The Braves announced today that they have outrighted righty Luke Jackson. Taking his place on the active roster is southpaw Luiz Gohara, who’ll return to the majors for the first time in 2018.
Jackson, 26, has already been up and down this season, making just two MLB appearances while active. It seems he has accepted his outright assignment, meaning he’ll be available if and when a need arises in the future. He has allowed four earned runs with a 13:6 K/BB ratio in his 9 1/3 Triple-A innings on the year.
As for Gohara, this’ll be his second look at the game’s highest level. He endured a rough offseason and spring, marked by injury and personal loss, and opened the year in the minors — first on a rehab assignment and then on option. The results haven’t been to his typical standards thus far, as he has allowed 22 hits (five of them homers), a dozen earned runs, and ten walks against fifteen strikeouts in his 15 2/3 total innings.
Clearly, the Braves believe Gohara can return to his former trajectory. He was outstanding at all levels in 2018, including a five-start MLB run in which he allowed 4.91 earned per nine but also recorded an impressive 9.5 K/9 against 2.5 BB/9. Gohara averaged 97.0 mph with his fastball and posted a 13.4% swinging-strike rate in the majors. It seems clear that the team still views him as a future rotation piece, but he’ll spend some time in the bullpen for the time being, as David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution noted yesterday on Twitter.
The Braves sure like to swap out pitchers don’t they ? It seems at times some of their pitchers aren’t ready yet. Not sure why they are bringing up Gohara especially for the bullpen (?)
I think it’s because it’s another type of development. He’s been getting hit around during isolated innings. If he were to develop (although longer) in 1-2 IP increments, it might allow him to reestablish some of his offerings, while gaining confidence, though it’s certainly riskier to expose him to better bats at the ML level.
Something’s gotta give, because it looks like he needs a breakthrough (or an intervention).
Well put
Or perhaps this is simply his spring training.
Why in the world would you not add some chilli to that?
Thank God. Luke Jackson has yet to show he has anything to offer at the Major League level.
Luke Jackson will be back with the Braves in about 6 days. That’s usually how it seems to go with him.
Lol yea that sounds about right