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Atlanta Braves Trade for Reliever Move Tyrell Jenkins to Pen

By Fred Owens

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
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 /
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Feb 23, 2015; Lake Buena Vista, FL, USA; Atlanta Braves catcher John Buck talks with pitcher Tyrell Jenkins during spring training workouts at Champion Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 23, 2015; Lake Buena Vista, FL, USA; Atlanta Braves catcher John Buck talks with pitcher Tyrell Jenkins during spring training workouts at Champion Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /

Jenkins to the Bullpen

On Thursday the Braves moved starter and their number 8 prospect (MLBPipeline) Tyrell Jenkins (@TyrellJenkins14)  to the bullpen and Braves Twitter had a minor heart attack.

The rationale laid out in Mark Bowman’s piece is pretty clear, too many walks and only two pitches; neither is a good line item on a starters résumé.

". . . Jenkins has posted a 2.97 ERA over 57 2/3 innings . . .(also) surrendered 60 hits, recorded 40 strikeouts and issued 22 walks . . .(Jenkins) recorded 88 strikeouts and issued 61 walks over the 138 1/3 innings. . . for Double-A Mississippi and Gwinnett last year. . .Along with creating some concern about his strikeout and walk rates, Jenkins has not yet mastered a third pitch. . .(and the) Braves hope that he might prove effective when he is able to exert more effort as a reliever. . ."

When Jenkins came over as part of the trade that sent Jason Heyward to St Louis, he immediately moved near the top of the Braves prospect list and became a favorite of fans in Mississippi and later at Gwinnett.  After the 2015 season BA said that Jenkins had made large strides.

"“. . . Jenkins blossomed with the Braves in 2015, proving he was healthy and earning the organization’s minor league pitcher of the year award. He went 8-9, 3.19 in 25 starts . . . In addition to establishing a career high with 138 innings, Jenkins made impressive strides in learning how to command his two and four seam fastballs and the importance of using his secondary offerings . . . a hard curveball and a solid changeup . . . Jenkins has No. 4 starter potential and is on the cusp of pitching in Atlanta, which should happen at some point in 2016. “"

This season the Braves simplified Jenkins mechanic’s in order to help him improve his control. In his last five starts he threw 30 2/3 innings with a 4.11ERA, 1.402 WHIP striking out 20 and walking just nine as opponents posted a .296/.341/.426/.767 line with a .323 BAbip.

The Braves apparently decided that there wasn’t enough improvement to move him to Atlanta and think the move to the pen may be an answer. His appearance went pretty well.

Brian Snitker said the change might get Jenkins to Atlanta sooner.

"“[The transition] might be the thing that gets him up here quicker,” said Braves manager Brian Snitker, who served as Jenkins’ manager at Gwinnett for the second half of last season and the first six weeks of this current season. . . It’s just to see how he does there. Maybe with a little different look, maybe he’ll get after it a little more. Instead of pacing yourself [as a starting pitcher], you go out there and blow for a couple innings. We’ll see how he does.”"

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