After winning his big league debut with the Atlanta Braves on Monday night, Bryse Wilson has been optioned back to the Gwinnett Stripers of the International League.
Wilson, who had his contract purchased by the Braves on Monday afternoon, was sent back down as Atlanta recalled outfielder Michael Reed from Gwinnett. The move was expected as Braves manager Brian Snitker inserted Wilson as the starter against the Pirates after veteran infielder Ryan Flaherty was designated for assignment on Monday. Flaherty had only four starts in the previous 91 days.
Wilson threw five shutout innings in earning the victory in his Major League debut against the Pirates at PNC Park, allowing three hits, striking out five with three walks. Wilson became the third 20-year-old pitcher to start a game for the Braves this season, joining Mike Soroka and Kolby Allard. The last Major League team to use three starters before their 21st birthday was the 1965 Kansas City Athletics. As fate would have it, another North Carolina native was one of the A’s in that trio, Hertford-native Catfish Hunter, along with Don Buschhorn and Ron Tompkins.
Wilson’s return to Gwinnett may lead to the North Carolina homecoming he didn’t receive on Tuesday night, when the Stripers faced the Durham Bulls at Durham Bulls Athletic Park. Wilson was supposed to pitch in the second game of a doubleheader against Durham before his abrupt callup to Atlanta.
Gwinnett will travel to Charlotte at BB&T Park starting Saturday, which will be a day-night doubleheader. By that point, Wilson will have had five days rest and may throw one of those games. Gwinnett also faces Charlotte at 5PM Sunday afternoon and concludes the series on Monday night at 7 PM. Gwinnett’s season ends on Labor Day.
As mentioned in previous posts, Wilson became the first Orange Panther to reach the Major Leagues on Monday night. Two other Orange players reached AAA before retiring.
Chris Maples, who was drafted in the sixth round of the 2002 Major League Baseball draft by the Detroit Tigers, played 78 games over two seasons with the Toledo Mudhens of the International League. In 2006, he played 13 games in Toledo, hitting .206 with two home runs and five RBIs. After starting the following season with Erie of the AA Eastern League, Maples was promoted to Toledo again. This time, Maples hit .188 with no home runs and 15 RBIs over 65 games. After a season with the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs of the Atlantic League, Maples retired.
Josh Horton was selected in the 2nd round of the 2007 MLB Draft by the Oakland A’s. He played seven professional seasons, which included three different stints with the Sacramento River Cats of the AAA Pacific Coast League. In 2013, Horton played 17 games with Sacramento, hitting .224 before he was released. He was signed by the Baltimore Orioles organization, where he finished his career with the Bowie Bay Sox of the AA Eastern League, hitting .303 with one home run and two RBIs in 74 games. In 2012, Horton hit .346 for Midland of the AA Texas League with nine home runs and 54 RBIs.