According to a Can-Am League News release, the Atlanta Braves purchased the contract of right hander Karl Triana from the Quebec Nationals on Friday.
The Atlanta Braves continued to add to their minor league pitching depth yesterday snagging the former Diamondback farm hand before he could begin season with Quebec.
Who Is this guy?
The Diamondback signed an 18-year-old Karl Triana as an international free agent in January of 2011. Like most young Latin players, Triana started in the Dominican Summer league making eleven starts and one relief appearance totaling 67 2/3 innings. His final numbers showed promise as he allowed only one home, struck out 45 and walked just 14 on his way to a 3.06 ERA and 1.030 WHIP.
The following year Triana began his minor league career here with Missoula in the rookie Pioneer league. He made fourteen appearances – all starts – there spanning 67 innings but the tougher competition forced his WHIP up to 1.58 that drug his ERA up to 5.64.
He started 2013 in the short season Northwest League and made three starts there –4.60 ERA in 15 2/3 IP – before being sent back to Missoula where he made two more appearances before being released in July.
Lost in the Wilderness
I found no record of Triana playing ball at any level after that until he returned to play independent ball for the American Association’s Gary SouthShore RailCats in 2016. It was a solid return to organized ball for the Colombian righty, had a solid showing in his first year in independent baseball. According to the American Association pitching leaders page he made 17 starts finishing with a 4-4 record and 3.50 ERA.
| W | L | ERA | G | GS | SHO | SV | IP | SO | BB | H | WHIP | |
| 2016 | 4 | 4 | 3.5 | 17 | 17 | 1 | 0 | 105 1/3 | 79 | 39 | 89 | 1.215 |
His four wins included a 118 pitch, four walk, three strikeout no-hitter against the Kansas City T-Bones ( I love minor league team names) on June first. Triana told the NWI Times it was something his father had asked him to do.
"“This is my biggest dream,” Triana said through an interpreter. “There are no words for everything that I’m feeling.”"
He struck out the last hitter of the game and although his per nine stats show he’s not a strikeout pitcher his season total of 79 set a Railcats franchise record. That’s impressive no matter what level ball you’re playing but hardly enough to get him noticed by the Braves. However I suspect he had an influential advocate in the Braves camp.
Lanzador cartagenero @karllewistriana que juega en @LeonesMonteria, firmó hoy contrato con @Braves y será compañero de abridor Julio Teherán pic.twitter.com/EhCQK1nGg5
— EL MERIDIANO (@elmeridiano_co) March 13, 2017
The WBC For Me
You see Triana was a member of the Colombian team for the World Baseball Classic. In a qualifying round last March he threw six no-hit innings against Panama, striking out eight and walking one to notch the win.
He made one appearance throwing three shutout innings against the WBC favorite Dominicans allowing four hits, walking one and striking out one. I don;t think it’s a stretch to say that a good word may have been dropped by fellow Colombian Julio Teheran upon his return to Braves camp. If a guy can’t do a solid for a fellow Cartagenian (?) (they’re both from Cartagena so I guess that works) what the world coming to?
If you speak the language here’s an interview he did after finding out he’d become a member of the Braves
Pitches?
I have no solid information on his pitches or how he uses them but the early video showed a sinker and a curve out of a low 3/4 slot. He has a simple repeatable motion except when he tries to force his pitches.
The four seamer he threw in 2012 got crushed up in the zone. I have no speed gun but that indicates he doesn’t have much giddyup on the heater or at least not enough to live up top.
The hook isn’t big but it looked effective and he throws something I suspect is supposed to be a slider but looks like a slurve and wasn’t as effective in the early videos as the curve.
That’s A Wrap
I’d say Triana has his work cut out for him if he wants to stick around affiliated ball. The Braves will likely start him no higher A+ ball and as strong as our lower level pitching is, he’ll have a fight on his hands for a rotation spot.
He reminds me a bit of Juan Cruz though Cruz’ delivery was more violent and he had a little more hop on his heater. Time will tell if he can seize this opportunity and make his way to the show.
This looks like the Braves showing respect to their number one starter and it’s quite right that they do. There’s no significant cost to this addition and Julio knows a thing or two about pitching. If he sees something in Triana it’s probably there and worth a closer look.