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Fuentes (4-0) picked up the win Friday over the Reds, giving up one hit and striking out one in 1.1 scoreless innings of relief.
The 20-year-old right-hander took the mound in the fifth inning with Atlanta ahead 4-2 after Grant Holmes got the hook, and while Fuentes did allow an inherited runner to score, he did enough to be credited with the win. He's been tagged for an earned run in only one of his 11 appearances in May, posting a 0.71 ERA, 0.87 WHIP and 13:5 K:BB in 12.2 innings on the month. His long-term future still lies in the rotation, but Fuentes is giving Atlanta valuable long-relief innings this season.
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Braves' Didier Fuentes: Still viewed as future starter
Rotowire
Fuentes will likely remain in a long-relief role this season unless Atlanta endures further injuries in the rotation, but his long-term future is still as a starting pitcher, Jesus Cano of The Athletic reports. "Developing starters in the bullpen used to be the blueprint in this game," manager Walt Weiss said Monday. "I think you have to identify the guys that can benefit, and (Fuentes) is one of those guys."
The right-hander doesn't turn 21 years old for another few weeks, but Fuentes has been impressive in the big-league bullpen this season, posting a 2.66 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 24:8 K:BB in 20.1 innings over 13 appearances (one start) with three wins and two holds. He had been almost exclusively a starter in the minors, but he's adjusted well to his new role. "It's thanks to the veterans in the bullpen and rotation," Fuentes said Monday via a translator. "They've taught me so much about preparation and sequencing, but at the same time, they've helped me mature as a person."
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Braves' Didier Fuentes: Earns win in relief Friday
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Fuentes (1-0) earned the win in relief Friday against the Rockies after tossing a scoreless eighth inning. He did not record a walk or a strikeout.
Fuentes allowed a baserunner when he plunked Tyler Freeman, but that would be the only threat in an inning in which he had some issues finding the strike zone -- he tossed only eight of his 15 pitches for strikes. Fuentes has looked good overall since returning from Triple-A Gwinnett, posting back-to-back scoreless and hitless appearances with a 1:1 K:BB through three frames.
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Braves' Didier Fuentes: Nabs first career hold
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Fuentes walked one and struck out one in two scoreless innings of relief Tuesday to record his first hold of the season in a 5-2 win over the Tigers.
The rookie right-hander took over for Martin Perez to begin the sixth inning and knifed through Detroit's hitters on just 22 pitches (12 strikes) to pick up his first career hold. Fuentes will remain in the big-league bullpen at least until Dylan Lee is back from the paternity list, but Atlanta will likely send Fuentes back to Triple-A Gwinnett at some point to continue developing as a starter. Through nine MLB innings this season, Fuentes has a 12:3 K:BB, albeit with a 5.00 ERA and 1.33 WHIP.
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Braves' Didier Fuentes: Back with big club
Rotowire
Atlanta recalled Fuentes from Triple-A Gwinnett on Tuesday.
He'll give the club some length in the bullpen for the next few days while Dylan Lee is on the paternity list. Fuentes has made one spot start and one long-relief appearance for Atlanta this season, allowing five runs with an 11:2 K:BB over seven innings. The 20-year-old boasts a 2.16 ERA and 20:6 K:BB across 16.2 frames this season with Gwinnett.
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Braves' Didier Fuentes: Heading back to minors
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Atlanta will option Fuentes to Triple-A Gwinnett on Thursday, Barrett Sallee of 680 The Fan Atlanta reports.
Fuentes was recalled from the minors to start Wednesday's game against Washington and will now head back down after giving up four earned runs on seven hits and a walk while striking out seven batters over three innings. The 20-year-old righty owns a 2.16 ERA at Triple-A and is viewed as Atlanta's top prospect, so he will likely receive more opportunities to showcase his talents at the major-league level later this season. JR Ritchie is slated to come up from Triple-A in a corresponding move.
