The Atlanta Braves announced their NLDS playoff roster this morning, and it featured a few surprises. Perhaps the biggest surprise being the decision to carry reliever Daysbel Hernandez, instead of 2022 NLDS game two starter, Kyle Wright. We now know why that choice was made.
Tough break for Kyle Wright. Braves announced they placed him on the 60-day injured list with a right shoulder strain.
— Justin Toscano (@JustinCToscano) October 7, 2023
He will not pitch in the postseason. https://t.co/nv5Y90QAwy
2023 was essentially a lost season for Kyle Wright, who battled a shoulder injury for the majority of the season. It has to be extremely disappointing for the young right-hander, who was coming off a 20 win 2022 season. Last season it felt like Wright had established himself as Major League starter, but unfortunately 2023 was hampered by an injury.
Wright made just five starts before landing on the 60-day IL in May with a right shoulder strain. He would make his return on September 11th, a start against the Phillies in which he gave up six earned runs in just three innings of work.
Kyle made four appearances after returning for the lengthy IL stint, the last two of which came in a multi-inning relief appearance. We thought the Braves were prepping him for some form of a relief role in the postseason, but any postseason appearance got shut down with this recent news.
On the year Wright's numbers were a 1-3 record, 6.97 ERA, 5.19 FIP, 17 walks, and 34 strikeouts in 31 innings of work via baseball reference. Certainly, not the 2023 he was hoping for.
Disappoinment aside, Kyle Wright is an extremely talented pitcher, that has battled numerous ups and downs in his short career. He has some of the nastiest stuff in the Braves organization, and with the confidence he gained from 2021 there is no doubt he can rebound from that.
For now the Braves will have to navigate their 2023 playoff path without Kyle Wright, and hold out hope he comes into the 2024 season rejuvenated and healthy.