The Atlanta Braves are set to call up AAA phenom Didier Fuentes on Friday to make his MLB debut vs the Miami Marlins. At 20 years old, Fuentes will become the youngest Braves pitcher to make his first start since Mike McQueen, who made his first start at 19 in 1970. The Braves are no doubt using this move to space out the starts for their current rotation, which could prove beneficial with two huge NL East showdowns against the New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies upcoming. Should Fuentes dazzle in his debut, could it possibly change the Braves’ long-term plans, specifically what they do at the trade deadline.
According to MLB.com, Didier Fuentes is the Braves’ tenth-ranked prospect in their Minor League system. While that might not make Fuentes look like a top-notch prospect, his quick ascent through the Minor Leagues is nothing to “turn your nose up” at. In two months, Fuentes has made it from High-A to the Major Leagues, which is pretty impressive in its own right, even though it is becoming more commonplace in recent years.
Statistically speaking, Fuentes’s performances have been a Jekyll and Hyde experience so far. In nine starts across the Minor Leagues this year, from High-A to Triple-A, Fuentes currently has a 0-7 record with a 4.81 ERA. His most recent start in Triple-A does give some hope for a solid debut, however, as he managed to strike out six across 4.2 innings. While the Braves should not be expecting Fuentes to deliver a Greg Maddux-esque performance in his debut, there is evidence that Fuentes could be a future star for the Braves.
The Braves’ Front Office is more than likely hoping for just a spot start from Didier Fuentes in hopes of creating a higher chance of being able to pitch Chris Sale and/or Spencer Schwellenbach twice against the Mets and Phillies next week. If Fuentes pitches serviceably, then he’s done his part, and the Braves will more than likely send him back to Triple-A to get more starts under his belt. If Fuentes comes out firing on all cylinders and delivers a phenomenal performance, the Braves’ deadline plans could take a 360-degree turn.
One option for the Braves could be moving Fuentes to the bullpen as a long-relief option. The Braves’ bullpen this year has been one of, if not the weakest, link on the team. The Braves have also been rumored to be in the market for a bullpen piece at the deadline, but the market for bullpen pitchers this year is loaded, especially within the Braves’ division. Fuentes could help fill that role should he perform well down the stretch of the season. Would the Braves still need another addition to the pen besides Fuentes? More than likely, but Fuentes can keep them from having to get multiple.
If Fuentes goes out there and looks like a future phenom, the Braves could also just roll with a six-man rotation the rest of the year. If they go with this option, all of the starters in the Braves rotation could be used out of the pen in high-leverage situations. This would also eliminate the need for multiple bullpen additions and could free up the Braves to use some of their prospects to beef up the lineup.
The Braves are currently hitting a little bit of a surge, and the debut of Didier Fuentes has a lot of Braves fans excited for the rest of the season. Fuentes is a young arm with a huge amount of upside, and from the looks of highlights, looks to be an exciting pitcher to watch. If Friday night goes well, the Braves’ deadline plans are about to undergo a monumental change.
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