With just a few days left before the trade deadline, the Atlanta Braves bullpen has yet to undergo any significant alterations at the moment. However, each passing day brings a new rumor around Raisel Iglesias, Pierce Johnson, and many more. It's expected at least one, if not multiple current Braves relievers will be pitching for a new team come August 1st.
Once a couple spots open up in the bullpen post trade deadline, Atlanta will likely turn to some interesting young pitching prospects to get a look at them in the final two months of the season. In fact, one of the recent moves they made in Triple-A is a good indication of an impending post deadline callup.
Pitching prospect Blake Burkhalter moving into bullpen role could signal upcoming Braves bullpen audition
2022 second round pick Blake Burkhalter was drafted out of the Auburn Tigers bullpen then immediately transitioned into a starting pitcher in the Braves farm system. Burkhalter has enjoyed success at a number of levels in his pro career thanks to his power fastball and excellent cutter. This season Burkhalter has climbed his way into the Gwinnett Stripers rotation, and posted a 3,43 ERA in 84 innings across Double-A and Triple-A.
However, it's recently been pointed out that Burkhalter has eclipsed his career high in innings pitched; thus the Braves have transitioned him into a bullpen role with Gwinnett. Many have speculated this is a move in preparation for Burkhalter getting a shot in the big league bullpen very soon.
The Major League pitching staff in Atlanta has been ravaged by injuries, and the final months of the season are likely going to be hard to watch for fans. Given the status of the Major League rotation, many of us aren't expecting a ton of wins over the final two months.
Instead, this is the perfect opportunity to see what propsects can stick at the Major League level so that Alex Anthopoulos has a better idea of who he can depend on in 2026. Names like Blake Burkhalter, Hayden Harris, and Jhancarlos Lara feel like obvious promotion candidates post trade deadline.
For Burkhalter in particular, there is extra motivation as the team needs to place him on the 40-man roster to avoid the risk of losing him in the Rule 5 draft. Pitchers drafted and signed at age 19 or older (Burkhalter was 21 at the time he was drafted) need to be placed on the 40-man roster within four seasons of their selection. In just a weeks time we will likely see some fresh faces in the Braves bullpen, hopefully Burkhalter is among those who gets a shot in the final stretch of this otherwise frustrating season.