After an opening five games of the season that taxed the Braves pitching staff, general manager Alex Anthopoulos and manager Brian Snitker handed the ball to 22-year old Bryce Elder for his major league debut.
No pressure, kid.
But Elder looked every bit the pun that is his last name, throwing strikes and attacking Washington Nationals batters with efficiency and precision. He left the game in the sixth inning to a standing ovation from the 31,462 fans filling Truist Park Tuesday night.
Looking past Tuesday’s start, the Braves as an organization have to be feeling good about their 2020 draft, which has already produced two players who are some of the team’s standout performers this season. Elder was the Braves' fifth-round pick in the 2020 draft, coming right after the team draft starting pitcher Spencer Strider in the fourth.
In the short term, Elder will undoubtedly be relied upon again as the team navigates the first month of the season with a six-man rotation. If he keeps pitching like he did Tuesday, he can get comfortable in Atlanta.