Braves option spring standout Fuentes to stretch out as starter

ATLANTA -- Didier Fuentes’ second stint in the Majors was limited to just one appearance. But this time, he heads back to the Minors with the Braves confident he could be a valuable rotation piece at some point this season.

Fuentes (Braves No. 3 prospect, per MLB Pipeline) would not have been available to pitch over the next four to five days after throwing 56 pitches over four innings of relief in Sunday’s 4-1 loss to the Royals. So, the 20-year-old hurler was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett on Monday to make room for veteran left-hander Martín Pérez, whose contract was purchased by the Braves.

The Braves haven’t announced who will start Tuesday night’s game against the A’s. Pérez, who signed a Minor League deal after dealing with shoulder and elbow injuries last year, and fellow left-hander José Suarez are the candidates. One will be tabbed as the top long relief option for Monday night’s series opener.

Fuentes enjoyed a dominant Spring Training, retiring 26 of the first 27 batters he faced, 17 via a strikeout. Many of the batters he faced during those games were Minor Leaguers. But he limited what was essentially the Pirates' regular lineup to one run over 4 2/3 innings in his final Grapefruit League outing, then limited the Royals to one run over four innings on Sunday.

When Fuentes was given an Opening Day roster spot, the Braves made it clear that his stay might be short. The club wants the young hurler to return to Triple-A to further develop as a starting pitcher. He posted a 13.85 ERA over four starts when he was prematurely brought to the Majors last year.

Fuentes’ fastball averaged 95.8 mph and the harder slider he developed since last year averaged 85.8 mph in his season debut. But he got a whiff with just three of 18 swings against the fastball. Neither of the two swings against his slider resulted in a swing and miss.

So, there seems to be room to improve for Fuentes, who will now continue to focus on the changeup/splitter he’s recently added. He didn’t use the pitch during his March 7 Grapefruit League debut. But he threw it 10 times and used his slider just nine times on Sunday.

“That's where the growth has been, right?” Braves manager Walt Weiss said. “I mean, it's been with the secondary stuff. The fastball has always been big, but the secondary stuff is where I think he's really stepped it up.”