He reached a speed of 94 mph, as reported by MLB.com. This was a significant moment, considering that back in 2021, when he was in top form, Ynoa’s fastball speed averaged at 96.5 mph. This marks a promising beginning.
Ynoa expressed his happiness, mentioning, “Perhaps if I had another inning, I might have hit 96 (mph) or 95 (mph).” His optimism shines through these words.
Earlier in the training season, Ynoa had to deal with shoulder soreness. This setback kept him from throwing for a week. Consequently, it wasn’t until March 16 that he made his first appearance this spring.
Braves manager Brian Snitker shared his joy, “It’s great that he finally managed to get out there and complete an inning.” This sentiment reflects the team’s support for Ynoa.
Before this, Ynoa hadn’t played in a game since August 24, 2022. That day, he pitched two innings for Triple-A Gwinnett. However, he was already experiencing elbow discomfort upon arriving at the camp. Ynoa admitted, “You try to push through it, keep quiet, and make it work.” Now, he’s feeling much better.
Given that Ynoa isn’t fully prepared yet, it’s unlikely he’ll make the team this time. The competition for the fifth starter position continued without him.
Nevertheless, Ynoa could play a vital role in the future of Atlanta’s pitching rotation.
Ynoa is focused on staying healthy, “The only thing I can control is to try and stay healthy – work on it and keep doing my exercises to regain the form I had in ’21.” This approach brought him peace after completing Saturday’s game without any health issues.
“It was a moment of tranquility and immense relief to finish the game healthy, as I haven’t pitched without health issues since the end of ’21,” Ynoa shared.
In other news, Ronald Acuña Jr. is set to play in the outfield on Sunday. After experiencing right meniscus irritation, Acuña returned to the lineup on Thursday as the designated hitter. He didn’t play on Friday in Lakeland or on Saturday.
Following Saturday’s game, Snitker announced that Acuña would play right field on Sunday, likely in North Port.
Regarding Sunday’s games, the Braves will split their squad. One team will remain in North Port to play against the Red Sox, while the other will head to Sarasota to face the Orioles.
Spencer Strider is scheduled to start in Sarasota, with Reynaldo Lopez pitching in North Port.
When asked how these decisions were made, Snitker explained that the team wanted Lopez to stay home. Since pitching in North Port on February 26, Lopez has traveled to Dunedin, Fort Myers, and Bradenton for his games.