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Jason Heyward came to the big leagues in 2010 with a great deal of hype surrounding him. Many people were expecting greatness from a kid who had not even turned 21 years old at the start of his first major league season. When he had a historically great rookie campaign for his age, the hype just continued even though there were some concern about his injury history.

Then came an awful 2011 season when he struggled at the plate because of injuries and was unable to make adjustments as pitchers started to figure him out. He struggled badly enough that he was replaced for a time by career minor leaguer Jose Constanza.

Heyward rebounded in a big way in 2012 as he not only stayed healthy for the full season, but displayed power, average and speed while playing strong defense in right field.

The question to ask now is whether this kid has it in him to become an MVP, or whether he will frustrate fans and management with unfulfilled potential. This article takes a look at what the future could hold for Heyward.

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The Atlanta Braves have made a bit of a splash this winter by signing B.J. Upton and then dealing Tommy Hanson to the Angels for hard-throwing Jordan Walden. However, according to Internet rumors, the Braves haven’t finished making changes to their roster.

The Braves still have a large hole to fill at either third base or left field, depending on where Martin Prado plays. With it being easier to acquire a solid outfielder, the Braves are likely to go in that direction and put Prado at third base. 

This article takes a look at five outfielders the Braves could target either through free agency or via trade. 

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Expected to be one of the more coveted free agents this winter, the sweepstakes for center fielder B.J. Upton concluded on Wednesday afternoon when he and the Atlanta Braves reached an agreement on a five-year, $75.25 million contract.

Selected by the Tampa Bay (Devil) Rays with the second overall pick in the 2002 draft, Upton was regarded as a premium athlete—he was a shortstop at that time—with a relatively narrow gap between his natural ability and baseball skills.

Therefore, it didn’t come as a surprise when the Rays assigned the 6’3”, 185-pounder to Low-A to open his professional career in 2003. After posting an .839 OPS with 35 extra-base hits, 38 stolen bases and 80/57 K/BB in 101 games, Upton was bumped straight to Double-A for the remainder of the season. The right-handed hitter was anything but overmatched, as he batted .276/.376/.381 with 25/16 K/BB in 29 games.

Upton opened the 2004 season back at Double-A and quickly mastered the level (.327/.407/.471 in 29 games), which, in turn, prompted a promotion to Triple-A Durham. As expected, the then-19-year-old continued to rake, batting .311/.411/.519 with 30 extra-base hits (12 home runs), 17 stolen bases and 72/42 K/BB in 69 games. The promotions didn’t end there; he was called up to the major leagues in early August and impressed in a 45-game audition, posting a .733 OPS with 14 extra-base hits and 46/15 K/BB.

Yet he would ultimately spend both the 2005 and 2006 seasons back at Triple-A before finally earning an everyday gig with the Rays in 2007. At 22 years old, Upton quickly asserted himself as one of the game’s premier up-and-coming talents by batting .300/.386/.508 with 50 extra-base hits (24 home runs), 22 stolen bases and 154/65 K/BB in 129 games. All empirical evidence suggested that he was on the brink of superstardom.

Unfortunately, his 2007 campaign, which was good for a 4.1 WAR, still ranks as his best big-league season. Since then, he has been a model of inconsistency: His power numbers have fluctuated each season, and the hit tool, speed and advanced plate discipline that made him such a promising young player all have gradually declined.

Upton’s inability to put together a consistent, well-rounded season has made him a perennially frustrating player. With natural ability that grades through the roof and five seemingly above-average-to-plus tools, the 28-year-old has been unable to put it all together.

With that being said, as we shift our focus towards the minor leagues, are there any prospects with the potential to be the next B.J. Upton (or as I call him, BUpton)? More specifically, which prospects seem to flash baseball brilliance on a given day and then look completely lost the next?

Here’s a brief scouting overview of five highly-regarded prospects who appear to be cut from the same mold as Upton.

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According to reports, the Atlanta Braves could get their man this week. 

