Luiz Gohara expected to join the Braves’ bullpen soon, per report

Luiz Gohara has had a tough 2018 thus far with a couple of injuries that functionally cost him a spot in the Braves’ starting rotation and his entire spring training and then a tough rehab assignment that saw him struggle with limiting the long ball and commanding his pitches. This combined with multiple issues in his family and 2018 could have turned into a true nightmare for the young lefty.

However, when he is right, Gohara is one of the best pitching prospects in the Braves’ system with a high octane fastball that reaches the upper 90’s and a slider is a great highlight reel strikeout pitch. The Braves know what he can be and it appears as though, at least for the moment, that they are going to look at a way to both bolster their beleaguered bullpen as well as give Gohara time in the majors.

DOB’s reporting suggests that Gohara could be headed to the Braves’ bullpen on this next road trip and as soon as tomorrow depending on what happens this evening. Gohara was scheduled to start for Gwinnett on Monday but was scratched from his start. It is possible he makes a relief appearance or two before Gwinnett before joining the Braves.

This does not preclude Gohara from becoming a starter down the road as Alex Anthopoulos has been clear that one way he likes to help break young starters into the majors is through time in the bullpen.

In five starts with the Braves at the end of 2017, Gohara posted a 4.91 ERA and a 2.75 FIP while striking out 31 batters and walking eight in 29.1 innings.