Is this the best start to a season of A.J. Minter's MLB career?
A.J. Minter has been one of the top relievers in baseball so far this season.
For an Atlanta Braves bullpen that has been among the best in baseball so far this season, the impact that A.J. Minter has had cannot be overstated.
Across 14 IP, Minter currently leads the MLB with five wins, while also owning a 5-2 record with a 2.57 ERA and 16:2 K:BB ratio. Opponents are also batting for a combined 0.786 WHIP against Minter so far in 2024.
So, evident by those numbers alone, it's clear that Minter's 2024 season is certainly off to a strong start. However, is this the best start to a single-season of Minter's MLB career so far?
A.J. Minter on the way to a potential career-best 2024 season
To answer that question, well, we need to take a look back at Minter's seven-year MLB career so far. To do this, we will also factor in the same, or a similar, sample size to what we have seen up to this point in 2024, with the breakdown of each season listed below.
A.J. Minter's year-by-year starts to season:
- 2017: 0-1 record, 3.29 ERA, 22:1 K:BB ratio, four holds, .241 AVG against across 13.2 IP
- 2018: 0-0 record, 1.98 ERA, 12:10 K:BB ratio, four holds, one save, .182 AVG against across 13.2 IP
- 2019: 0-4 record, 9.00 ERA, 18:11 K:BB ratio, two holds, three saves, .316 AVG against across 13 IP
- 2020: 1-0 record, 0.68 ERA, 15:3 K:BB ratio, four holds, .174 AVG against across 13.1 IP
- 2021: 1-0 record, 3.38 ERA, 15:6 K:BB ratio, six holds, .152 AVG against across 13.1 IP
- 2022: 0-0 record, 1.98 ERA, 21:2 K:BB ratio, four holds, .146 AVG across 13.2 IP
- 2023: 1-3 record, 8.56 ERA, 16:3 K:BB ratio, six saves, .291 AVG against across 13.2 IP
- 2024: 5-2 record, 2.57 ERA, 16:2 K:BB ratio, three holds, .184 AVG against across 14 IP
Overall, Minter's start to the 2024 season is by-far the highest win total of his career so far, with the ERA right on par with some of his best seasons. While his strikeout total is among the middle of the pack as well, his walks however tie for his second best total through this point in a season.
So, based on those numbers alone, it's clear that Minter's start to 2024 is certainly among the best of his career so far.
Will this strong start to 2024 go on to mark a career-year for Minter this season as well? Time will ultimately tell.