ATLANTA -- Didier Fuentes will become the youngest Braves pitcher in more than 50 years when he starts against the Marlins on Friday night at loanDepot park.
Looking to provide each of their starting pitchers extra rest and also strengthen their rotation for next week’s series against the Mets, the Braves will promote Fuentes from Triple-A Gwinnett on Friday. The young right-hander is set to make his MLB debut three days after turning 20.
Fuentes, who ranks as the Braves’ No. 10 prospect per MLB Pipeline, will be MLB’s youngest starting pitcher since the Dodgers’ Julio Urías started against the Phillies at 19 years and 362 days on Aug. 8, 2016. He’ll become Atlanta’s youngest starter since Mike McQueen was 19 yrs and 297 days when he started against the Dodgers on June 23, 1970. He’ll also become Atlanta’s youngest pitcher since McQueen made a relief appearance at 20 years and 2 days on Sept. 1, 1970.
This will likely be just a spot start for Fuentes, who has posted a 4.81 ERA over nine starts at three levels this season. He has recorded 48 strikeouts and issued 12 walks over 39 1/3 innings.
Fuentes allowed one run over 4 1/3 innings during his only start with Triple-A Gwinnett.
Fuentes flashed an upper 90s fastball while recording seven strikeouts over three scoreless innings against the Tigers in this year’s Spring Breakout Game.
“It sounds like he’s a kid who is above his years, as far as maturity and throwing strikes,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said.
The Braves had been lined up to use Grant Holmes, Bryce Elder and Spencer Schwellenbach as their starters for this weekend’s series in Miami. By promoting Fuentes for this start, they can push Schwellenbach to start Monday night’s series opener against the Mets. Chris Sale, Spencer Strider and Holmes would be lined up to start the final three games of the four-game set at Citi Field.
Holmes will be the only Atlanta starter who won’t be starting with extra rest next week in New York. But coming off Sunday’s career-best 15-strikeout performance against the Rockies, he’ll start Saturday in Miami with an extra day of rest.