Atlanta Braves Mid-Season Prospect Reports

Mar 12, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Tyrell Jenkins (63) throws a pitch during the seventh inning against the New York Yankees at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

3. Tyrell Jenkins

The Good:

Jenkins just turned 23 on July 20th, and he’s definitely made a quick impression on the Braves organization. He’s had tremendous velocity in his starts, and his 3.00 ERA in AA Mississippi was one of the best in the Southern League. He’s shown good feel at times with his curveball as well, which is often something pitchers returning from injury struggle with for some time. Jenkins has also been excellent in keeping balls in the park this year, allowing a total of 3 home runs in 100 innings pitched this season.

The Not-So-Good:

Jenkins has a very high leg kick in his delivery, and while that in and of itself is not an issue, Jenkins loses his command when his leg kick is not consistent, and it has rarely been consistent this year. When it’s on, you have starts like Jenkins’ first one in AAA, where he struck out 6 and walked one in 7 innings. Jenkins has also not struck out nearly as many hitters as his stuff would suggest he could. His strikeout rate was 14.9% in AA, and his inconsistency with his leg kick led to a 10.4% walk rate and 1.34 WHIP.

The Stats:

• AA:  93 innings (16 starts).  5.71 K/9, 3.97 BB/9, 3.00 ERA
• AAA: 36 innings (6 starts).  5.80 K/9, 3.79 BB/9, 3.03 ERA

TRENDING:

Tyrell has the stuff to certainly succeed at higher levels. The Braves will give him every opportunity in the rotation until he shows he HAS to go to the bullpen, but he could be a part of a dynamic future 1-2 punch in the back of the bullpen that the Braves acquired this off-season as his motion and consistency is much better from the stretch as he doesn’t have the high kick, though his stuff does play down some, losing a bit of break on the curve and straightening out the fastball some.

The assessment of ‘Trending Up’ is based on attrition from above and in his continued development as a starter.  That said, he might or might not rise in our next prospect list, but we’ll hold on that topic for a future date.

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