Daysbel Hernandez could be a critical addition to the bullpen, Jesse Chavez to 60-day IL

MLB: JUN 14 Braves at Tigers

Mostly because of injuries, concern has been rising surrounding the Braves bullpen. They are currently missing four of their top guys. Nick Anderson is on the 60-day IL and may not return this season. Jesse Chavez may also not return. He’s still walking with a limp, and the Braves have announced that he will join Anderson on the 60-day IL, which means he can’t be activated for at least a few more weeks. In a corresponding move, the Braves have added an intriguing prospect in Daysbel Hernandez to the major-league roster.

Dylan Lee and A.J. Minter seem like they could be back in the near future, but the former hasn’t pitched in over two months. There’s no guarantee Lee looks like the same pitcher when he returns. With all of these injuries, it feels like a foregone conclusion that Alex Anthopoulos will target at least one bullpen arm at the trade deadline, if not several, but Daysbel Hernandez has the potential to carve out a role for himself in Atlanta.

The 26-year-old features a shorter and stockier build, but he’s a powerful relief arm that has been flat out dominant on the farm this season. He began April on the Injured List, and it took him some time to find his groove, but Hernandez hasn’t given up a run since May 3rd. In his last five outings, he’s struck out 17 of the 23 batters he’s faced and has not allowed a hit.

Hernandez may only have 22 innings under his belt this season, but they couldn’t have been more impressive. He’s only given up two hits since the start of June, and opponents are only hitting .122 against him this season.

Oftentimes over the course of the season, the Braves will call up prospects that don’t really have a chance of contributing. They are just around to provide an extra body and perhaps pitch if a game gets well out of hand. That’s not the case with Hernandez. He has the stuff and the opportunity to earn a place on the Braves roster moving forward.

Photo: Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire

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