Didier Fuentes looked ready for the moment. We all know what happened last season when the Braves brought up a just-turned 20-year-old to make his big-league debut. Fuentes had his flashes, but he was overmatched by the jump in competition.
This spring, he looked like a completely different pitcher. Still just 20 years old, he recorded a stat line even Paul Skenes would be jealous of: 13.2 IP, two hits, one run, one hit batter, one walk, and 18 strikeouts. That earned him a spot on the Opening Day roster.
Fuentes entered game three of the series in the sixth inning. He proceeded to work the final four innings in relief, giving up just two hits, one run, one walk, and striking out four. The swing-and-miss was not quite at spring levels, but the poise stood out. His ceiling might be as high as anyone in the system.
All in all, the staff as a whole delivered across the board. Starters Sale, López, and Grant Holmes combined for just 11 hits, four runs, and 13 strikeouts. Dylan Lee, Osvaldo Bido, Tyler Kinley, Robert Suárez, and Aaron Bummer threw 5.2 scoreless innings, allowing just three hits with seven strikeouts out of the bullpen.
In all, the Royals scored just six runs on 17 hits across the three game series. For context, 10 teams cleared six runs on Sunday alone. The 17 hits allowed is among the fewest in baseball. Small sample size, but this is the start both the organization and the fans needed from this pitching staff after everything that happened the last few months.
The Rest
Walt Weiss is already managing differently. When Brian Snitker stepped down as manager, there was a huge decision to be had on who should take over. Many, like myself, wanted an external option to break the funk that Atlanta had seemed to be in since the World Series run in 2021.
However, the team decided to promote Weiss from within the organization and surround him with a younger, highly touted staff around him.
It has only been three games, but the difference is noticeable.