JR Graham update

[Tapate50]

J.R. Graham (shoulder) has felt good since he resumed throwing off a mound last week.
Graham was shut down in May with a right shoulder strain, but he is making steady progress. The plan calls for him to incorporate breaking balls into his bullpen session on Tuesday. One of the Braves' top pitching prospects, the 23-year-old right-hander owns a 2.72 ERA and 190/57 K/BB ratio over 241 1/3 minor league innings.

Graham may be the forgotten man after a lost 2013. He could be a contributor next year.

[thethe]

At some point we might see Graham take over for Kimbrel.

[cajunrevenge]

I agree, I think Graham would make an excellent closer. I hope Wren waits to trade Kimbrel when some team gets desperate. Just think how much we would have offered for Kimbrel way back when we had the Klobster and Reitsma closing for us. I would have offered the whole farm.

[Dalyn]

I agree, I think Graham would make an excellent closer. I hope Wren waits to trade Kimbrel when some team gets desperate. Just think how much we would have offered for Kimbrel way back when we had the Klobster and Reitsma closing for us. I would have offered the whole farm.

And the farmer's daughter.

[Knucksie]

At some point we might see Graham take over for Kimbrel.

Not might, almost definitely.

[Bye Week]

Shoulder injuries scare the **** out of me.

[JohnAdcox]

At some point we might see Graham take over for Kimbrel.

Or Smoltz, as the hard thrower we've been waiting for.

[nsacpi]

It will be interesting to see how Graham fits in, assuming a return to health.

We have four right-handed power pitching prospects in Sims, Cabrera, Hursh and Graham. My guess is that two of those will end up in the rotation, one in the pen, and one will wash out.

We also have Wes Parsons, who put up fantastic numbers in Rome this past season at age 20. He is not far behind those four if at all.

There is Ian Thomas, a very intriguing lefty. He is a bit older but has shown great effectiveness against opposite-sided hitters. This makes me think he could be a candidate for the rotation.

And then there is the second tier: Hale, Martin, Gilmartin, Northcraft, Schlosser. My guess is half of these guys will wash out, but a couple of them will be useful major league pitchers. Probably in the pen, but you can't rule one of them out being a late bloomer and developing into an effective major league starter.

[thethe]

It will be interesting to see how Graham fits in, assuming a return to health.

We have four right-handed power pitching prospects in Sims, Cabrera, Hursh and Graham. My guess is that two of those will end up in the rotation, one in the pen, and one will wash out.

We also have Wes Parsons, who put up fantastic numbers in Rome this past season at age 20. He is not far behind those four if at all.

There is Ian Thomas, a very intriguing lefty. He is a bit older but has shown great effectiveness against opposite-sided hitters. This makes me think he could be a candidate for the rotation.

And then there is the second tier: Hale, Martin, Gilmartin, Northcraft, Schlosser. My guess is half of these guys will wash out, but a couple of them will be useful major league pitchers. Probably in the pen, but you can't rule one of them out being a late bloomer and developing into an effective major league starter.

Its absurd how good the Braves are at developing pitchers.

[nsacpi]

Its absurd how good the Braves are at developing pitchers.

There is also a long list of interesting guys who are relieving in the minors. I generally rank them behind the starters, but some of them will pan out. Simmons, Jaime, Harper, Lamm, Cornerly, Perez, Hyatt, Hoyt, and Pfisterer. Plus the large group of college arms, a lot of them lefties, we just drafted.

[Russ2dollas]

I had graham penciled in for CK's job this year....then the injuries. I hope he's better b/c I think you put Wood + Graham as your high leverage guys and you get results really close to CK. Not all the Ks, etc.......but I'm talking about getting outs and preventing runs. I think Wood/Graham gives you a lot of flexibility in the 8-9, saves you a ton of money, and lets you flip CK for things we NEED. Probably talking about a win less in the regular season, maybe 2, and more flexibility in the post season.

[rico43]

Would people please quit being in such a hurry to dump Kimbeal. Feel pretty certain we're not gonna see hisa likes again. History is against us finding the combination of a backstory, development of his speed and the fudamentals that have made him, literally, unique.