Last week, Darren O’Day officially began his rehab assignment with the rookie-level GCL Braves. The former All-Star reliever did what he was supposed to in his one outing against the rookies, striking out two in a perfect frame. And most importantly, there were no setbacks for the guy the Braves acquired in last year’s deal for Kevin Gausman. O’Day, who has yet to appear for Atlanta since the trade, will now continue his rehab assignment in Florida with the Fire Frogs.
The #Braves today transferred RHP Darren O’Day’s major league rehabilitation assignment to Single-A Florida.
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) August 27, 2019
O’Day was once considered among the most dominant set-up men in baseball. He made the offense-heavy AL East look silly year-in-and-year-out with his submarine delivery from the right side. To expect him to produce at the same level would be foolish. O’Day is now 36-years-old and hasn’t pitched since June of last year, but he could still provide even more depth to a bullpen that is beginning to come around.
Brian Snitker has said – if all goes well – the plan is for O’Day to join the Braves in September. As of now, things are trending in the right direction.