Kyle Kinman Gettting His Chance

[rico43]

Of all the left-handers in camp, thank God the Braves finally noticed Kyle Kinman.

First of all, he's 25 years old, hardly a kid.

Secondly, he has answered every challenge put before him: Since being the 25th round pick in 2014, he's appeared in 63 games, all in relief, he has a 4-0 record, 22 saves, a 2.21 ERA, 108 strikeouts and only 32 walks in 81 career innings.

One scouting reports is Kinman relies on a four-seam fastball which has mid-90's velocity on the high end. He also mixes in a slider

He's allowed only one home run, that soon after making his pro debut. In 2015, none in 52 innings, 44 games.

In his final year of college, as a starter, he struck out 141 batters in 92 innings.

And how is this for cool? He was born Sept.25, 1990, the date of the worst-to-first Braves' memorable 10-0 win over the Reds that included a David Justice grand slam.

Man's gotta be a Brave. Why not now?

[Braves1976]

Of all the left-handers in camp, thank God the Braves finally noticed Kyle Kinman.

First of all, he's 25 years old, hardly a kid.

Secondly, he has answered every challenge put before him: Since being the 25th round pick in 2014, he's appeared in 63 games, all in relief, he has a 4-0 record, 22 saves, a 2.21 ERA, 108 strikeouts and only 32 walks in 81 career innings.

One scouting reports is Kinman relies on a four-seam fastball which has mid-90's velocity on the high end. He also mixes in a slider

He's allowed only one home run, that soon after making his pro debut. In 2015, none in 52 innings, 44 games.

In his final year of college, as a starter, he struck out 141 batters in 92 innings.

And how is this for cool? He was born Sept.25, 1990, the date of the worst-to-first Braves' memorable 10-0 win over the Reds that included a David Justice grand slam.

Man's gotta be a Brave. Why not now?

Kinman is our best lefty relief prospect. But I figured given his relative short time in AA that he'd at least start in the minors this year. Don't get me wrong, I am quite high on him I just don't want to rush him to the Majors in a rebuild year.

[CJ9]

One homer allowed in 80 career minor league innings, and it came in rookie ball.

[nsacpi]

No need to rush anyone this year. Let em marinate in AA and AAA until they are clearly ready.

Plus there are all these lefty relievers currently available: Choate, Duensing, Cotts, Wright, Morales, Thatcher.

[Julio3000]

I think will default to a veteran, and in this case that's not necessarily bad.

I agree with Rico's read of Kinman and I look forward to seeing him soon.

[GovClintonTyree]

Nah. Give him a job, see what he can do. What, you want to wait until he's 28 to bring him up? Our LH relievers have been a giant bucket of suck. What's the harm?

He'll either get guys out or he won't. Me, I think I'd rather worry about my fragile psyche while I'm making a half mil a year and scoring all the trim I can handle.

[Tapate50]

Any word when Simmons should be back as an option? Haven't heard that name in too long.

[clvclv]

Any word when Simmons should be back as an option? Haven't heard that name in too long.

May.

[Tapate50]

If Simmons comes back pretty close to his old self, I'm very optimistic this pen will be pretty dang good.

So, as for the thread title... Did Kinman make the team? The title seems like it's a done deal?

[nsacpi]

Nah. Give him a job, see what he can do. What, you want to wait until he's 28 to bring him up? Our LH relievers have been a giant bucket of suck. What's the harm?

Actually there is often harm when a player is called up without establishing a baseline of success in the high minors.

[50PoundHead]

I wouldn't totally dismiss Marksberry. His numbers against LHH last year were phenomenal in the minors and solid in his stint with the big club. I thought they pushed him a bit too aggressively last season, but he looks like a very effective future LOOGY.

[rico43]

If Simmons comes back pretty close to his old self, I'm very optimistic this pen will be pretty dang good.

So, as for the thread title... Did Kinman make the team? The title seems like it's a done deal?

No, but he was used twice in three days. That's more than a callover from the minor league camp, wouldn't you say?

[rico43]

Actually there is often harm when a player is called up without establishing a baseline of success in the high minors.

Leffty relievers are different animals. Usual unwritten rules do not apply. As for those preaching veteran castoffs over guys in the system -- they ALL can't be rookies in 2017. And their clocks can't all be starting at the same time.

