Atlanta calls up RHP Roddery Muñoz, sends Lucas Luetge to Gwinnett

Atlanta gets bullpen reinforcements, indicating AJ Smith-Shawver may be on track for a start this weekend

The Atlanta Braves continued making roster moves in their bullpen today, calling up reliever Roddery Muñoz. 

The #Braves today recalled RHP Roddery Muñoz to Atlanta and outrighted LHP Lucas Luetge to Triple-A Gwinnett. Additionally, RHP Michael Tonkin tonight begins a rehabilitation assignment with the Stripers.

— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) June 6, 2023

Muñoz, 23, will be debuting in the major leagues after three years in the Braves domestic minor league system. Originally a 2017 International Free Agent, he came stateside in 2021 and was moved to relief in 2023. This season, mostly in AAA Gwinnett, he's 1-3 with a 4.94 ERA in fifteen appearances (one start, in AA Mississippi) and twenty-four strikeouts in twenty-seven and a third innings. But in his last six appearances, he's reached a comfort level: 0.82 ERA, with eight hits, one run, and fourteen strikeouts (with seven walks) in eleven innings. 

The corresponding move for Muñoz was Lucas Lutege being outrighted to AAA Gwinnett. Designated for assignment when AJ Smith-Shawver was promoted on May 31st, he was not claimed on waivers and Atlanta has placed the 36 year-old with Gwinnett for now. He appeared in nine games for Atlanta in 2023, all in relief, and was 1-0 with a 10.24 ERA in nine and two-thirds innings, allowing fifteen hits and eleven runs with six walks and ten strikeouts. 

Also, reliever Michael Tonkin has begun a rehab assignment in AAA Gwinnett. Tonkin, 33, was placed on the fifteen day IL on May 25th with a strained neck, just days after a two-game span where he got lit up for eight runs (five earned) in four combined innings against Seattle and Los Angeles. 

With these moves, including calling up another reliever instead of a starter to replace Michael Soroka, it lends further belief to the idea that top prospect AJ Smith-Shawver will get a major league start this weekend against the Washington Nationals. Coming in behind starter Michael Soroka during the Arizona series on Sunday, he pitched two and a third scoreless innings with three strikeouts to one walk. 

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