UPDATED: This is not a rumor anymore. Atlanta Braves pitcher Mike Foltynewicz has been sent to Gwinnett and infielder Daniel Castro has been called up to the majors.
Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Mike Foltynewicz was rumored to being sent back down to the Gwinnett Braves to regain his “stuff” and his confidence. Now it’s official after the Braves tweeted the below out to the fans.
Roster move: Braves have selected the contract of INF Daniel Castro from the @GwinnettBraves. RHP Mike Foltynewicz has been optioned to GWI
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) June 17, 2015
The 23-year-old, who came to Atlanta with the Evan Gattis trade with the Houston Astros along with Andrew Thurman and Rio Ruiz. Foltynewicz can have a three digit fastball, a good change-up and a pretty decent curveball…but his control has been his defining issue throughout his career.
Foltynewicz has been struggling since being called up to the Braves and especially in the month of June. In his last three starts he’s given up 14 runs in only 15.2 innings pitched. Well, the John Hart and the front office decided to make a move.
Right now, Foltynewicz is carrying a 5.19 ERA in nine starts. In 52 innings pitched he has 48 strikeouts and 17 walks. In his last three starts, he’s allowed hitters to have 19 hits Tommy Stokke from FanRagSports.com first reported that Foltynewicz will be sent down to Gwinnett and be pitching for them on Friday.
#Braves starter Mike Foltynewicz will be sent down to Triple-A @GwinnettBraves and start on Friday.
— Tommy Stokke (@StokkeTommy) June 17, 2015
Stokke also first reported Foltynewicz’s trade deal as well as his first call up to the Braves.
Also on the Gwinnett Braves homepage, it says TBD for the Friday starter.
AGAIN STILL SPECULATION: The player being called up is yet to be known, but this could be Matt Wisler, Manny Banuelos or Cody Martin. Banuelos is 5-2 in 13 starts for Gwinnett with a 2.29 ERA and 63 strikeouts in 70.2 innings pitched. Wisler is 3-4 in 12 starts for Gwinnett with a 4.29 ERA and 49 strikeouts in 65 innings pitched.
Banuelos pitched on Tuesday for the Gwinnett Braves so he’s probably out to pitch for the Braves.
Martin pitched on Sunday and the Friday scheduled pitch date would line up.
Wisler hasn’t pitched since last Thursday and was held from regular start which would have been today. Chien-Ming Wang instead pitched for the Gwinnett Braves on Wednesday.
UPDATED: Braves call up INF Daniel Castro
#Braves optioned RH Mike Foltynewicz to Gwinnett and recalled IF Daniel Castro from Gwinnett. Castro hitting a combined .330 in AA and AAA.
— Carroll R. Walton (@CarrollRogers) June 17, 2015
The Houston Astros selected Foltynewicz in the 1st round (19th pick overall) in the 2010 MLB draft out ofMinooka High School inMinooka, Illinois.