Braves under fire as prized pitching prospect Didier Fuentes crumbles: ‘Front office has lost itself'
With some injuries to the pitching staff, the Braves elected to bring 20-year-old Didier Fuentes up to the big leagues after just three starts in High-A, five in Double-A and one in Triple-A throughout 2025 — and it seems to have been far too soon for the team's No. 10 prospect.
'Didier Fuentes was a speculative promotion based on arm talent and potential. He is not ready to pitch, let alone contribute in the major leagues right now,' Braves reporter Grant McAuley posted to X. 'Yes, the Braves have lost four starters, but they need to try something else.'
4 At just 20 years old, Didier Fuentes is the youngest MLB pitcher to start a game since 2019.
Brett Davis-Imagn Images
Through four starts in MLB, Fuentes has posted a 13.85 ERA and made it through just 13 innings.
He's allowed 23 hits and six home runs while walking six batters and striking out 12.
His struggles reached new heights Tuesday when he gave up eight runs — including three homers — to the A's in just one inning.
4 Didier Fuentes was lit up in his start Tuesday as he failed to get an out after reaching the second inning.
Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images
The Braves may continue to lean on Fuentes through the growing pains, but many oppose that ideology.
'Genuinely feel so bad for Didier Fuentes,' a Braves fan posted to X. 'The kid has so much potential, but his stuff is just not ready for the big leagues yet. Every inning he throws in the bigs is hurting more than helping. The Braves are not helping this kid at all.'
4 Fuentes made his MLB debut on June 20.
Getty Images
From 2022-25 in the minor leagues, Fuentes posted a 3.70 ERA with a 1.14 WHIP.
In 2025, that ERA sat at 4.81 with his High-A number at 5.54, Double-A at 4.98 and Triple-A at 1.93, which came in a single start before his MLB call-up.
Chris Sale, Reynaldo Lopez and Spencer Schwellenbach are all injured at the moment for Atlanta, but the early opportunity for the righty seems to be doing more harm than good.
4 Fuentes is the youngest player to pitch for the Braves since 1970.
Getty Images
'What are the Braves doing with Didier?' another X user posted. 'This is moronic. The front office has lost itself.'
The Braves have had a tough season as they currently sit at 39-51 and are 10.5 games back from the final wild-card spot in the National League.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
6 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Shohei Ohtani's two-run home run (34)
Shohei Ohtani hits a two-run home run to left field, his 34th of the season, extending the Dodgers' lead to 3-0 in the 3rd inning
Yahoo
6 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Soto scores tiebreaking run in 8th as Mets prevent sweep by Reds
NEW YORK (AP) — Juan Soto dashed home with the go-ahead run in the eighth inning, beating a throw to the plate on Luis Torrens' sharp grounder to second base, and the New York Mets avoided a three-game sweep Sunday with a 3-2 win over the Cincinnati Reds. Soto led off the inning by drawing a walk from Brent Suter (1-1) and went to third on Jeff McNeil's one-out double. With the infield playing in, Tony Santillan got Torrens to hit a hard grounder to second baseman Matt McLain, but Soto got an excellent jump and scored with a headfirst slide as the one-hop throw arrived. Ryne Stanek earned his second save with a scoreless ninth. Edwin Díaz (5-0) blew a save opportunity for the second time this season when he plunked Spencer Steer with a pitch to force home the tying run in the eighth. Díaz then struck out Tyler Stephenson to leave the bases loaded. Brandon Nimmo had an RBI single in the third and No. 9 hitter Luisangel Acuña gave the Mets a 2-1 lead with a run-scoring double in the fifth. Elly De La Cruz hit an RBI single in the first for the Reds. Mets left-hander David Peterson allowed an unearned run in six innings. Fellow All-Star Andrew Abbott gave up two runs in six innings for Cincinnati. Key moment It was Torrens' first RBI in a Mets victory since he had two in an 8-1 win over Colorado on June 7. Key stats The bottom four Mets batters went 4 for 13 with two RBIs. … Reds center fielder TJ Friedl was plunked four times in the series and has been hit by a pitch six times in his last five games. He was hit by a pitch just five times in his first 91 games. Up next The Mets continue a six-game homestand Monday night, when RHP Kodai Senga (7-3, 1.39 ERA) starts against Los Angeles Angels LHP Tyler Anderson (2-6, 4.34). The Reds head to Washington, where RHP Brady Singer (7-7, 4.32 ERA) opposes Nationals RHP Jake Irvin (7-5, 4.58). ___ AP MLB:
Yahoo
6 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Soriano limits Phillies to 2 runs in 7 innings in Angels' 8-2 victory
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Jose Soriano limited Philadelphia to two runs in seven innings, Taylor Ward had a three-run double and the Los Angeles Angels beat the Phillies 8-2 on Sunday for a series victory. Soriano (7-7) allowed six hits and struck out five. He was touched for a run in the second inning on an RBI single by Rafael Marchan, and the Phillies mustered little else until Otto Kemp's two-out home run in the sixth. The Angels scored five runs in the second against Ranger Suarez (7-4), who allowed six earned runs in 4 1/3 innings. Zach Neto singled in a run in the second, and Ward followed with his three-run double. LaMonte Wade Jr. homered in the sixth. He replaced Nolan Schanuel in the first after Schanuel was hit in the wrist by a pitch. Key moment With a run in and the bases loaded in the second, Mike Trout worked a full count against Suarez. The next pitch looked borderline, and plate ump Steven Jaschinski called it a ball. That forced in a second Angels run to Suarez's chagrin. He was really unhappy after the Angels' next hitter, Ward, cleared the bases. Key stat The Phillies' Kemp, replacing injured Alec Bohm at third base, committed two errors. That's three errors in six starts at third for Kemp, who has split another 24 games between first base and left field with only one error. Up next The Angels take on the New York Mets in a three-game series beginning Monday night, with Tyler Anderson (2-6, 4.34 ERA) set to oppose the Mets' Kodai Senga (7-3, 1.39). The Phillies host Boston for three beginning Monday night, with Zack Wheeler (9-3, 2.36) facing the Red Sox's Walker Buehler (6-6, 6.12). ___ AP MLB:
