Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos said starting pitcher Cole Hamels has recovered from the shoulder injury sustained late this offseason and should be ready for the start of the delayed 2020 Major League Baseball regular season.
The Braves’ $18 million offseason signing aggravated his shoulder during weighted ball workouts just prior to the team opening its initial spring training camp in February, and he was expected to miss at least a month of the regular season. But Anthopoulos told media during a conference call Wednesday that the four-time All-Star is set to throw a bullpen session this Friday, and if all goes well, will be taking the mound for the Braves when the season (finally) starts.
“He’s feeling great," said Anthopoulos. "Obviously seen lots of film and updates and he’s been throwing off flat ground. He’s scheduled to throw a bullpen in two days on Friday. He’s feeling really good. We’ll have him come in and we’ll see how things progress with all our guys.
Alex Anthopoulos says Cole Hamels is expected to throw a bullpen Friday. Will be ready for season. Adds that the team is still deciding how long to let starters go in the first start or two of the season. #Braves
— Joe Patrick (@japatrick200) June 24, 2020“Right now, in terms of our projections and things like that, he’s someone that we plan to carry with us to start the year.
"With all these guys, things can change over the course of a month. But right now we plan on being able to carry all [projected starting pitchers>.”
The Braves are set up as ideally as any team could be that will enter a season off of an unprecedented short “spring” training, which will feature almost exclusively intra-squad spring training games. Even without Hamels in the mix to start the year, Kyle Wright, Sean Newcomb and another veteran acquisition, Felix Hernandez, impressed staff through an abbreviated spring camp. Judging by Anthopoulos’ remarks, it sounds like all of them — in addition to the Mike Soroka, Max Fried and Mike Foltynewicz — will all be pitching meaningful innings for the club to start the year.
