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Atlanta Braves: Medlen’s Journey Back To Atlanta

By Wesley Wilcox

Oct 3, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Kris Medlen (54) throws against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the first inning of game one of the National League divisional series playoff baseball game at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 3, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Kris Medlen (54) throws against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the first inning of game one of the National League divisional series playoff baseball game at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Atlanta Braves have taken a lot of gambles under the new management. None bigger than giving Kris Medlen another chance to play in a Braves uniform again.

October 5th, 2012 will go down as one of those moments that haunt Braves Country forever. The St. Louis Cardinals travelled to Turner Field to take on a resurgent Atlanta Braves team that featured none other than young ace, Kris Medlen.

With it being a Wild Card sudden death game, the Braves came out of the gates slow and sluggish. Medlen coming into the game had the trust of 40,000 strong in attendance, and dominated the league that season.

The game would end in controversy, and so would Medlen’s short career with the Braves as he had not one, but two Tommy John surgeries.

The journey for Medlen got a second life when he was signed by the Kansas City Royals back in 2014, but his stint with the team was nothing spectacular.

Fast forward to 2017 and the Braves resigned free agent Kris Medlen to a minor league contract. While Medlen did not receive an invite to spring training, the front office instead gave him the incentive of making it back to the major league roster, which includes $1,000,000 to make it to the majors, and $2,000,000 in total incentives depending on the role he plays.

May 10, 2016; Bronx, NY, USA; Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Kris Medlen (39) reacts against the New York Yankees after the second inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
May 10, 2016; Bronx, NY, USA; Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Kris Medlen (39) reacts against the New York Yankees after the second inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

So it’s time to pose the real question: Will Medlen return to the Atlanta Braves? To start, this is the same guy who after two Tommy John surgeries averaged a 4.01 ERA in 2015 while pitching 58 1/3 innings with eight total starts. That is until 2016 got underway, and Medlen’s promising return saw his ERA reach 7.77 while only pitching 24 1/3 innings.

This is Kris Medlen we are talking about ladies and gentlemen. There are a couple things to factor in such as his switch from the NL to the AL, which we all know is different. Let’s not forget he’s had two of baseballs most career threatening injuries, and yet he can only prove to be worth the risk for Atlanta.

When he pitched for Atlanta in 2013 he pitched in 32 games compared to his 21 for the Royals in 2015 and 2016. Most importantly, when comparing his tenures with the Braves and Royals Medlen pitched an astounding 197 IP in 2013 to his 82.2 IP in his whole stint with Kansas City.

The Braves are going to play this smart, and they’re going to give him the time he needed to rediscover the talent he was. With the future so bright for this franchise it’s difficult to imagine John Coppolella taking a chance on a player like Medlen if he didn’t see a return.

Next: Braves Previewing the lineup

We trust you Mr. Coppolella, and as for you Kris welcome back to where it all began: Atlanta.

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2017/01/braves-to-sign-kris-medlen.html

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