The moments in victories are always easier to remember than the moments that come in losses. However, during the 2020 NLCS, there were a few moments that stood out in losses to the Los Angeles Dodgers that were highly encouraging for a pair of Atlanta pitchers. Though overall A.J. Minter did not have the best series against the Dodgers in relief, he had a very needed and dominant three inning stretch as an “opener” in Game Five. For Huascar Ynoa, after the Braves allowed 11 runs to the Dodgers in the first inning of Game Four, he threw 92 pitches over four innings that really allowed the Braves to keep their bullpen plans in tact for the rest of the series.
In the case of Ynoa, his Game Four performance was a microcosm of his 2020 as a whole. Though he had his struggles in outings, he also had stretches of success, and clearly featured a live arm with plenty of potential. His season was neither dominant nor was it a debacle, and many times he provided a needed and good enough performance to help the Braves win, as Atlanta was 6-3 in his nine regular season appearances. In the end, Ynoa certainly showed that he has some decent potential if utilized correctly going forward.
WHAT WENT WRONG
While he certainly did have his encouraging moments, Ynoa also struggled during the 2020 season. His overall numbers certainly were less than ideal (5.82 ERA/ 4.90 FIP/ 5.39 xFIP), and his 5.40 BB/9 walk rate is concerning. Furthermore, for one of the Braves hardest throwers, a 7.08 K/9 rate is less than ideal as well.
Simply put, Ynoa’s control left plenty to be desired, though that is not surprising for someone his age getting his first true run in the majors. Though he certainly has velocity, the effectiveness of his fastball remains below average. Another aspect of Ynoa’s season is that he did not really show true promise as a starter or reliever. Though that can be attributed to many things, it also likely prevents him from being viewed as a reliable option for the major league roster when the 2021 season starts.
WHAT WENT RIGHT
Though Ynoa had his ups and downs, a role that was hardly ever defined this season could be a major reason for that. As mentioned above, one encouraging takeaway from Ynoa’s season was that he was used as a starter, “opener”, and reliever, and mostly worked multiple innings in his outings. Even if the value from that is simply limiting the usage of other Atlanta arms needed in higher leverage situations, it still has value.
A few other key areas of improvement for Yona stood out in terms of batted ball results. Ynoa’s groundball, home run, and hard hit rates all drastically improved from 2019 (though in an extremely small sample size). Ynoa also showed improvement as the season went along. In each of his last four outings, Ynoa completed at least three innings of work. He allowed one or less run in three of those outings, including his lone postseason appearance against the Dodgers. In those three appearances, over 11 innings, Ynoa did walk eight hitters, but allowed only five hits, one earned run, and produced 11 strikeouts. Though his control remained less than ideal, he certainly showed signs that he was figuring things out and becoming more effective.
Hopefully, with the emergence of other young arms and the return of Mike Soroka, the Braves will have much more stability in their starting rotation for 2020 and beyond. Furthermore, with names such as Darren O’Day, Mark Melancon, and Shane Greene now free agents, multiple spots in the Braves bullpen need to be filled. Ynoa could be a candidate for one of those spots, especially with his velocity and when you consider his best pitch in 2020 was his slider. If he could limit the walks, Ynoa seems to have a pitching profile that could prove reliable as a reliever, and he could add value beyond just being a mop-up guy. Perhaps with a more defined role, Ynoa could prove to be more effective and reliable moving forward.
WHAT TO EXPECT IN 2021?
Huascar Ynoa likely remains a depth piece for 2021. There are likely more preferred options, both internally and externally, for the rotation and bullpen that the Braves will rely on before Ynoa. However, that is not meant to be a negative for Ynoa or the Braves. For Atlanta, having a versatile arm like Ynoa’s that also offers plenty of potential is good if injuries or ineffectiveness once again impact the Braves’ arms. For Ynoa, more time in the minors (hopefully with more structure than in 2020) can provide the opportunity for him to improve his control and fastball effectiveness.
If health can be a bit kinder to the Braves, Atlanta should be able to find a more defined role for Ynoa moving forward. If names such as Ian Anderson, Kyle Wright, and Bryse Wilson build off their 2020 seasons and become reliable rotation options, the Braves can then focus on making Ynoa as a reliever. Overall, though he did and likely will continue to experience some growing pains, Huascar Ynoa should remain a relevant arm in the Braves plans for 2021 and beyond.