The Atlanta Braves have had several major injuries to their starting pitchers but still have put together one of the best rotations so far throughout the 2014 MLB season. This Friday they get one of their key starters back into rotation. The left-hander pitcher Mike Minor will be making his 2014 debut this Friday night against the San Francisco Giants.
Mike Minor has been sidelined so far this season due to some shoulder soreness that he first noticed during spring training reports ESPN. It was a precaution because they did not want to take the chance of possibly of seriously injuring himself. Minor received emergency surgery late this offseason to resolve a urinary tract concern, which really disrupted his normal offseason workout schedule.
The disruption of his normal offseason workout could be the direct reason why Minor was experiencing soreness in his shoulder. Sports Illustrated reports that so far this season during rehabilitation, Minor has pitched five times in the minor leagues and has 20 hits and only four walks in the three different levels he has pitched at.
Minor was one of the Braves best pitchers during the 2013 season. He finished with a record of 13-9 and had an ERA of 3.21. He also pitched over 200 innings for the first time in his career.
Minor is making his return to the rotation means that the Braves have to remove someone, which is going to be tough considering everyone in the rotation has been doing very well this season. It is likely that David Hale will be the pitcher being removed from the rotation. Hale has gained solid experience during the bullpen as well as being in the starting rotation so it is very likely that he will remain in the bullpen.