The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Snitker pleased with Teheran and Vizcaino
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLA. — Another reminder spring-training scores, particularly early in camp, mean next to nothing: The Braves lost 9-1 to the Red Sox on Friday, and Braves manager Brian Snitker was pleased.
Pleased because the two areas Snitker was focused on entering Friday’s game — the performances of starting pitcher Julio Teheran and reliever Arodys Vizcaino — both had encouraging outcomes. Teheran, in his second and final game before the World Baseball Classic, pitched three scoreless innings, allowing three hits and one walk with three strikeouts.
Vizcaino topped out at 98 mph and had two strikeouts in one inning. After missing most of the second half of the 2016 season with oblique and shoulder strains, “Viz” has five strikeouts and one walk in two innings over his first two spring appearances. The lone hit against him was Andrew Benintendi’s bases-empty home run in Friday’s sixth inning.
“Viz probably got one down in that kid’s happy zone; he’s a good little player,” Snitker said of Benintendi, an American League Rookie of the Year candidate whose four hits Friday included two doubles and a two-run single. “Holy cow, first time I’ve seen him. But yeah, those were the two bright spots (Teheran and Vizcaino). The thing I really zeroed in on was Viz again, and he was really good, I thought.”
The Braves had Vizcaino skip winter ball so he could rest and rebuild arm strength, after his potential All-Star season — he was that good as the team’s closer for most of the first half — turned sour because of injuries.
“After the way he ended last year, we were hoping he would come in and (impress),” Snitker said. “He’s been getting better and better really. The side (sessions in the bullpen early in camp), one after another was better. And today I thought was real good. That was worth the day there. Julio, I thought was really sharp. Good offspeed pitches, throwing them behind in the count.”
Teheran will have a full week’s rest between starts — three days more than usual — before he pitches for Colombia on March 11 in the World Baseball Classic. He’ll face Canada and Braves teammate Freddie Freeman.
Teheran is expected to have a pitch limit of 60-65 in his first WBC start, similar to what he’d have if his third start of spring was a Grapefruit League game, and will throw twice between starts, probably in bullpen sessions. The extra rest wasn’t a concern for Snitker. It’s more about the fact Teheran would be pitching in a game that matters, so early in spring training.
“He’ll be fine,” Snitker said. “He gets amped up, though. Adrenaline rush, competitive pitching. You can’t control the situation like you can if they’re here. ... Just keep fingers crossed. He’s as ready as we could get him at this point, before he goes.”