Returning from a long layoff, the Braves' Kris Medlen believes that he can still compete for a spot in the starting rotation.
"We've got eight or nine guys battling for four spots so it’s going to be interesting," Medlen told 790 The Zone's Hans Heiserer in an interview last week. "I'm ready to help our team win."
Medlen underwent surgery on his throwing elbow during the 2010 season, after a very successful start to his second MLB season, has only seen 2.1 innings of work since he was hurt. Those innings were mostly memorable for Medlen due to many reasons. Most of all the outting came in an emergency role during the final game of last season which finished off the Braves disasterous collapse in extra inning and ended their season, conceding a wild card spot to the eventual world champion Cardinals.
Of the game Medlen stated, “It was a great way personally to end the season for me, but you know you don’t really ever look at it that way. We ended up losing that game and not making the playoffs which was terrible, but, I mean, from what I went through... it was huge for me to get back on the mound. I would be crazy to say that I wasn't nervous ‘cause I was running onto the field like, am I really going into this game right now?”
The pitcher was out for nearly two entire off seasons and all but two innings of the 2011 season to rehabilitate. When asked directly about his health Medlen said, "I think so, I haven’t thrown off the mound yet, but I think this week I’m starting. Probably get like five or six bullpens in before I head out [for spring training]. We've been working out up at The Factory in Duluth. It’s the best I've felt my entire baseball career. I don’t feel anything in my elbow anymore. I feel amazing and I’m so ready to go.”
With the crowded, and ultra-talented pitching pool, the Braves have available in Atlanta and throughout the farm system, the task of becoming a starter could be a difficult one. With plenty of experience in the fire, however, Medlen is a confident veteran who seems ready for a rotation spot.
Notes:
Pitchers and catchers report to the Braves spring training complex at Disney World's Wide World of Sports Complex on next week.
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