He got the job done at three different levels last year, but he is so totally unknown by the Atlanta media. DOB even called him a starter in one of his tweets last night. He has never started in a pro game.

[clvclv]

Gotta agree with rico and Gov here - I really don't see much potential long-term downside to giving him a look, especially early on. Start him out as nothing other than your LOOGY.

If he continues eating lefties up, expand him a little - SLOWLY. If he starts to get hit around early, there are several vets we could run out and get and the brass would still be in a position to massage his confidence if he has to be sent back down. Would be pretty easy to say "We were in a position where we needed another lefty in the pen while we were negotiating with Cotts/Choate/whomever, and Kyle was by far our best option in that role. We knew he wasn't quite ready yet but he will be very soon, and we expect him to be an important part of our pen in the near-future".

[nsacpi]

Leffty relievers are different animals. Usual unwritten rules do not apply. As for those preaching veteran castoffs over guys in the system -- they ALL can't be rookies in 2017. And their clocks can't all be starting at the same time.

He got the job done at three different levels last year, but he is so totally unknown by the Atlanta media. DOB even called him a starter in one of his tweets last night. He has never started in a pro game.

I'm not arguing we should keep Kinman in the minors all year. I'm good with a mid-season call-up if he does well for a couple months in AAA. I'm not good with a spot being given to him based on 3 or 4 innings of spring training, especially with the number of competent lefties currently available.

[clvclv]

I'm not arguing we should keep Kinman in the minors all year. I'm good with a mid-season call-up if he does well for a couple months in AAA. I'm not good with a spot being given to him based on 3 or 4 innings of spring training, especially with the number of competent lefties currently available.

How many good innings would you be OK with? I understand what you're saying (and think rico does too), and am only partially trying to be a smartass, but Braves' RPs in camp this year included...

Ramirez - 11.0
Winkler - 10.0
C. Torres - 9.0
A. Torres - 8.0
Johnson - 7.0
Viz - 6.0
Krol & Ogando - 5.2

Our scouts and coaches are far more familiar with Kinman than several of those listed above since he's been in our system. They've gotten to see all his sides and prep work just like those other guys.

If 4 innings is enough to decide to put Grilli on the roster and 3.1 innings is enough to decide to send Marksberry down, is the number of innings really that important? Shouldn't what he accomplished when he was pitching be part of the decision-making process?

[nsacpi]

How many good innings would you be OK with? I understand what you're saying (and think rico does too), and am only partially trying to be a smartass, but Braves' RPs in camp this year included...

Ramirez - 11.0
Winkler - 10.0
C. Torres - 9.0
A. Torres - 8.0
Johnson - 7.0
Viz - 6.0
Krol & Ogando - 5.2

Our scouts and coaches are far more familiar with Kinman than several of those listed above since he's been in our system. They've gotten to see all his sides and prep work just like those other guys.

If 4 innings is enough to decide to put Grilli on the roster and 3.1 innings is enough to decide to send Marksberry down, is the number of innings really that important? Shouldn't what he accomplished when he was pitching be part of the decision-making process?

I don't think the spring training numbers for Grilli or Viz are much of a basis for anything either. But I do think what they did in the MAJOR LEAGUES last year is relevant.

[clvclv]

I don't think the spring training numbers for Grilli or Viz are much of a basis for anything either. But I do think what they did in the MAJOR LEAGUES last year is relevant.

So what was a fair number of IP for a decision on Ogando? Ramirez? Torres?

If the decision is based on a combination of MLB success in 2015 and spring training results, shouldn't Jim Johnson be trying to find a job elsewhere?

[bravesfanMatt]

So what was a fair number of IP for a decision on Ogando? Ramirez? Torres?

If the decision is based on a combination of MLB success in 2015 and spring training results, shouldn't Jim Johnson be trying to find a job elsewhere?

yes

[nsacpi]

So what was a fair number of IP for a decision on Ogando? Ramirez? Torres?

If the decision is based on a combination of MLB success in 2015 and spring training results, shouldn't Jim Johnson be trying to find a job elsewhere?

To be honest all of these guys should be sent to AAA. But that would leave us without a pen. My advocating Kinman being sent to the minors actually is a reflection that I think he has a better chance of being of value to the team down the line that the guys you just listed.