Brad Hand Joins Major League Roster; RHP Daysbel Hernandez to 15-Day IL
The Atlanta Braves get a helping hand in their bullpen on Wednesday. Rookie pitcher Daysbel Hernandez has been placed on the 15-day IL.
The Atlanta Braves acquired left-handed pitcher Brad Hand from the Colorado Rockies during yesterday's trade deadline madness. One day later, he is joining the Braves in Atlanta.
Another transaction was made as rookie Daysbel Hernandez has been placed on the 15-day injured list due to right forearm inflammation.
The #Braves today reported LHP Brad Hand to Atlanta and placed RHP Daysbel Hernández on the 15-day injured list, backdated to August 1, with right forearm inflammation.
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) August 2, 2023
Hernandez has showcased his electric pitch arsenal striking out 6 batters in just 3.2 innings pitched in the big leagues. However, he is carrying a 7.36 ERA and has some kinks to work out. Hopefully, this IL stint will allow him to rest his inflamed forearm and return in a more efficient fashion.
Brad Hand joining the Braves on Wednesday completes his feat of donning a big league jersey for all NL East teams. In his 13-year MLB career, the three-time, All-Star has played for the: Marlins, Padres, Guardians, Nationals, Mets, Blue Jays, Phillies, and Rockies.
Hand's 2023 stats are not the best of his long career but he is ready to prove that he has plenty left in the tank. He comes into Wednesday with a 4.54 ERA across 35.2 innings pitched. That ERA may seem a little high for a reliever who has been trusted in 40 appearances this season but Coors Field is not exactly pitcher-friendly.
Looking beyond his basic season stats, Hand is purely dominant against left-handed hitters. His Southpaw counterparts are only hitting .143 against him in 49 at-bats. Having a weapon like this in the bullpen when a power-hitting lefty comes to the plate in later innings will come in handy. (Yes, another bad pun).
With the recent performance of Joe Jimenez, AJ Minter returning from the IL, Dylan Lee on the cusps of rejoining the club, and now the acquisition of Hand, improvements are coming for the Braves bullpen. Brian Snitker will soon have more left-handed options in relief than he has been used to, which will be a good thing.