House That Hank Built
Fansided

What lies ahead for Atlanta Braves Mike Foltynewicz? With or Without Us?

By Justin Gaither

Jul 16, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Mike Foltynewicz (26) throws a pitch against the Colorado Rockies in the fourth inning at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 16, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Mike Foltynewicz (26) throws a pitch against the Colorado Rockies in the fourth inning at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

WIth the Trade Deadline approaching, what lies ahead for Atlanta Braves RHP Mike Foltynewicz? 

For the Atlanta Braves right-handed starting pitcher, Mike Foltynewicz, the 2016 season has been an eventful, wild roller coaster ride.  Folty has made just ten starts spread out over the entirety of the season, but such is the nature of the game for a MLB starting pitcher.

There’s no doubt that Foltynewicz has big league stuff with a heater that rivals the Mets’ Noah Syndergaard and the Nationals’ Stephen Strasburg.  It’s a fastball that reaches triple-digits on any given night.  That isn’t to say; however, that he is as ready to pitch at the big-league level as the aforementioned NL East aces, but he could be well on his way.

In 2015, his only season as a MLB starting pitcher prior to this season, Foltynewicz posted a 5.71 ERA in 15 starts which was accompanied by a 1.63 WHIP.  This season, on the other hand, he has brought his ERA down to 3.70 and his WHIP to 1.18, while striking out roughly eight batters per nine innings.

But here’s the real kicker for those of you into advanced stats, Folty’s WAR (Wins Above Replacement) this season is 0.9, prior to this season his best was -0.1, a major improvement.

To provide some background on his career so far, Foltynewicz came to the Braves from the Houston Astros in the Evan Gattis trade in the 2014-2015 offseason.  He was a top prospect with minimal big league experience.  Since that point, he has grown into a projectable third arm in someone’s rotation and possibly even higher in that rotation.

The question that remains is, whose rotation will it be?

More from Tomahawk Take

With the trade deadline approaching, the Braves have made it no secret that they are willing to trade a starting pitcher like a Julio Teheran or a Mike Foltynewicz for a big bat in the lineup (perhaps Yasiel Puig of the Dodgers).  While many would argue that both Folty and Julio are imperative to the Braves future ability to contend, let us not forget who the Braves have in the minors.

With Kolby Allard and Joey Wentz both being promoted yesterday — Allard to Rome and Wentz to Danville — and other pitching prospects quickly on their way, the pitching future for the Braves looks promising.

While Sean Newcomb may not be having the best year in Mississipi at the moment, Tyrell Jenkins pitched very well last night for the Braves against Cincinnati and one can’t simply forget Touki Toussaint currently with the Single-A Rome Braves.

The point is that the Braves have plenty of pitching prospects, so the loss of 24-year-old Mike Foltynewicz in a trade for a potential bat could prove to be extremely beneficial for the Braves in the future.

Next: Should the Braves go after Puig?

To honestly answer the question, you’ll have to wait until the trade deadline and see; but it’s definitely something to keep in mind so that when and if Folty gets moved, know that there is still tons of pitching in the Braves system.  No matter what lies ahead for Mike Foltynewicz, as long as he locates his 96-100 MPH fastball and stays healthy, I have a feeling he’ll be just fine.

Home/Braves News