The Braves had a slew of noteworthy developments among starting pitchers at all levels yesterday. In San Diego, Spencer Schwellenbach continued his stellar work at the major-league level, leading the Braves to a much needed win over the Padres thanks to seven innings of one-run ball.
On the farm for Low-A Augusta, top prospect JR Ritchie made his return to minor-league baseball following Tommy John surgery in style, tossing five no-hit innings with seven strikeouts. In Rome, Ian Anderson continued to build up strength as he aims to return to the majors, going 4.2 innings and allowing a couple of runs on six hits.
Ian Anderson's night is over for Rome
4.2IP 6H 2ER 0BB 2K pic.twitter.com/UGnqTZDHY4— Gaurav (@gvedak) July 13, 2024
It’s been a frustrating few years for Ian Anderson since the 2021 World Series run. He really struggled in 2022 and dealt with a slew of injuries, and his year ended when it was announced he would undergo Tommy John surgery.
It was the cherry on top of a season to forget, but still just 26-years-old, it could turn out to be a blessing in disguise. A lot of arms come back from TJ even stronger, especially younger ones, and it seemed like Anderson was in desperate need of a fresh start. The 18 months off should have provided him a chance to reset, and now there’s absolutely no pressure on him to succeed.
The Braves rotation is among the deepest in the league, especially with the recent emergence of Spencer Schwellenbach. Atlanta also has Bryce Elder and AJ Smith-Shawver waiting in the wings. Whatever Ian Anderson is able to give the Braves moving forward should be viewed as icing on the cake. There are no expectations, but this is still a former #3 overall pick with one of the best postseason resumés in franchise history, boasting a 1.26 ERA over eight starts. If Anderson continues to build up strength, who knows what he could provide the Braves down the road.
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Photo: Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire
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