Matt Wisler: Atlanta Brave most likely to have breakout 2016
By John Buhler
Matt Wisler will begin his second season with the Atlanta Braves in 2016 and he could very well be the player most poised for a breakout campaign.
While the 2016 Atlanta Braves are not going to contend this season, we can all enjoy the rise of many of our favorite young players both on the 25-man roster and in the luscious farm system that has been so heavily stockpiled with talent by president of baseball operations John Hart and new general manager John Coppolella.
Yes, this organization is all about the future, but there are still 162 games that need playing in 2016. While Atlanta could very well finish in the bottom fifth of the National League again in 2016, is there a player on the Major League roster more likely than the others to have a breakout season? One player that seems poised for a stellar sophomore campaign is new No. 2 starting pitcher Matt Wisler.
Atlanta acquired Matt Wisler on an Easter Sunday trade with the San Diego Padres, sending closer Craig Kimbrel and centerfielder Melvin Upton, Jr. to Southern California for most notably the Padres’ No. 2 overall prospect in pitcher Matt Wisler.
More from Atlanta Braves
- Atlanta Braves: Felix Has Already Shown Enough to Win a Rotation Spot
- Atlanta Braves Implode Late To Phillies, Cole Hamels Remains Sidelined
- Kyle Wright Shines As Folty Struggles In Atlanta Braves Loss To Red Sox
- Atlanta Braves: Grapefruit League Play Check Up
- Sean Newcomb’s Up & Down Day Against The Orioles
Wisler eventually made his big league debut in June 2015 and while he struggled for patches with his control and ball placement, he did show flashes of brilliance in his rookie season with the Atlanta Braves. His numbers weren’t overly impressive (8-8, 4.70 ERA), but he did improve in September/October (3-3, 3.76 ERA) after a horrid August (0-4, 7.85 ERA).
There are several reasons behind why Matt Wisler will have a breakout year for the Atlanta Braves in 2016:
1.) He will have his first spring training with the Atlanta Braves organization. Remember that the Craig Kimbrel/Matt Wisler trade didn’t happen until the day before the 2015 MLB season. Four months in the big leagues as a rookie along with a full spring training should aid in his development come Opening Day 2016.
2.) Matt Wisler will stand as a frontline starter in the Atlanta Braves’ 2016 rotation, probably No. 2 behind the team’s No. 1 in right-hander Julio Teheran. Part of why John Coppolella must have felt so comfortable in dealing 2015 NL All-Star Shelby Miller to the Arizona Diamondbacks must stem from Coppolella’s confidence in what he has with Wisler and others coming up through the system.
3.) Matt Wisler was the No. 2 overall prospect in a once-strong San Diego Padres farm system behind only defensive wizard catcher Austin Hedges. Remember that Wisler was the prized piece in the deal that sent the best closer in the game in Craig Kimbrel to San Diego after all.
With a full offseason program with the Atlanta Braves’ organization, more opportunities as a frontline caliber starter, and frankly just his overall stuff as a starting pitcher, Matt Wisler is a relatively safe bet for a 2016 Atlanta Brave to have a breakout season.
Next: Atlanta Braves were in on Justin Upton sweepstakes?
There are certainly other players that could experience a strong 2016 MLB season, but we know that Wisler will have around 30 starts to show what he’s got for this pitching-first organization. The quickest way to turn around a struggling team is through either having solid starting pitcher or shortening games with a shutdown bullpen. Atlanta will strive to become a strong pitching organization once again and Matt Wisler will definitely play a role in that rebuilding process in 2016.