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Braves' Didier Fuentes: Optioned after spot start
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Atlanta optioned Fuentes to Triple-A Gwinnett on Thursday.
Fuentes was shaky in a spot start Wednesday versus the Nationals, striking out seven but permitting four earned runs on seven hits and a walk over three frames. The 20-year-old should get another opportunity in the Atlanta rotation later this summer, but for now he will continue to hone his craft at Gwinnett, where he's posted a 2.16 ERA and 20:6 K:BB in 16.2 innings.
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Braves' Didier Fuentes: Recalled to start Wednesday's game
Rotowire
Atlanta recalled Fuentes from Triple-A Gwinnett and will have him start Wednesday in Washington.
Wednesday had been Martin Perez's turn in the Atlanta rotation, but he will be pushed back a day. Fuentes was due for another chance at the major-league level, having tossed four innings of one-run ball in a long-relief outing earlier this season and boasting a 2.16 ERA and 20:6 K:BB in 16.2 frames with Gwinnett. With Spencer Strider (oblique) due back from the injured list soon, Fuentes could be in line for just one start with Atlanta, though he could make that decision difficult if he pitches well Wednesday.
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Braves' Didier Fuentes: Could get promoted this week
Rotowire
Fuentes had his start with Triple-A Gwinnett skipped Sunday, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.
Atlanta is currently in the midst of a stretch of 10 games in 10 days, so holding Fuentes back gives the team the option to call him up either for a spot start to buy the rest of the rotation some rest, or to work in long relief. Even if Fuentes doesn't get promoted, having a start skipped allows Atlanta to keep the 20-year-old right-hander's workload in check, as he has yet to throw more than 75.2 innings in a season. Fuentes has had an outstanding start to the campaign, posting a combined 24:7 K:BB over 20.2 innings between Triple-A and the majors with a 2.18 ERA and 0.82 WHIP. With Spencer Strider (oblique) closing in on his 2026 debut, however, Atlanta doesn't have a permanent spot available in the rotation for Fuentes just yet.
Fuentes has a 0.00 ERA, 0.87 WHIP and 15:5 K:BB through 9.2 innings in his first two starts of the season for Triple-A Gwinnett.
The 20-year-old began the year in the big-league bullpen, but since being optioned to Gwinnett, Fuentes has dominated Triple-A hitters. He's likely first in line for a promotion when Atlanta needs rotation help, but with Reynaldo Lopez not set to miss a turn after having his suspension reduced to five games from seven and Martin Perez looking at least adequate so far as the fifth starter, Fuentes may need to bide his time in the International League.
Atlanta optioned Fuentes to Triple-A Gwinnett on Monday.
Fuentes wasn't going to be available to pitch for a few days after allowing one earned run over four relief innings in Sunday's loss to the Royals. He will enter the Gwinnett rotation so he can stay stretched out and could get an opportunity to start some games with Atlanta sooner rather than later. Martin Perez is taking Fuentes' spot on the active roster and could start Tuesday at home against the Athletics.
Fuentes struck out four and allowed one earned run on two hits and one walk across four innings of relief in Sunday's 4-1 loss to the Royals.
Following an outstanding spring training in which he turned in a 0.66 ERA, 0.22 WHIP and 18:1 K:BB across 13.2 innings, Fuentes was able to clinch a spot on the Opening Day roster. Though Atlanta has an opening in its rotation while Spencer Strider (oblique) is on the mend, Fuentes looks like he'll have to settle for a multi-inning relief role early on. In his season debut Sunday, the young right-hander ended up piggybacking starter Grant Holmes. With only four swinging strikes on 56 pitches, Fuentes didn't look as dominant as he had been in the Grapefruit League, but he pounded the zone and was able to limit hard contact. Jose Suarez or Martin Perez would appear to be the leading candidates to get the ball when a fifth starter is first needed Tuesday against the Athletics, but Fuentes has done his part to earn a look in the rotation later this season.
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