Kyle Wright, rehabbing with AAA Gwinnett, strikes out six in first start of year

Last year's leader in wins for all of MLB didn't have a great statline, but looked solid in his season debut

Kyle Wright, who led all of MLB in wins last year with 21 but was slowed this spring by a sore shoulder, is building up for his big league return with AAA Gwinnett. 

If last night's performance was any indication, he's getting pretty close to being ready. 

The Braves hurler out of Vanderbilt threw six innings, striking out six in a losing effort as Gwinnett fell to Norfolk 6-3. 

Rehabbing @Braves hurler Kyle Wright strikes out 6 in six frames for @GoStripers. pic.twitter.com/rfgeLZCxbN

— Minor League Baseball (@MiLB) April 6, 2023

Wright's statline wasn't that great - a 2nd inning grand slam by Ryan O'Hearn, his 2nd extra base hit of the day, accounted for most of the runs charged to Wright in the contest. 

Wright's final line: 6IP, 7H, 5R, 6Ks, 1BB on 84 pitches (53 strikes) 

But what was most important was the depth of the start by Wright - it's his third appearance of the year, as his start to spring training was delayed while waiting for a cortisone injection into his sore shoulder to work enough for him to begin a throwing program. 

Going six innings and breaking 80 pitches were both milestones for Wright in the rehab. He's tentatively lined up to start the first day he's eligible to come off the IL, April 11th, for a home matchup against the Cincinnati Reds. 

Atlanta's not announced starters for that Reds series yet, as they're waiting to get through this home opening series against the Padres and trying to determine who will pitch on Friday night - the slot that would have lined up for Jared Shuster had he not been optioned to the minors when Dylan Dodd was called up on Sunday. 

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