Braves DFA Jesse Biddle Ahead of Touki Toussaint Call-Up
By Michael Luciano
The national -- well, maybe regional -- nightmare is finally over.
The Atlanta Braves have DFA'd lefty reliever Jesse Biddle, who is sporting a cool 5.40 ERA in 15 games this season. With Biddle off the roster, it is widely expected that highly-touted prospect Touki Toussaint will step into a more prominent role in the 'pen, following his recall.
OF Ender Inciarte was placed on the 10-day IL with a lumbar strain.
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) May 15, 2019
In addition, the Braves recalled RHP Touki Toussaint from the Stripers and designated LHP Jesse Biddle for assignment.
Toussaint struggled early in the year after a promising 2019, piling up a 6.35 ERA in 11.1 innings. However, his untapped potential and raw stuff are truly mesmerizing.
Acquired from Arizona after the Braves were somehow able to get No. 1 overall pick and future starting shortstop Dansby Swanson in addition to Toussaint in exchange for Shelby Miller, Toussaint will sit in the mid 90s with a sharp, tailing fastball.
However, the pitch that will make him a star is a hard 12-to-6 curveball that falls off the table and is a deadly strikeout pitch when he can command it consistently.
13 Touki Toussaint Curveballs (called or swinging strikes) in Under 25 Seconds. ??️ pic.twitter.com/WEnFeb3aTh
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 4, 2019
The Braves started the youth movement on offense early by calling up Ozzie Albies and Ronald Acuña Jr. sooner than most believed they would. Why not throw Toussaint out there and see what he has?