Several insiders, including ESPN’s Jim Bowden, believe that the Braves are the leading contender to sign center fielder B.J. Upton. But only slightly. The bidding war between Atlanta and the Philadelphia Phillies looks to be a fierce one. 

Both teams need center fielders. Both need right-handed bats in their lineups. And each club would surely like to deprive an NL East division rival of its top free-agent target while improving its own roster with a star player.

However, it appears that the Braves have the edge for Upton. MLB.com’s Mark Bowman reports that the 28-year-old outfielder initially favored the Phillies when the free-agency period began. But after meeting with Braves general manager Frank Wren, former manager Bobby Cox and current skipper Fredi Gonzalez, Upton’s interest “seemed to soar.” 

Upton would obviously be a huge acquisition for Atlanta. First and foremost, he would replace Michael Bourn in center field. Perhaps Upton provides less defensive range, but he compensates with greater power and nearly the same level of speed. 

Whether Gonzalez chooses to bat the center fielder toward the top of the lineup or in the middle of the order as a run producer, Upton’s right-handed bat is a much-needed complement to a mix heavy in left-handed hitters with Jason Heyward, Freddie Freeman and Brian McCann. 

But Wren won’t be done with his offseason shopping even if he lands Upton. The Braves still need another player to fill their vacancy in left field, with Martin Prado moving to third base to replace the retired Chipper Jones. 

Atlanta could also decide to keep Prado in left field and pursue a third baseman. But Kevin Youkilis seems to be the only notable player available at that position, and the Braves appear to be looking for a longer-term solution there. 

That leaves the trade option, which might suit the Braves better, because they have a surplus of starting pitching. Julio Teheran and Randall Delgado could be used to get some help at third base. Tommy Hanson would also be a more veteran option, though he’s coming off a mediocre season. 

Do the Braves have enough to make the San Diego Padres consider trading Chase Headley?

The National League’s RBI leader would certainly be a great fit in the Atlanta lineup. Headley could be expected to exceed the 31 home runs he hit in 2012 batting in Turner Field rather than Petco Park, even with the Padres moving its fences in next year. 

Another possibility—though perhaps not as long term of a solution—would be the Detroit Tigers‘ Jhonny Peralta.

The Tigers are reportedly looking to upgrade defensively at shortstop by signing Stephen Drew. Peralta could then be dealt to a team seeking help at third base. The Arizona Diamondbacks are reportedly interested, but could the Braves be intrigued as well? Peralta would certainly be an option less expensive than Headley. 

But the Braves apparently would prefer to bring in another outfielder. Bowman also mentions in his MLB.com report that Atlanta might have the resources to sign Upton and someone else to play left field. It’s believed that Upton will sign a contract in the range of five years for $75 million.

That could leave Atlanta with enough money to also go after Shane Victorino, who would bring speed, defense and some pop to the lineup. He will also likely be cheaper in a market rich with center fielders. 

However, if the Braves are looking to trade some of their starting pitching, they could probably get a player with the most upside in the outfield. Atlanta was previously rumored to be interested in Colorado Rockies center fielder Dexter Fowler, but signing Upton addresses that need. 

But what about Wil Myers? The Kansas City Star‘s Bob Dutton reports that the Royals are open to trading their top prospect for a No. 1 starting pitcher. Between Double-A and Triple-A this season, Myers hit .314 with a .987 OPS, 37 homers and 109 RBI. 

The only problem for Atlanta here is that the Royals are looking for a veteran No. 1 starter. Rumors have attached Kansas City to the Boston Red Sox for Jon Lester or the Tampa Bay Rays for James Shields. The Royals aren’t interested in prospects like Teheran or Delgado, as highly regarded as they might be. They need a proven, top-of-the-rotation ace. 

David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution mentions another Royal as a possibility. Could Alex Gordon be someone who interests the Braves? He’s a left fielder, which fits right into their lineup. 

Defensively, Gordon has won two straight Gold Gloves, and FanGraphs‘ Ultimate Zone Rating credits him with saving 14 runs more than the average left fielder. Additionally, he earned 24 defensive runs saved this season, the third-highest total in MLB. 

