Kyle Wright

Pre-2022, Wright posted a 6.56 ERA and 1.69 WHIP over four MLB seasons, spanning 70 innings. After dominating Triple-A in 2021, Wright was given a chance to be Atlanta's fifth starter and he took advantage, starting 30 games and amassing a league-leading 21 wins across 180 innings in a breakthrough campaign. Wright cut way back on his slider, relying more on his curve and changeup with excellent results. Both secondary offerings improved, but his curve was especially effective, perhaps due to adding a couple mph. Wright's control improved dramatically, and he became an extreme groundball pitcher. He was a little lucky, as shown by a 3.58 FIP, 3.30 xFIP and 3.48 SIERA. Even so, his ERA estimators portend a solid fantasy starter. Maintaining a new skill level after such a steep improvement is a challenge, but even with some giveback, Wright appears to have developed into a solid mid-rotation starter.

The last we saw of Wright he provided Atlanta with an effective outing following Dylan Lee in Game 4 of the World Series, limiting Houston to one run over 4.1 innings. The outing was a microcosm of Wright's time at the big-league level as he permitted eight baserunners while allowing a home run in the outing. Wright has spent the past three seasons on I-85 between Gwinnett and Atlanta, pitching effectively at Triple-A, but he has a 6.56 ERA with a 1.69 WHIP and 1.9 HR/9 rate in 70 innings of major-league work. The 2017 first-round pick is expected to compete for a spot at the end of the Atlanta rotation, but with one remaining option, could once again be stuck in traffic jams on I-85 multiple times in 2022.

Wright won the Braves' No. 5 rotation spot to open the season but did not take advantage, posting a 7.20 ERA and 2.20 WHIP in four outings, walking 16 in 15 innings. His lack of control sent him to the Braves' alternate training site until he was recalled in early September. After stumbling in his first start back, Wright reeled off three solid outings to close the season, registering a 2.37 ERA and 0.89 WHIP while walking only six with 14 strikeouts in 19 frames. The strong finish was encouraging, but Wright's strikeouts were low, and he was buoyed by a lucky .176 BABIP. Still just 25 years old, Wright has time to develop into a reliable starter, but the Braves are in win-now mode, signing Charlie Morton and Drew Smyly, to go along with Mike Soroka returning from injury. With both Ian Anderson and Max Fried developing faster, Wright is looking at a swingman/bullpen role.

Wright has four above-average pitches in his arsenal, but has thus far been unable to translate his minor-league success to the majors. He began the season in the Atlanta rotation, but was quickly farmed out up I-85 to Gwinnett, where he remained until September save a spot start just after the All-Star break. Wright struggled mightily with his command at the big-league level, and major-league hitters punished him when he was forced to pitch from behind in the count, scoring 18 runs off him in his four starts. Just one of his four MLB outings was a quality start. On the other hand, his minor-league summer was his best run as a pro, as he logged a 2.60 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 92:23 K:BB in 79.2 IP over his final 13 starts on the farm. He does not have much left to learn at Triple-A. The Braves still like Wright quite a bit, and he will have a chance to win the fifth starter spot in spring training.

Wright's sinking 94-mph four-seam fastball helped him log a 53.0 GB% in 138 innings across stops at Double-A and Triple-A. For reference, Dallas Keuchel led qualified MLB starters with a 53.7 GB%. Continuing to generate groundballs at a high clip will be important, as Wright struck out slightly less than a batter per inning, which is atypical of a pitcher with his pedigree (No. 5 overall pick out of Vanderbilt in 2017) and perceived No. 3 starter upside. Wright's best pitch is probably his 85-mph cutter, which also has heavy sink and is his best swing-and-miss offering. His 80-mph slider could be a third above-average offering, while his changeup lags behind as a distant fourth pitch. He has average command. The Braves transitioned Wright to the bullpen down the stretch in order to utilize him in the majors, but he will be back in the Triple-A rotation to start 2019. He could join the big-league rotation if a spot opens up in the first half.

In the days leading up to the 2017 draft, Wright was rumored as the favorite to be the first player off the board, and while he fell to the Braves at No. 5, his $7 million bonus ranked third in the class. His deep repertoire and 6-foot-4, 220-pound frame are tailor-made for the rotation. His best pitch is his mid-90s fastball -- a double-plus offering thanks to its late life. He complements it with a curveball and slider, both of which can be out pitches on the right day. His changeup is his fourth pitch, but it too shows plus potential at times. He only logged 17 innings after signing, allowing runs to score in just three of his nine outings. It would not be surprising if he were aggressively assigned to Double-A, and he should be the first starting pitcher from last year's draft to reach the majors. He should settle in as a No. 2 or No. 3 starter, but if he maxes out his command, he could pitch atop a big-league rotation.