BREAKING: Atlanta activates pitcher Kyle Wright from injured list
The Atlanta Braves have seen several players added to the IL in the last week-plus - Michael Harris II hit the IL with a back injury, while Travis d'Arnaud is on the 7-day concussion IL after multiple collisions at the plate in game three of the Padres series, the worst at the hands of Rougned Odor.
READ: Travis d'Arnaud leaves game after two collisions at home plate
Finally, Atlanta gets positive injury news for a change. Last year's MLB leader in wins, Kyle Wright, is being activated from the injured list to start tonight's game two matchup against Cincinnati.
Wright, 27, was a 1st round pick of the Braves in 2017 out of Vanderbilt University in Nashville. A native of Huntsville, AL, Wright debuted in 2018 for the Braves and saw only mixed results until his dynamic breakout season of 2022, where he led all of baseball in wins with 21. Wright threw to a 3.19 ERA in 30 starts, throwing 180.1 innings with 174 strikeouts to 52 walks. On his final year of league minimum salaries, he is making $750,000 on a one-year contract and will reach arbitration for the first time next year.
Wright was dealing with shoulder soreness over the winter, necessitating a cortisone injection in January and delaying the start to his spring training. After two starts in Grapefruit League action, it was decided to put Wright on the injured list to give him additional time to build up via rehab outings versus minor leaguers in extended spring and in AAA Gwinnett. He started against the Norfolk Tides (Orioles) last Wednesday, pitching six innings and allowing seven hits on five runs with one walk and six strikeouts in 84 pitches (53 strikes).
READ: Kyle Wright, rehabbing with AAA Gwinnett, strikes out six in first start of year
Being optioned to make room on the 26-man roster for Wright is Dylan Dodd. The lefty had a great first start against St. Louis, going five innings with six hits and one run, but struggled against the Padres on Sunday. He was tagged for ten hits and seven runs in 4.1 innings, taking the loss. There was talk that Dodd as tipping his pitches - his slider got particularly rocked, causing him to abandon it for a fastball-heavy approach, and he'll get an opportunity to return to Gwinnett and work on it for the next ten days before he's eligible to come back up.
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