Gordon led the majors with 51 doubles this season to go with 14 home runs, 72 RBI and an .822 OPS. He does bat left-handed, but if the Braves add Upton to their lineup, that likely won’t be as much of a concern for them. 

Yet one more player to consider would be the Arizona Diamondbacks’ Justin Upton. But the D-Backs want a shortstop. Arizona GM Kevin Towers reportedly covets Braves shortstop Andrelton Simmons, but Atlanta doesn’t want to trade him. No deal there.

Regardless, the Braves’ offseason could get off to an excellent start just before baseball’s winter meetings and might get even more intriguing as the offseason progresses. Atlanta could very well be the team to watch next week (Dec. 3-6) in Nashville. 

Follow @iancass on Twitter

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With the World Series in the books and the calendar about to turn to November, attention now turns to the Hot Stove league.

With the Braves coming off a second consecutive strong season followed by a disappointing ending there could be some changes to the roster, especially considering the way the club chose not to make any moves last winter.

Considering the team just removed a huge chunk of money from the books when Chipper Jones retired and Derek Lowe’s contract ended, there could be some money to play with this winter. This article takes a look at some of the latest rumors floating around that deal with the Braves.

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The plan was for Turner Field to still be filing in nearly 50,000 Braves fans for the postseason. Unfortunately, the lasting images remembered are the cleanup crews picking up debris from angry Atlanta fans after the infield fly call made by Sam Holbrook and Chipper Jones walking off the diamond for the final time. It wasn’t suppose to end that way. 

Nonetheless, decisions have to be made about the 2013 club. Who will replace Chipper at third? Will they re-sign gold-glove center fielder Michael Bourn? Do Tim Hudson and Paul Maholm fit into their plans next season? Will Martin Prado and Jason Heyward receive long-term contracts? Who are free-agent and trade targets?

Those are just a few items on the docket for General Manager Frank Wren this winter. 

The Braves have nearly $30 million to spend after the contracts of Chipper Jones ($14 million), Derek Lowe ($10 million) and Michael Bourn ($6.8 million) are erased from the books. Expect starter Jair Jurrjens, who made $5.5 million in 2012, to be non-tendered or released.

Atlanta is expected to pick up the options of Brian McCann ($12 million), Tim Hudson ($9 million) and Paul Maholm ($6.5 million)—as they should. All three are key components to the team’s success. 

The Braves could re-sign David Ross because of McCann’s shoulder surgery, which will sideline him at least through the majority of spring training.

It may be the perfect time to look into long-term contracts for Martin Prado and outfielder Jason Heyward. 

Prado was arguably the most valuable player for the Braves in 2012 with a .301 average. He also led the league in two-strike base hits (93). He can play a number of positions if needed. He is signed through 2013, and the organization can’t risk losing a high-caliber player like Prado after next season.

Heyward, 23, had a bounce-back 2012 campaign after a sophomore year in which he was plagued by injuries and constant struggles. The 2007 first-round pick set career highs in runs, homers, RBI, stolen bases and slugging percentage. He was spectacular in right field, as he made some big catches for Atlanta in key moments throughout the season. It will be cheaper to get a long-term deal done rather than going through the eventual arbitration process.

The starting rotation is likely to be set with Kris Medlen, Tommy Hanson, Mike Minor, Hudson and Maholm. Brandon Beachy is on track to re-join the rotation from “Tommy John” elbow surgery around the All-Star break. 

The two biggest decisions facing the Braves in the off-season are at third and the outfield. The likelihood is Prado finds a home at third. The Braves have played the 28-year-old at multiple positions, primarily left field since the acquisition of Dan Uggla before the 2011 season.

The outfield could go a number of different ways: re-sign Michael Bourn and bring back Jose Constanza to play left or let Bourn go and find two cheaper options to play left and center.

