The Atlanta Braves pitching rotation has come into question as the second half approaches. They are still searching for reliable options in the backend behind left-handed ace Chris Sale, routinely cycling through younger arms from Triple-A and low-cost veterans. There is still a chance they acquire another elite arm at this year's trade deadline, but one former Brave believes the answer is already in the organization.
Jeff Francoeur, former Braves outfielder and current voice on 93.7 FM The Fan, has insisted Atlanta go a different route and focus on a specific younger arm.
"I'd like to see Fuentes move into a starter role. The need right now outweighs the role that he's had," Francoeur said on 93.7 FM The Fan.
It is easy to see why Fuentes is getting that kind of endorsement. The 21-year-old is one of Atlanta's top pitching prospects and already possesses an electric fastball. While Fuentes has been a starter for the majority of his professional career, the Braves transitioned him to the bullpen this season to add depth, and he has thrived in that role.
Across 31 appearances, he has posted a 2.65 ERA with 44 strikeouts across 37 1/3 innings of work. He has done an excellent job limiting hard contact, allowing just one home run on the year, and has made the Braves bullpen nearly unstoppable in lower-leverage situations before giving way to the two-headed monster of Raisel Iglesias and Robert Suarez.
However, the plan was not always for Fuentes to be a relief pitcher this year. Originally, the idea was for him to continue developing and building up at Triple-A as a future rotation option. Francoeur believes the Braves should go back to that plan, or at least give him a chance to show what he can do as a starter at the big-league level.
That could put a significant amount of stress on Fuentes' arm, which is likely why the Braves have been hesitant to make the change. However, they could build him up gradually, increasing his workload by an inning or so with each start, similar to the approach they used with Reynaldo Lopez when he was transitioned back into the rotation earlier this season.
Whether Atlanta ultimately makes this move or pursues a different arm at the deadline, one thing is clear. The rotation needs another reliable option to keep them in ball games, and Fuentes has done more than enough to at least earn a look.
