The Braves made a surprising decision this week, optioning both Bryce Elder and Ian Anderson to Triple-A Gwinnett. That takes the duo out of consideration for the fifth spot in the rotation. Atlanta’s top four of Max Fried, Spencer Strider, Kyle Wright and Charlie Morton is settled, but the final slot now looks as if it’ll go to someone previously expected to open the year in the minors.
With injuries to Michael Soroka and Kolby Allard keeping them out of the season-opening mix, Elder and Anderson had seemed the favorites for the last rotation spot. Instead, it now seems the Braves will turn to a pitcher with no MLB experience out of the gate. Prospects Jared Shuster and Dylan Dodd look as if they’re battling for the final spot.
Jared Shuster
The 24-year-old Shuster was Atlanta’s first-round pick out of Wake Forest in 2020. He split the 2022 campaign between Double-A Mississippi and Gwinnett, working to a 3.29 ERA in 139 1/3 innings. He punched out 26.2% of batters faced compared to a modest 6.9% walk rate overall. Shuster’s strikeout numbers dropped precipitously after a midseason jump to Triple-A, however. He’d fanned 30% of opponents in 17 appearances with Mississippi but that mark fell to 19.4% over 10 outings for the Stripers.
Baseball America considers Shuster the #3 prospect in the Atlanta farm system. The outlet credits him with a plus changeup and above-average control. He’s not a particularly hard thrower and scouts peg his slider as a fringe-average pitch. Shuster has thrown 10 2/3 innings this spring, allowing only one run with 16 strikeouts and two walks.
Dylan Dodd
Dodd, also 24, was Atlanta’s third-round pick in 2021. An underslot senior signee coming out of Southeast Missouri State, Dodd moved across three minor league levels in his first full professional season. He started 16 games with High-A Rome and nine for Mississippi before closing out the ’22 campaign with one appearance in Gwinnett. The left-hander soaked up 142 innings over the three levels, posting a 3.36 ERA with a 26% strikeout percentage while only walking 5.3% of opponents.
Ranked the #6 prospect in the organization by Baseball America, Dodd has a similar pitchability profile as Shuster. His fastball also sits in the low-90s and he leans heavily on a pair of advanced breaking pitches in his changeup and slider. He’s an excellent strike-thrower who’s generally regarded as a solid bet to be a back-of-the-rotation starter. Dodd has tossed 8 1/3 scoreless innings in exhibition play, punching out 11 without handing out any free passes.
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The book on Shuster and Dodd is fairly similar. They’re both advanced left-handers with strong secondary stuff and control to drive the profile despite middling velocity. They’re each recent college draftees without a ton of professional experience but already in their mid-20s. Both pitchers are having excellent showings in Grapefruit League play, apparently vaulting themselves past Elder and Anderson on the immediate depth chart. Neither is yet on the 40-man roster but Atlanta has a vacancy after losing Dennis Santana on waivers last month and could clear more room by placing Tyler Matzek and Huascar Ynoa on the 60-day injured list.
It stands to reason both Shuster and Dodd will make their MLB debuts at some point this year. One of the duo now figures to break camp with the big league club and assume a key role from the season’s outset. Who will get the nod?
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Pretty obvious for me it’s Shuster. He’s been lights out this spring.
Yep, definitely can’t see it shaking out any other way at this point, but would love to see Anderson and Soroka get back to their best this season.
Both Shuster and Dodd have been amazing and either choice will be great. Both have come into camp with higher velo than seen before. Very exciting.
It should be both Dodd/Shuster — I don’t know how Wright is going to be ready by OD.
Agree with this. Wright might not be ready by opening day—no reason to rush him with both of these showing solid springs.
I was thinking the same thing and even if he is, use a 6 man rotation to start the year. I think the Braves play in 13 of the first 14 days this year. Going 6 deep would spell Wright and Strider after a major innings jump last season and Morton who is 39.
They could also cut Yates. Guy is cooked.
The Braves AAA starting pitching will be amazing–AND low A.
Is Ian Anderson really that bad? He’s fallen that many Braves starting candidates behind Charlie Morton?
Asking for a friend (who doesn’t have 3 better starters than Anderson).
ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME
25 MPH dirt hopper fastball: unhittable.
Shuster has to get first crack.
Hopefully Ian Anderson can work things out down the track. I wish they’d give Maddux a call to come and work with Anderson, he’s the ideal man to help Anderson work thigs out.
He’s been in TX working with deGrom and his bro, which is typically the case.
*things
I say shuster for the simple fact that he has a little bit more time in aaa than dodd, only one appearance at the level. Both are having great springs, and the future should be bright for both. Will definitely see both in the majors throughout the year at various stages. Go braves!