Bourn is expected to net around $15 million a year from a club in the free-agent market. The Braves can afford it, but it wouldn’t be fiscally responsible. There are cheaper targets out there via free-agency or the trade market. 

B.J. Upton, Shane Victorino, Angel Pagan and Cody Ross are all potential free-agent targets for Atlanta. None will command the level of money that Bourn will this winter. 

Upton, 28, is looking for a fresh start after spending his entire career to this point with the Tampa Bay Rays. The center fielder hit 28 homers in 2012. The level of consistency may be a concern for him. Other than 2007 when he hit .300, the former first-round selection has a career average of .248.

Victorino, whom the Braves know well from his days in Philadelphia, could be an option, as the Dodgers may not see him as a fit with Carl Crawford’s eventual return from Tommy John surgery. The 31-year-old has a career .333 average in 60 games at Turner Field, which is tops among national league ballparks.

Pagan is familiar with the N.L. East from his days with the New York Mets. The outfielder hit .288 with eight homers and 56 RBI in 154 games with the Giants. He would be a cheaper option for Atlanta, as he would command in the area of $5 million after making $4.85 million in 2012. Pagan hit .290 in 80 games as the San Francisco lead-off hitter this season.

Braves fans remember how Ross tormented them during the 2010 postseason. A big game-tying home run and a go-ahead single lifted the Giants to a 3-2 game four victory in Bobby Cox’s last game as Atlanta’s manager. The 31-year-old Ross played well in his second stint in the A.L, as he batted .267 with 22 home runs and 81 RBI in 130 games with the Boston Red Sox. Ross has a career .300 average at Turner Field in 31 games and would see regular time as the left fielder. 

Josh Willingham is a perfect fit for the Braves via the trade market if they wish to pursue it. The 33-year-old, who is owed $14 million through 2014, hit 35 home runs and 110 RBI for the Minnesota Twins in 2012. The $7 million a year price tag combined with the level of production annually should garner the Braves’ interest. 

The bullpen should be a strength for the Braves again in 2013 with the return of closer Craig Kimbrel, who has saved 88 games in his two full seasons in the majors. Top left-handed setup man Eric O’Flaherty will be entering into his final arbitration year and could make upwards of $4 million.

Christian Martinez, Luis Avilan, Jonny Venters, Cory Gearrin, Chad Durbin and Peter Moylan are all expected to be in the mix for spots again in 2013. 

Important decisions will be made this winter, but the Braves should be at or near the top of the division standings again next season. 

Follow me on Twitter @Andrew_Vig

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Emptiness describes how the Braves feel after their 2012 season concluded in the wild-card playoff game October 5.

The best way for the organization and their fans to rid themselves of the heart-break is to look forward into the off-season. Important contractual decisions need to be made on some key players. 

Michael Bourn will become a free-agent during the winter, and will command a lot of money on the open market. San Francisco, Washington, and Cincinnati could be possible destinations for the Scott Boras client.

The Braves have some financial relief as Chipper Jones’ retirement allows them to shave off at least $7 million from the 2013 vesting option. The Braves will shed themselves of the remaining $10 million owed to Derek Lowe (traded to Cleveland 2011, DFA in 2012, eventually picked up by the Yankees). Eric Hinske, David Ross, Miguel Bautista, and Ben Sheets will also be coming off the books. 

It’s likely Bourn‘s next contract will net him at least $15 million a year, and the Braves aren’t willing to spend all their assets on one player. Atlanta is likely to pick up Brian McCann’s $12 million team option for next year, and are expected to pick up Tim Hudson’s $9 million option as well. 

Atlanta will be looking to lock up Martin Prado as he will be entering his second year of arbitration. It could be cheaper to sign a long-term deal as the 28-year-old will be campaigning for a higher pay raise than the $4.75 million he received in 2012. 

It’s easy to make a case that Prado was the organization’s M.V.P in 2012. A .301 average with 10 HR, and 70 RBI doesn’t even tell the entire story. He played multiple positions including left-field, third, second, shortstop, and even first base. The versatility that he showed on a daily basis is what every team covets. Prado is by far the Atlanta Braves‘ most important player and should be taken care of this off-season.

