Minor makes another pain-free rehab appearance

ATLANTA -- When Mike Minor arrived at Turner Field on Wednesday, Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez could tell that the left-handed pitcher was bothered by the results he generated during Tuesday night's Minor League rehab appearance with Triple-A Gwinnett.

Minor issued three walks, surrendered two hits and needed 65 pitches to complete 2 1/3 innings against Norfolk. But Gonzalez made sure his veteran pitcher knew that the only thing that concerned him was that he went through the outing in pain-free fashion.

"I had to talk him off the ledge and say remember this is your third Spring Training game," Gonzalez said. "But that's just the way he is. He's a competitor. He wants to go out there and throw zeroes up there any time he can."

This was essentially the third "exhibition season start" for Minor, who reported to Spring Training behind scheduled because of the month-long stint of inactivity he experienced after a Dec. 31 urinary tract procedure.

Minor will attempt to throw approximately 80 pitches when he starts on Saturday, when Gwinnett hosts Durham. He will then make at least one more rehab start before the Braves decide whether he is ready to join Atlanta's rotation as early as April 23.

Some of Minor's struggles on Tuesday could be blamed on the fact that he was working in relief of Gavin Floyd, who allowed one earned run and completed four innings in his latest rehab stint.

As he nears the end of his recovery from Tommy John elbow reconstruction surgery, Floyd will likely make at least three more rehab starts before joining Atlanta's rotation. He is expected to start for Double-A Mississippi on Saturday.