There isn't any debate whether or not Atlanta Braves rookie starter Didier Fuentes is ready for the next level it is clear the pitcher needs to be demoted. However, the Braves are facing a slight problem of having no other options. Chris Sale, Reynaldo Lopez, AJ Smith-Shawver, and Spencer Schwellebach are all done either for the season or for the next month of the season.
Lopez, Sale, and Schwellenbach all hope to return, however, there are reasons to wonder if this is wise with Atlanta's current standings. It would be understandable to shut down the key pieces for next season if things don't improve.
Atlanta is nearly as close to the basement of the National League as they are to the league's top contenders. The one thing preventing this from being true is just how dismal of a season the Rockies are having. The worst team in the league keeps finding ways to reach new lows and show what true tanking looks like. Still, looking at worse situations doesn't change where Atlanta sits or the decisions that lay ahead.
Braves' Rookie Didier Fuentes Isn't Ready For the Next Level
While one could argue that this might lend itself to allowing Fuentes to figure things out at the Major League level the problem with this is possibly damaging his confidence. Already you've asked a twenty-year-old to go out and help turn your season around. There are very few athletes in the world wired to living up to this at such a young age. Continuing to have Fuentes go out and be hit around isn't the best scenario even as the Braves continue to run out of options.
If the Braves are looking at the best development path for the start it is time to send him back down and attempt to find other answers. This isn't to say superior options are going to present themselves but rather it would be wise to find innings eaters who either will benefit from the starts or won't have their career paths altered.
Fuentes simply isn't ready and continuing to ask the rookie to go out there is a mistake by an Atlanta front office that is already under a lot of scrutiny it is time to make the obvious move.