Atlanta Braves Reveal Prospect Surprise In Recent Cuts!
Atlanta Braves Right Hander John Gant
So What Happened Exactly?!
On Friday, the Braves announced a round of cuts that brought the spring roster down to 41 players. While many noted the names that were sent down like Dansby Swanson, Ozhaino Albies, Mallex Smith, Aaron Blair, and Lucas Sims, I noted the “big” prospect name that was not sent down – John Gant.
Gant was acquired by the Braves along with Robert Whalen from the Mets last July in the trade that sent Kelly Johnson and Juan Uribe. Gant was viewed as the 2nd piece in the trade behind Whalen in most rankings, but he quickly showed himself valuable and performed beyond expectations, putting up a line of 4-0, 1.99 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, and 14/43 BB/K over 40 2/3 innings over 7 starts with AA Mississippi.
This Spring
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Gant hasn’t pitched a TON this spring, but he has made 3 appearance this spring, throwing 5 2/3 innings, allowing 3 hits and a run on a walk and four strikeouts while facing 20 batters. Obviously, it’s a small sample size, but really, it’s a continuation of what we all saw last summer from Gant in his time with Mississippi.
So What Does It Mean For His 2016?
All 3 appearances this spring have been in the bullpen, and with some of the injuries that could shape the bullpen early in the season, there may be a role early in the season for Gant. When I took a look at Gant in a scouting report this offseason, I compared Gant to Matt Garza, who was another pitcher with very tough stuff to hit that also had a later-in-life growth spurt and velocity spike.
Next: Albies, Swanson, Smith Among Roster Cuts
Gant may not survive the next set of roster cuts and could end up starting the season in Gwinnett, but what he’s shown this spring very likely has him on the fast track as the first starter to return to Atlanta this season as the year gets going, perhaps even ahead of guys like Tyrell Jenkins and Aaron Blair, whom many evaluators, including myself, assumed would be ahead of Gant in the pecking order of the Braves system.