Manny Banuelos to Start in Place of Injured Williams Perez?

The Atlanta Braves placed RHP Williams Perez on the Disabled List yesterday with a left foot contusion, creating an opening in the Braves rotation. There has been speculation about who may replace the injured Perez, but it is becoming increasingly likely that the Atlanta Braves will promote another top pitching prospect, Manny Banuelos, adding to the already growing list of young pitchers making their debuts for the Braves this season.

Thus far in 2015, Banuelos has pitched very well for Gwinnett, carrying a 6-2 record in 15 games, as well as an impressive 2.29 ERA for the AAA club. If promoted, Banuelos would join the likes of Mike Foltynewicz and Matt Wisler as another prospect to showcase their talents at Turner Field for the big league club this season.

“Thus far in 2015, Banuelos has pitched very well for Gwinnett, carrying a 6-2 record in 15 games, as well as an impressive 2.29 ERA for the AAA club.”

To say Manny Banuelos has been effective would be an understatement. In 82.2 innings pitched, he has recorded only 38 walks and 69 strikeouts, as well as 7.5 strikeouts per 9 innings. To put into perspective how good Banuelos has been this season, Matt Wisler, another Atlanta Braves prized pitching prospect who has already gotten the call to the show, had a 4.29 ERA for Gwinnett.

Manny Banuelos employs a fastball in the 90-94 MPH range, a curveball, and potentially devastating changeup. If he in fact is to take the place of Williams Perez in the Atlanta Braves rotation, it would be a welcome addition to the club to have another left-hander along with Alex Wood.

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A top prospect in the New York Yankees system and ranked #29 in the Majors by Baseball America in 2012, Manny Banuelos underwent Tommy John surgery in 2013. The injury was detrimental to Banuelos’s standing within the organization, eventually leading to the Yankees to jettison his contract and trade him to the Braves this past offseason.

Since John Hart has taken over the Atlanta Braves front office, he has not been timid with trading for top pitching talent that have had past injury problems: former top Padres prospect Max Fried being among those the Atlanta Braves President of Baseball of Operations has brought into the organization. Pitching talent has been the name of the game since Day 1 for Hart, adding Shelby Miller, Manny Banuelos, Mike Foltynewicz, Max Fried, and Matt Wisler to improve organizational pitching depth.

The Atlanta Braves have not seem fazed by implications of Tommy John surgery when trading for top minor league talent recently, but rather have taken a stance that these pitchers still have the requisite talent needed to become an impact player at the big league level and can successfully rebound from their injuries. If Manny Banuelos’s performance at the minor league level this season is any indication, it is safe to assert that the risks John Hart took this past offseason will reap long-term benefits for the Atlanta Braves.

So far, John Hart’s vision is paying dividends for the club, as Manny Banuelos has not only successfully rebounded from the injury, but has excelled in the Atlanta Braves development programs. If (and when) promoted, Banuelos performance at the Major League level will either prove or refute Hart’s new vision for the club.

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