The Rays are set to select the contract of left-handed reliever Jonny Venters from Triple-A Durham, reports Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times (Twitter links). It’ll be the first appearance in the Majors for Venters since way back in 2012. The lefty was a star setup man for the Braves before injuries decimated a promising career. As Topkin notes, Venters has had three Tommy John surgeries in his career — two since his Braves days — as well as a “reattachment” procedure in 2016.
Now 33 years of age, Venters burst onto the scene with the 2010 Braves, working to a combined 1.89 ERA with 9.9 K/9, 4.3 BB/9 and roughly 70 percent ground-ball rate in his first two big league seasons. Venters’ results took a step back in 2012, though he still turned in a strong 3.22 ERA with similar K/BB numbers and slightly diminished ground-ball tendencies in 58 2/3 innings before going down with injury.
Venters didn’t pitch with any team’s minor league affiliate from 2013-15 and tossed just 27 2/3 innings in rehab stints over the past two seasons. He’s allowed a run on four hits and five walks with six strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings thus far in Triple-A Durham.
Tampa Bay has an open spot on its 40-man roster, so no 40-man move will need to be made to accommodate Venters’ promotion. Righty Hunter Wood will be optioned to Triple-A to clear a spot on the 25-man roster, per Topkin. Venters will join Jose Alvardo and Ryan Yarbrough as left-handed options in manager Kevin Cash’s bullpen for the time being.
What a great story. Hope he performs really well and gets traded to a contender at the deadline
I really hope he finds success again. It’s really fun to see stories like Venters, and I’m glad to see him make a comeback.
Here’s to hoping Venters can become a serviceable reliever. Though a more malicious part of me would find it hilarious to see him undergo like 6 more TJSs.
Why would that be hilarious?
I would find it hilarious if you had to undergo surgery 6 times in the future
Username checks out.
Please explain how you could find that idea “hilarious”, especially given how he’s fought to come back after the surgeries he’s already had. I’m genuinely curious how you could even begin to think that’s remotely funny.
Then you are a major douche nozzle ! I hope the Cubs have another horrible 108 seasons of baseball !
Did you think about this at all before you typed it?
He did say “the malicious part of me” which I think you guys are skipping… he doesn’t actually want it to happen. That being said, I hope Venters all the best. He was fantastic with the Braves
Cox and Fredo ruined that poor guy.
Yea! They just couldn’t help any pitchers at all huh? Get a clue!
You must have never watched the Braves back then. If any one is clueless it’s certainly you. I’ve seen your dumb ass posts.
Hard not to root for a guy like him! What could have been if all those Braves arms stayed healthy at the same time. Minor, Beachy, Medlen, Jurrjens, Hanson, O’flaherty and Venters. Man oh man what could have been.
Wow, it really is remarkable to see all of those names laid out like that. So many injuries to talented arms.
Especially when you consider all of those arms in the rotations were behind Tim Hudson, and the pen guys were behind Kimbrel. Then you had Delgado, Teheran, and Vizcaino in the high minors with huge espectations. Hard to believe the 2010 to 2012 Braves era wasn’t better.
I just hope his arm doesn’t fall off. After all his surgeries, I don’t think much is holding it together besides duct tape.
Is Venters the first Major League pitcher to be on a ML roster following 3 TJ surgeries?
Jason Isringhausen.
Had one in ‘98, ‘08 and ‘09
Pitched for the Angels and the Mets in ‘11 and ‘12 respectively. Pretty amazing to be honest.
If he pitches 1 inning, he should automatically become the AL Comeback Player of the Year.
Awesome news for Jonny V!
Great guy, happy for him.
Can’t wait for the movie