Mike Minor: Will He Pitch in Atlanta Ever Again?

Atlanta Braves Pitcher Mike Minor underwent season ending shoulder in May, ending all hope that Minor would pitch in Atlanta this year.

Mike Minor, 27, has dealt with injuries often throughout his time in the majors, always seeming to halt the career the once promising Atlanta Braves prospect. Drafted 7th overall by the Braves out of Vanderbilt, Minor made his big league début in 2010. His best season came in 2013 as he owned a 3.47 ERA on the season, but was even more dominant in the second half with an ERA under 2.00.

Mike Minor spent much of 2014 on the Disabled List due to shoulder inflammation. When he did pitch, he was unable to duplicate his success in the second half of the 2013 season, going 6-12 with a 4.77 ERA. With the Atlanta Braves struggling late in the season, Minor’s problematic performance was a liability to the pitching staff. Once a promising prospect and projected cornerstone of the Atlanta Braves starting rotation, Mike Minor’s latest injury may have paved the way for his departure from Atlanta.

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Minor’s shoulder problems are another line-item on a long list of Atlanta Braves pitchers that have suffered severe injuries: losing their spots in the rotation and eventually leaving Atlanta. Kris Medlen, arguably the Braves best pitcher in the second half of the 2013 season, underwent his second Tommy John surgery of his career last year. Medlen is now a member of the Kansas City Royals after recovering from the injury.

Brandon Beachy began the 2012 season leading the majors in ERA. After finding much success in the first half of 2012, specialists diagnosed Beachy with a ligament tear in his right elbow, requiring Tommy John surgery. After returning at the end of the 2013 season, Beachy did not pitch in 2014, undergoing a second Tommy John surgery. Beachy now plays for the Los Angeles Dodgers where he is now rehabilitating in the minors.

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Medlen and Beachy are two examples of oft injured Braves pitchers who never returned to Atlanta following their injuries. The Atlanta Braves seem to have a habit of having star pitchers suffer from arm trauma. Medlen, Beachy, Minor, Hanson and Jurrjens are all examples of this — and it is enough to make fans and analysts alike wonder why this trend exists within the organization. Now with Julio Teheran struggling in 2015, could he be the next Brave pitcher to suffer a career threatening injury?

With a litany of injuries under his belt, the question is whether Mike Minor will ever pitch for the Atlanta Braves again. Since John Hart has taken the reigns of the Atlanta Braves front office, his goal has been to acquire top pitching talent. With the infusion major-league ready pitchers in the form of Matt Wisler, Mike Foltynewicz, Max Fried and Manny Banuelos, Mike Minor has already lost his spot in the rotation now and in the future.

It is only a matter of time until the Braves release Mike Minor. The lefty’s career looked promising, but his time as a Brave will soon come to an end. Hopefully he will be able to regain his form for another club in the future.

Next: Kelly Johnson Is Having a Great Braves' Homecoming

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