ROME, Ga. — John Smoltz’s decision to pitch from a three-quarters arm slot has everybody talking — and that’s a bad thing for opposing hitters at any level.
“Man, from that slot, it’s tough to pull the trigger on an inside pitch,” said Asheville outfielder David Christensen, who was one of three Tourists to strike out against Smoltz during the right-hander’s second Minor League rehab assignment on Thursday.“I’m going to call up my buddies tonight and say I got struck out by John Smoltz, a future Hall of Famer.”
Smoltz threw two innings for Class A Rome on Thursday, and said afterward that he expects to be activated from the 15-day disabled list before the Braves’ game against the Marlins on Monday.
The Braves veteran, who has recently been hesitant to give updates on his rehabilitation, seemed rather optimistic after his outing on Thursday. He had good command of all of his pitches, particularly his trademark slider, which has even more bite from the new arm angle.
That was the general consensus from Braves players during a simulated game last week, and it was again the case Thursday in Class A baseball.
Smoltz, who also dropped his arm angle because of elbow pain in 1999, can throw the slider inside to right-handed hitters, buckling them as it catches the inside corner. But he can also throw it outside, as he did twice in the second inning, and all a hitter can do is hopelessly wave at it.
“I threw some real good, quality pitches that would get hitters out at any level,” said Smoltz, who threw 27 pitches (17 for strikes) in his second Minor League rehab assignment. He has been on the DL since April 28 because of inflammation in both his biceps tendon and rotator cuff in his right shoulder.
The only Asheville player to record a hit off Smoltz was outfielder Michael Mitchell, who fisted a single into left field in the first inning.
“I was just lucky to get a piece,” said Mitchell, who said that although Smoltz is employing the new arm angle, the amount of movement is similar to when he threw from a more traditional release point.