The Atlanta Braves have featured some of the best up-and-coming pitchers in Major League Baseball over the years. However, there comes a time when the organization has to make tough decisions that may be unpopular. This was the case with former Braves lefty reliever A.J. Minter. Minter was a big part of Atlanta's bullpen from 2017 to 2024. He did struggle with hip and shoulder issues during that time, but overall, he was a dependable arm in the bullpen.
These injury issues became a little too much for the Braves after Minter dealt with hip issues for the majority of 2024 and needed surgery. Atlanta chose to cut ties with the lefty, and he signed with the Mets ahead of the 2025 season. Unfortunately, his injury issues continued in New York with a left lat strain just two weeks into the season. He ended up missing the rest of the season and needed surgery before the 2026 season.
Minter was on his way back to the MLB on a rehab assignment, but he recently ran into another roadblock. The Mets announced he was removed from that assignment with left hip discomfort, and they'll re-evaluate his timetable for return.
News: the Mets pulled A.J. Minter off his rehab assignment due to left hip discomfort. Not a major setback, but Minter's return is no longer imminent. He'll get a fresh 30-day rehab clock once he's ready to pitch again.
— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) May 6, 2026
A.J. Minter's continued injury struggles should remind Braves fans why the team was right to move on
This just further drives home why the Braves moved on from Minter despite his great work. Hip and shoulder injuries are not easy for pitchers to return from. It's possible the lefty could never pitch another inning for the Mets.
It stinks because Minter was an excellent pitcher during his eight seasons in Atlanta. He amassed a 3.28 ERA over 348.2 innings, with 123 walks, 422 strikeouts, and a 2.86 FIP. His ability to pitch well in high-leverage spots was huge for the Braves in their 2021 World Series run.
Fans will never forget how well he and the "Night Shift" pitched during that season. They were a huge reason why that team defied the odds and brought a championship back to Atlanta. It's sad to see him run into a roadblock like this, but it's a good thing he isn't the Braves' problem anymore.
Add us as a preferred source on Google