The Atlanta Braves have already suffered another setback to their starting rotation in 2024. Kyle Wright has had surgery on his shoulder and will miss the entire season.
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Tale of Two Seasons for Kyle Wright
These past two seasons have been a tale of two stories for the 28-year-old Kyle Wright. In 2022, he was on king of the world, leading the league in wins with a record of 21-5. He posted a rock-hard 3.19 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, and a solid 174 strikeouts over 180 1/3 innings.
This season has been a rough ride. Dealing with injuries for most of it, he only made nine appearances – seven starts and two in relief. His record took a hit, ending up at 1-3, with a not-so-great 6.97 ERA and a 1.84 WHIP.
Braves Pitching Staff Faces Challenges Ahead in 2024
In 2023, the Atlanta Braves faced significant challenges, particularly concerning the depth of their starting pitching rotation. Various setbacks included Max Fried missing substantial playing time, Charlie Morton being sidelined for the playoffs due to a finger injury, and Kyle Wright experiencing a prolonged injury to his right shoulder since spring training.
Michael Soroka couldn’t get right in multiple attempts at a Major League return and Bryce Elder‘s struggles reached epic proportions in the second half.
Braves Need a Plan for Starting Pitching in 2024
Despite hopes that Wright’s return from the injured list signaled a positive turn, he was unexpectedly omitted from the postseason roster and placed on the 60-day injured list, hinting at an underlying issue. Subsequently, it was revealed that Kyle required shoulder surgery.
The uncertainty surrounding Wright’s recovery and the fact that shoulder surgeries pose significant challenges for full recovery will likely impact the Braves’ offseason plans. With Wright ruled out for all of the next season, the team needs to solidify its plan for the starting rotation.
While Spencer Strider is expected to return and Max Fried is entering his contract year, Charlie Morton’s expensive club option for the next season adds complexity to the situation.
Even if the Braves decide they want to bring Morton back, he could opt to retire.
The rest of the rotation remains full of questions.
What should they do? Do you have any free agent or trade targets that you think are realistic? Drop some names in the comments below!
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