The Braves announced Friday that they’ve activated right-hander Arodys Vizcaino from the 60-day disabled list. In order to open a spot on the 40-man roster, Atlanta reinstated lefty Luiz Gohara from the minor league disabled list, called him up to the Majors, and placed him on the MLB 60-day DL due to shoulder soreness of his own.
Vizcaino, 27, was in the midst of a dominant season when he hit the disabled list due to shoulder inflammation in mid July. That injury cost him two months of the season, but he’ll return to finish off a season he began with 32 2/3 innings of 1.65 ERA ball. Along the way, Vizcaino picked up 15 saves and averaged 9.4 K/9, 3.3 BB/9 and 0.55 HR/9 with a 32.9 percent ground-ball rate. His return will give the Braves another power arm to add to the relief corps at a time when top relievers A.J. Minter and Dan Winkler have had some struggles.
The Braves, at this point, have all but locked up the National League East, as they hold a 7.5 game lead over a rapidly fading Phillies club that has won just twice in its past 10 contests. A healthy Vizcaino, though, should better position Atlanta for success in an eventual NLDS appearance that few would’ve predicted prior to Opening Day.
As for Gohara, he’ll receive an extra 18 days of big league service that he may not have been expecting when he landed on the minor league disabled list in late August. He’ll still finish out the 2018 season with under a full year of service time, though he’ll be paid at the MLB rate for the final few weeks of the year even though his season is now definitively over.
I didn’t realize minor leaguers (on the 40 man) could not be disabled in a manner equivalent to the 60-man DL. The more you know…..
I think there is a long-term DL in the minors, but it doesn’t remove the player from the 40-man roster like the major league 60-day DL does.
A big piece for the Braves in the playoffs. They will need the pen to be successful to have a shot
Yes, if he can return to being lights out, it helps…
Classy move by the Braves, on the Gohara deal….As a Phillies fan who was befuddled when they jammed Eflin earlier, it shows a fundamental difference in dealing with player relationships…
Thanks for the note. It’s been a tough year for Gohara. Really hope he uses it as motivation for next year. He was expected to have a spot from the preseason, but several setbacks including personal really changed that. He has a lot of talent and I don’t expect ATL to sell low on him, but you’ve got to question if he will be able to put it altogether.
A few more quality arms needed in that bullpen. Winkler has been over used and it’s starting to maybe affect his effectiveness.
Sam Freeman, too.