The Braves can move Prado to third to replace Chipper, and look for a cheaper solution in the outfield. Names who come to mind are Angel Pagan, Cody Ross, Jonny Gomes Shane Victorino, and B.J. Upton.

The likelihood of Upton walking is high as the Rays are not planning on bringing him back at an unreasonable price. The center fielder hit .246 with 28 homers and 78 RBI in 2012 with Tampa Bay. He won’t command the money Bourn will, so this option could make sense.

A trade option could be to match-up with the Minnesota Twins and acquire Josh Willingham. The 33-year-old outfielder hit 35 home runs and drove in 110 runs in 2012. He is owed $7 million each year through 2014.

The greatest need for the Twins is pitching and the Braves could center a deal around left-handed pitching prospect Sean Gilmartin.

The 2011 first round draft pick spent the majority of 2012 with Double-A as he made 20 starts and posted an ERA of 3.54. He finished the season with Triple-A Gwinnett and compiled a 4.78 ERA in seven starts (1-2).

Mike Minor has solidified himself as a starting pitcher in the big leagues with a 2.16 ERA in 14 starts in the second half. The Braves have the luxury of trading Gilmartin with top young arms Julio Teheran and Randall Delgado in the system.

General Manager Frank Wren, who was recently extended through 2014, has a lot of decisions to make in the off-season on how to strengthen the 94-win club. The best solution is to allocate the money to a number of different players, rather than give one player a mega contract. 

Follow me on twitter @Andrew_Vig

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Chipper Jones has played his last game for the Atlanta Braves, but there’s no doubt his career finale went about as badly as possible.

A stand-up player like Jones deserved the perfect send-off, but as we all know, that doesn’t always happen.

On the brighter side, Jones is leaving the game not having hit a wall at the age of 40. Jones hit .287 with 14 homers and 62 RBI, making it clear that he could still contribute in a big way if he chose to continue his career.

But despite all that, Jones’ last game was a nightmare and here’s why.

Infield Fly Rule-Gate

The 2012 National League Wild Card game won’t be remembered as Jones’ last game, but rather the game the umpires got it wrong with a controversial call.

Andrelton Simmons’ pop up to short left field looked like a routine play, but instead the ball found its way to the grass between St. Louis Cardinals shortstop, Pete Kozma, and left fielder, Matt Holliday.

The left field umpire gave a late signal for an infield fly, effectively crushing the Braves’ eighth inning rally. The call should have never been made, since the umpire was late to make his judgement and Kozma didn’t go after the ball with ordinary effort.

A botched call and the madness that ensued was the biggest story of the game and completely overshadowed Jones’ last game, which is a result he didn’t deserve.

Idiot Fans

You would think that all Braves fans would have the utmost respect for Jones and all he’s done during his career in Atlanta. However, that thought process was proven wrong after some fans began throwing bottles, and anything else they could find, on the field.

Let me be clear: The idiots are the ones who threw things on the field.  That doesn’t mean all Braves fans are idiots, nor does it mean that all Braves fans don’t respect Jones.

When the controversial infield fly call was made, fans began throwing things onto the field, which is unacceptable in any instance. But it didn’t stop there, as fans threw even more things onto the field once the game was over.

This forced both teams off the field in a hurry and made it dangerous for even Jones to be honored on the field after the game.

It was no doubt one of the ugliest moments in the history of the Braves’ franchise, and to make matters worse, it happened during Jones’ last game.

The behavior of the fans who threw things on the field was the second biggest story of this game, which is an unfortunate fact that pushed Jones’ story even further back behind the garbage.

Bad Game

Jones didn’t have such a great game against the Cards, as the Braves were eliminated from the playoffs.

The third baseman went 1-for-5, with a lowly infield single that should have been the last out of the game and ended Jones’ career right then and there.

On top of that, Jones committed a huge error in the fourth inning that should have been a double play, but instead opened the door for a three-run inning for St. Louis that eradicated the Braves early lead.

