Minter tests shoulder by throwing live BP

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Nearly three weeks after a car accident led to left shoulder discomfort, A.J. Minter is throwing to hitters and hoping to join the Braves’ bullpen within the regular season’s first couple weeks.

“I feel good now, back to a hundred percent,” Minter said. “Just got to get back into pitching again. That’s the biggest thing.”

Minter threw live batting practice on the backfields before the Braves beat the Tigers 4-3 on Friday night at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports complex. This marked the first time he pitched to hitters since he exited his March 1 spring debut with left shoulder tightness, which developed from the fender bender he experienced two days earlier.

“It felt good, and the ball was coming out good,” Minter said. “Obviously, I was still a little rusty. The location wasn’t good. But I felt real good about my changeup. All I could ask for was to be feeling good.”

Minter may need to throw live batting practice one more time before being cleared to begin pitching in Minor League games. He’ll need to go through the normal Spring Training routine in terms of appearances before being activated from the injury list. This will likely keep him sidelined through at least the Braves’ first homestand.

“I feel like I could be ready right now,” Minter said. “But I know they don’t want to rush it, and I don’t want to rush it. We’ve got the whole season to look forward to. I want to make sure I’m a hundred percent before I’m back in those big league games.”

Once activated, Minter will serve as a primary setup man and share the closing duties with Arodys Vizcaino, who will enter the season with concerns about the durability of his right shoulder.

The Braves have continued to monitor Craig Kimbrel’s market in the event the veteran closer eventually becomes willing to accept a one- or two-year deal. But even with Opening Day less than a week away, Kimbrel continues to make it clear he is only interested in a long-term deal. Thus, the two parties have not shared any serious discussions.

Final tuneup

Julio Teheran certainly wasn’t efficient, as he needed 94 pitches to complete five innings Friday vs. Detroit. But as he tuned up for his Opening Day start Thursday at Philadelphia, Teheran once again showed the ability to bounce back after yet another rough first inning.

“I didn’t have all my stuff, but I found a way and ended up getting all my pitches,” Teheran said. “That’s what we wanted coming into this game.”

Teheran surrendered JaCoby Jones’ leadoff double and Niko Goodrum’s two-run double before notching the second of his three first-inning strikeouts. The veteran right-hander held the Tigers scoreless over the remainder of his five-inning outing that included five strikeouts and one walk.

Just one of the seven runs Teheran allowed over 17 innings this spring was tallied after the first inning. He produced a 6.97 ERA in the first inning last year and a 3.27 ERA over all other innings.

“I don’t believe there is anything to it,” Teheran said. “Obviously, you can see it, but the last game I didn’t give up any runs in the first inning. This just happened, and it’s happened to me in the first inning.”

Freeman released

Though both Minter and Darren O’Day will begin the season on the injured list, the Braves still felt comfortable enough about their bullpen depth to release veteran left-handed reliever Sam Freeman.

Freeman came to camp with a non-guaranteed contract that included a $1.575 million salary that would have been guaranteed had he been placed on the Opening Day roster. The Braves had to pay 45 days’ termination pay, which amounts to approximately $380,000.

The Braves also optioned catcher Raffy Lopez to Triple-A Gwinnett. They have 37 players remaining on their spring roster. The 25-man Opening Day roster might be announced as early as Monday. But the team might wait a few additional days to see if other players become available.

Up next

Josh Tomlin will get the start when the Braves host the Mets at 1:05 p.m. ET Saturday. Tomlin will either be placed on the Opening Day roster as a long reliever or be sent to Triple-A Gwinnett to serve as a starter. This will be the last game played at ESPN's Wide World of Sports complex, which has served as the Braves' spring home since 1998. Atlanta will play Sunday's Grapefruit League season finale at their new Spring Training home in North Port, Fla.