The Braves announced Monday that they’ve selected the contract of right-hander Jackson Stephens from Triple-A Gwinnett and optioned righty Allan Winans in his place. In order to open a spot on the 40-man roster, injured right-hander Michael Soroka was transferred to the 60-day IL. Soroka was recently shut down for the season due to forearm inflammation.
Stephens, 29, will get a second big league look with Atlanta after spending the bulk of the 2022 season in their bullpen. He tossed 53 2/3 innings off 3.69 ERA ball last year, striking out 20% of his opponents against a 9.8% walk rate with a 46.3% ground-ball rate. He had a lengthy stay on the minor league injured list this season but has been sharp both in rehab work in the low minors and more recently in Triple-A, where Stephens has pitched 24 2/3 frames with a 3.28 earned run average, 26% strikeout rate and outstanding 4% walk rate.
This will be the fourth season in which Stephens, a former 18th-round pick of the Reds (2012), logs major league time. He’s totaled 117 big league frames between Cincinnati and Atlanta, notching a combined 4.31 ERA in that time. Stephens has been pitching in two- and three-inning stints recently in Gwinnett — some of them starts, some out of the bullpen — so he’ll add some length to the Braves’ bullpen during today’s doubleheader against the Phillies.
It’s quite possible that Kyle Wright will be returning to make his first start since May in the second half of that twin bill, and he’s yet to throw more than 50 pitches or pitch beyond 3 2/3 innings during his rehab stint. As such, there’s all the more reason to call up an arm capable of providing three or perhaps even four innings of relief if needed.
Jackson is extra ammo in the bullpen. I imagine that there will be more shuffling around for game two of the double header. AJSS probably optioned back down. Ian Anderson and Daysbel Hernández both on the 15 day IL and havent been moved to the 60 day IL. I’m assuming one will be transferred with Wright gets called up and the other when Jesse Chavez is ready.
I think its for service time manipulation. Not sure the extent of McHugh’s injury, he could be another candidate for the 60 day IL. Plenty of pieces to move around still.
It’s weird that this is allowed.
Just a loophole. Since he wasn’t in the majors when he got hurt he gets treated like a minor leaguer instead of a Pro.
I think Anderson can’t be moved to the 60 day IL, because he’s in 15 days IL, but in the minors.
I believe you are right Anderson is on minor league injuried list which is a different pay grade etc. for Atlanta to use his 40 man spot they would need to activate him immediately put him on major league 60’day list. Would affect service time and salary
It’s service time manipulation. You have to be on the active roster to be added to the 60 day DL so the Braves just decided to leave him in the minor and save the year of service time they would have lost with him on the DL.
This reminds me of the ride at the carnival where you sit in a cup & they spin you round and round until you want to barf. This up and down is confusing to me so it’s probably irritating to the players, but it’s todays game so we all have to deal with it.