Per ESPN.com staff, Jones placed the blame on himself for the loss.

“Ultimately, I feel I’m the one to blame,” Jones said. “That should have been a tailor-made double play.”

It’s bad enough that Jones had a poor game at the plate, but it makes it even worse that his great career ended with Jones placing the blame on himself for the team’s season-ending loss. That’s a fact that Jones will have to live with for the rest of his life, whether we all agree with him or not.

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The tone of this article would’ve taken on a whole new meaning had one of the umpires at the Atlanta Braves vs. St. Louis Cardinals game been injured because of the controversial infield fly rule. Look, I get that the call was an emotional one for Braves fans. But if something flying out of the stands had seriously injured one of the umps, America’s Favorite Pastime would have suffered another black eye.

I don’t care how much you love your team, it doesn’t give you the right to hurl something from your seat. You don’t have the right to possibly injure an official.  That ump you’re throwing things at? He may be someone’s father or husband. He’s doing his job and deserves some respect, whether he blew the call or not.

Now, before all of Fulton County begins pressing “send” with a pointed response to this article, understand it’s about more than a few beer cans tossed from the stands at Turner Field. It’s about the behavior of some sports fans across the country involving every sport you can think of.

If I’m at a Braves game with my six-year-old son, do I tell him it’s okay to throw something from the stands when you disagree with a call? Obviously not. But kids are watching what we do. Some will grow up thinking it’s okay to attack the game official if they don’t like the call.

Our behavior at professional sporting events has become reprehensible. It’s embarrassing. It’s criminal. More than anything, it’s stupid. It’s a game, people. Life will go on tomorrow whether your favorite team wins or loses.

We all remember the Oakland Raiders vs. San Francisco 49ers game last year when mayhem erupted in the stands. Guys throwing punches MMA-style. It was a free-for-all. Young men punching each other in the face with no regard for the outcome. Seriously? Has it come to this?

There’s a young man in California who can no longer care for himself because he was attacked outside of Dodger Stadium for being a San Francisco Giants fan. He was beaten into submission. A few months ago, he finally came out of a coma and now lives in a wheelchair. Why?

Oh, I know. The Braves incident was minor, right? It only took the grounds crew a few minutes to gather the beer cans and other debris. The game resumed. No problem. It’s all good in the ATL. If I’m the owners of the Braves or the mayor of Atlanta, I’m embarrassed. The entire country was watching, and your fans looked like a bunch of sore losers. 

Are we that wrapped up in our team’s fate that we have to resort to violence to express ourselves? And it’s not just Major League Baseball. It’s the NFL, NBA and NHL. Fans everywhere are acting like complete idiots when things don’t go their way.

It almost feels like some fans are bringing personal problems to the stadium. Things aren’t going right for me personally, so I’ll go to the game and curse out the referee or slap the guy sitting next to me because he’s wearing the opposing team’s jersey. I had a bad day, so I’ll unleash my aggression at the game tonight. Whoever is in my way better look out!

I’ve seen parents with a look of horror on their faces when attending the game with a son or daughter and the drunken fans around them begun cursing and screaming. Not much those parents can do, except whisper in their kid’s ear that this is the wrong way to express yourself at the game.

Now, I understand it’s your right to scream at the ref or ump if you disagree with a call. That’s fine. But do you really have to curse him out? Do you really have to use four-letter words to express yourself? Have you noticed that 6-year-old girl sitting nearby who’s looking at you and wondering why you’re acting this way? Probably not, because you’re on your ninth beer and counting.

Stadium security is a joke and we all know it. Sure, they’ll eject the guy who gets into a drunken fight with another fan. But they’ll miss the other 15 fights in the stands. We can’t blame stadium security. Blame the owner for hiring only a handful of men and women who wear bright yellow jackets with “Security” splashed across the back. Blame the owner for only hiring a few off-duty city police officers to patrol the arena.

