Braves’ Bryse Wilson, Kyle Wright shared surreal moment of getting opening weekend starts
ATLANTA — When Kyle Wright got called into manager Brian Snitker’s office late last week, the Atlanta Braves right-handed pitching prospect was sure he was getting reassigned to Triple-A.
“We love the way you pitch,” Snitker told him. “We love the way you you compete. We’re going to start you Game 3 in Philly.”
Come again?
The Braves announced Sunday that the 23-year-old Wright — the organization’s No. 4 overall prospect — would get an opening weekend start vs. the Phillies, while fellow righty Bryse Wilson (their eight-ranked prospect) will start the second game of the season.
“I kind of had a feeling that they were going to send me down to minor-league camp. I never expected it.”@BryseWilson and @Kyle_Wright44 describe how they found out they are starting for the @Braves in the first series of the year. pic.twitter.com/pxA5YFJPk8
— FOX Sports: Braves (@FOXSportsBraves) March 25, 2019
“When he first told me I didn’t know if I should smile or not, because I didn’t know what he said,” Wright recounted before the Braves’ exhibition game Monday against the Reds at SunTrust Park. “Then after he repeated himself I had a big grin on my face. When I walked out of the office I kind of pulled it back together.”
The righties — with one combined major league start — will be preceded by veteran Julio Teheran, who will make his franchise record-tying sixth consecutive Opening Day start for Atlanta on March 28.
Left-handers Sean Newcomb and Max Fried are scheduled to make starts in the second series of the campaign against the Chicago Cubs.
The Braves were forced to alter their expected rotation with Mike Foltynewicz and Kevin Gausman both suffering injury setbacks, and the Phillies’ lineup — which yes, is now headlined by the left-handed Bryce Harper and his .944 OPS vs. righties — features a string of strong right-handed hitters in Rhys Hoskins, J.T. Realmuto, Jean Segura and Andrew McCutchen.
Hence going with a pair of young righty arms who had strong springs.
Wright struck out 18 batters with four walks over the course of 12 2/3 innings this spring, though his ERA ballooned during a rough final outing.
Meanwhile, Wilson claimed a 3.29 ERA in 13 2/3 innings pitched during Grapefruit League action, striking out 13 with only two walks.
Before Wright was called into Snitker’s office — where the manager, pitching coach Rick Kranitz, bench coach Walt Weiss and general manager Alex Anthopoulos awaited — Wilson had received his own good news. So when Wright left Snitker’s office and sat down at a table in the clubhouse, Wilson peered over at him.
“What did they just tell you?” he asked.
“I’m starting Game 3,” Wright replied.
“Really,” Wilson said. “I’m starting Game 2.”
Says Wright, “It was kind of cool moment for both of us and we got to share it together at the same time, so it was really cool.
Both pitchers saw action last season, though Wright’s was all in relief. He logged six innings over four games with five strikeouts and six walks, while Wilson’s lone start arrived in a crucial series sweep of the Pirates late last summer.
He tossed five scoreless innings on the road. A fourth-round pick in the 2016 draft, the Durham, N.C., native joins Daniel Norris (Toronto), Rick Porcello (Detroit) and Jose Fernandez (Miami) as the only pitchers since 2010 to start in their team’s season-opening series before turning 22 years old.
Wilson says his changeup and slider have both improved, but that taste of the majors in 2018 is going to be key in
“Obviously the goal was to break with the team, get in the rotation,” Wilson said. “Never expected to be throwing Day 2, but just grateful for the opportunity and hopefully can go out there and help the team win.”
Follow Cory McCartney on Twitter @coryjmccartney and Facebook. His books, ‘Tales from the Atlanta Braves Dugout: A Collection of the Greatest Braves Stories Ever Told,’ and ‘The Heisman Trophy: The Story of an American Icon and Its Winners.’ are now available.
