WELLEN PARK — Dylan Dodd didn’t imagine this either. Just a few years ago, he had an ERA over 5.00 at Southeast Missouri State.
And despite jumping three minor-league levels last season, Dodd still was an unheralded prospect.
It turns out, his career 156 minor-league innings pale in comparison with the eight he’s thrown this spring. The innings that don’t count have counted for everything to Dodd.
He’s a finalist for the Braves’ final vacant rotation spot. He’s two weeks away from potentially being part of one of MLB’s best rosters. Neither he nor the Braves expected this to be a discussion one month ago.
“To be honest, probably no (I couldn’t have envisioned this),” Dodd said. “But I feel like the game has changed. Years ago, it took minor leaguers a real long time to go through levels. The Braves have shown if you perform well, they’ll push you. I think that’s a great thing.”
The Braves gave their mostly unnewsworthy spring an adrenaline shot Tuesday when they optioned starting pitchers Ian Anderson and Bryce Elder to Triple-A Gwinnett. Those pitchers were the presumed favorites for the fifth-starter spot. But their dispiriting performances positioned them to be leapfrogged by lefties Dodd and Jared Shuster, who essentially have blown the Braves away.
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Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
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