I often wonder what the owner is thinking when he’s sitting on his throne in the owner’s box and the fans begin chanting an expletive that sweeps across the stadium or arena like a tsunami. Is he proud that some fans are spewing expletives that are being broadcast nationally by CBS, NBC, ABC, TNT, TBS or Fox Sports? Good time to be an owner?  Probably not.

We all have the right to yell at the ref or ump. We paid the admission fee and should be allowed to voice our disapproval. We don’t have the right to use offensive language. We don’t have the right to throw things from the stands.

Before you begin trashing me, understand I’m not directing this column at all sports fans across the country and around the world. By and large, most of us respect the games and those who are seated around us. A lot of us care about what youngsters hear at the games. A lot of us simply want to cheer and boo in a respectful manner.

You think I’m overreacting? Maybe. Maybe not. Critics might say nothing happened as a result of the fans showering debris onto Turner Field. They might say the umps weren’t injured. No harm. No problem. Well, that’s the easy way out.

One day, we’ll have to deal with the escalating problem of unruly fans at sporting events. One day, we’ll have to develop a strong solution to the knuckleheads who think they’re above the law when they come to games. One day, we’ll have to address the issue of drunken fans who offend everyone in sight at the game. One day, we’ll act more civil towards each other and game officials. Hopefully.

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Fredi Gonzalez is smarter than you.

Sure, he decimated the bullpen in 2011 (something he has corrected in 2012). He’s not a particularly brilliant tactician either, and I might tend to agree with John Smoltz with regards to whom the Braves should start in the Wild Card Showdown.

But there is one man who has made Fredi Gonzalez look like an absolute genius the entire second half of the season, simultaneously making a very large portion of Braves Country look very, very silly.

His name? Michael David Minor.

By all means, Braves fans were right to be frustrated with Minor earlier this season. Before the All-Star Break, Minor compiled a 5.97 ERA over 92 innings, giving up 40 walks and an astounding 19 home runs. That’s a season-total for most pitchers.

The abhorrently awful statistics don’t stop there. Minor could not find the strike zone in the first half of the season, posting walk rates of 4.62 and 5.53 in May and June, walking 10.5 and 14.1 percent of opposing hitters, respectively (or not so respectively).

Minor’s May WHIP was 1.89. His May and June FIPs? 8.24 and 5.78. 

He was, in a word, terrible.

Fredi Gonzalez didn’t care though. Amidst all of the pleadings of Braves fans to send Minor down to Triple-A Gwinnett, Gonzalez kept plugging Minor into the starting rotation. Every once in a while, he would flash potential of the pitcher he could be, examples being his April 14 and 19 starts (15.1 innings, 13 strikeouts, one walk, one run) and June 12 (7.1 innings, 4 strikeouts, one walk, one run).

He must have seen an internal change in Minor, because the Mike Minor of the second half has been an entirely different act than the erratic homer-prone charade he performed before the All-Star Break. 

In 81 innings since the Mid-Summer Classic, Minor has compiled an eye-widening 2.33 ERA with 16 walks and a more earthly seven home runs. His opponents have reached base at less than a 25 percent clip and have OPSed .577.

There’s more. His August strikeout rate is perplexingly low, but July and September saw him strike out more than 8.5 hitters per nine innings—pretty strong for a lefty with a 91 mile an hour fastball. He compiled monthly FIPs of 3.55, 3.73, and 2.91, posted monthly WHIPs of 0.73, 1.10, and 0.77, and tallied July and August walk rates of 1.32 and 1.27.

Minor’s dominance has not only cemented him a spot in the Braves 2012 postseason rotation, but also his future with the club. It was only this previous offseason that Minor had been rumored to be on the trading block, with the Mets as the most interested suitors.

Now, it seems as if Minor has transformed himself into a strike-throwing machine, wielding a very good fastball when paired with his very good secondary pitches. He may not be the second coming of Tommy Glavine, but Mike Minor has a bright future with the Braves, as he looks to be a mainstay in the rotation for years to come.

And Fredi Gonzalez is enjoying every minute of it.

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