager Brian Snitker was on his way to the mound to escort him off the field.
As has been the case with pitchers Kevin Gausman, Mike Soroka and Luiz Gohara, Minter was experiencing discomfort in his throwing (left) shoulder.
“His shoulder is a little stiff. It checked out good,” Snitker said. “He told me if it was during the season he probably could have kept pitching.
“I want them to be up front with all that and not take any chances.”
Minter appeared in 65 games last season for the Braves, recording 15 saves along the way. His ERA was 3.23.
This thus far has been a most discomforting spring for the Braves. In addition to the shoulder issues, starter Mike Foltynewicz has been limited with an elbow issue. Shortstop Dansby Swanson was pulled from a scheduled start Friday because of the aftereffects of off-season wrist surgery.
“There’s a lot of them (hopefully minor pains) that’s for sure,” Snitker said. “We’re doing everything we can with rest and the workouts and all that. It’s one of those things that happens – I’m glad it’s the first week (of spring games) instead of the last week, that’s for sure.”
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