The Atlanta Braves have made a pair of noteworthy minor league signings in recent days, signing a pair of right-handed pitchers in Nick Howard and Joe Harvey. Both of Howard and Harvey were also assigned to Triple-A Gwinnett on Thursday.
Atlanta Braves sign free agent RHP's Nick Howard, Joe Harvey
Beginning with Howard, the 29-year-old reliever is a former first round pick out of Virginia from the 2014 MLB Draft, selected by the Cincinnati Reds. Howard has spent every season of his professional career in the minor leagues of the Reds system since, which included a 10.80 ERA across 13.1 IP in Triple-A during the 2022 campaign (also had a 3.91 ERA across 23 IP in Independent Ball with the York Revolution of Atlantic League).
Owning a combined 5.66 ERA across seven minor league seasons, Howard has spent a vast majority of his professional career as a reliever, and will likely do the same with the Braves. The 29-year-old is likely a depth option in the minor leagues this season, but could still be a name to watch for based on how he starts the year in Gwinnett.
As for Harvey, the 31-year-old reliever is a former 19th round pick from that same 2014 MLB Draft by the New York Yankees out of Pittsburgh, one who has since made his major league debut. Coming during the 2019-20 seasons, Harvey owns a career 4.22 ERA across 21.1 IP in the major leagues, which came with the Yankees and Colorado Rockies.
Harvey, who owns a career 2.63 ERA across seven minor league seasons mainly as a reliever, did not pitch during the 2022 season, and last owned a 5.40 ERA across 16.2 IP during the 2021 campaign in Triple-A of the Rockies and Minnesota Twins' organizations. Similar to Howard, Harvey is also a name to know entering 2023, with the right-hander a player that could potentially return to the big leagues at some point this season.