Other. They’ll go with a 4-man rotation and pitchers will pitch 9-inning, just like the good ol’daya.
And leave one of the best bullpens in MLB to just look pretty beyond the fence? Nevermind the advantage because they don’t fit the narrative.
Bullpens are usually overrated. Only decent guys in a pen are mop-up guys.
Ah yes, we could also bring back horses and ban cars, banish the internet, boost back up infant mortality, do away with running water r and electricity, etc…
@Tigers3232
Probably could also do with focusing on writing and grammar.
I left an ‘r’ in there inadvertently. I’m not proofreading my comments on account of some stubborn old man driven by a sense of nostalgia.
There was more problems before you edited it. Said car a few times, etc…
@Old York — “There [were] more problems before you edited it.”
I am sure that was intended for irony.
@RunDMC
Of course.
They just never seem to run out of ML ready prospects. Forget about system rankings, they tend to overvalue pedigree. A minor league system that consistently produces usable players can be more valuable than one that occasionally coughs up a star. The Braves system has been able to do both.
My brain says Shuster but my heart says “other” and give 62-year old Zane Smith another go-round.
If I had to choose one of them I’d pick Dodd, but it will probably be Shuster.
It looks like the Braves have just as many if not more injury concerns than the Mets pitching. These two came into camp as the Braves eighth or ninth options and now are breaking camp with the team. Not a good sign from the Braves to start the season.
Dont worry the Braves will bring up someone from A ball who will be worth 3 WAR.
Projection much…
Anderson and Elder aren’t injury concerns, and Soroka and Allard were never counted on, so your point is invalid. If you’re going to troll, at least know the facts.
Troll? So Anderson and Elder are just not that good is what you’re saying. I never said they were injury concerns. They just got beat out by soft tossing junk pitchers. If the 8 and 9 guys are winning starting spots then you have issues. Wright is an injury concern. He is your second best pitcher. Soroka and Allard are expected to be counted on. Maybe you should know your facts before trolling.
Having a rotation of older/expensive FAs is a concern, not a team choosing between in-house prospects for a 5th spot that are developing well/posing a high class dilemma.
Sorry about Diaz. I mean that. He was the best at an important position. The Mets will find another solution but no one is Diaz. To say that Dodd and Shuster are 8th and 9th options and soft tossers is a last year type view. Both have blown off the doors in camp. The Braves are sending a message because Ian and Elder are being sent down now. The best 26 will go. Even though Ian has been astounding in the post season and Elder who is a valuable 5th type starter they will be looking on from AAA. Your entire rotation has a high ceiling and low floor (injury risk). I hope it’s another great race. You have so much more to worry about with the Mets rotation. Anyone at anytime can be hurt. Strider/wright threw more innings than ever last year and that’s a concern. Morton and Fried are generally consistent as far as innings (save baseballs breaking legs and stomach virus taking 15 pounds off a 6,3 190 frame)—the 5th starter will start with Shuster and Dodd and then Ian, Soroka. Elder, Vines, and Allard. Depth is good and I believe all of those pitchers can help the Braves with either trades or being in the mlb team. The Mets have some great depth as well—personally I’d go with the Braves depth but it could be a coin flip. The last Mets team with this many older starters to have 4 throw over 100 innings was the last Mets team with Glavine. So it could happen. It also could be only two of your 4 older starts pitch 100 plus innings. If they both are not Sherzer and Mr Upton it will be a devastating blow for the Mets.
@bhambrave a troll? LOL
Back off your bitterness @Mets6986, your losing credibility.
Mets Fans just saying stuff to make themselves feel better after the loss of Edwin Díaz and Jose Quintana. BOTH teams are still going to be good. However, the EAST still goes through Truist Park. Chop On Braves Country!!!!
LOL Braves fans have been talking crap because Peterson is in the Mets rotation. He is far and away better then these two junk ball pitchers.
At the end of the year—look at the 4th and 5th starters race and you will know more. Morton and Shuster, Dodd and the rest—-end of the year the Mets may be stronger but I would give the Braves the edge over whatever the Mets end up with. We all will see.
Like I said both teams will still be good. NL East is a Beast. Only 13 head to head games down from 19 with the balanced schedule. When we play each other it means that much more.
We have two off days in April, why not both?
Four man rotation and pass me the fifth!!
Should Shuster be a top 100 prospect? I know it’s all subjective but he was a first round pick and has been pretty good every year in the minors, it would make an interesting debate. He was a guy I wasn’t that high on coming out of the draft given his relative sketchy track record at Wake Forest. He impressed the braves obviously in the Cape Cod League and their is a reason I’m not a scout! I am excited to see Spencer Schwellenbach make his pro debut and Adam Maier as well, I was high on those guys and hope they develop well!