In baseball, the phrase “it’s a copycat league” isn’t just a cliché — it’s often the difference between a journeyman and a postseason hero. And if the Atlanta Braves have it their way, new reliever Tyler Kinley may be the next pitcher to benefit from that philosophy.
Acquired from the Rockies at the trade deadline, Kinley wasn’t a headline move — not even close. He’s seen by many as just an innings-eater to help patch together the bruised and battered bullpen for the final months of 2025. But beneath the modest expectations lies a potentially valuable transformation, and the blueprint is already in-house. His name is Pierce Johnson.
Two Breaking Ball Bullies, One Proven Path
Forget ERA for a second. Sure, Kinley sports a career 5.07 ERA while Johnson’s sits at 3.76, but the similarities between the two go deeper than surface stats — and that’s where the Braves are placing their bet.
Both Kinley and Johnson came over from Colorado, where pitching numbers go to die. Both had ERAs near 6.00 in the Mile High air. And both lean heavily on elite breaking stuff:
- Kinley throws his slider 61% of the time, averaging 87.3 mph with a 33.7% whiff rate.
- Johnson throws his curveball 71.6% of the time, averaging 86 mph with a 29.2% whiff rate.
It’s not hard to see why Atlanta sees something. The breaking pitches are nasty. The contact is soft. And when hitters swing, they miss — a lot.
Command Is the Final Puzzle Piece
Walk rate is the major separator between Johnson, now one of Atlanta’s trusted high-leverage guys, and Kinley, who’s still a question mark. Johnson attacks the zone, walking just 6.5% of batters. Kinley? A worrying 12.7%.
It’s the kind of problem that can sink an otherwise promising arm. But it’s also the kind of issue that Atlanta’s coaching staff — particularly pitching coach Rick Kranitz — has proven they can fix. Just ask Johnson.
A Quiet Deadline Move That Could Pay For the Braves
This year’s trade deadline wasn’t full of fireworks for the Braves, but Kinley could be one of those low-risk, high-reward projects that ends up paying off in October. If he can get the walks down and continue to lean on his slider, he could be a legit option for 2026 — especially with a $5 million club option on the line.
He doesn’t have to become a star. He just has to become serviceable — a bullpen piece you can trust when the game’s tight and the arms are running thin.
With a little help from Pierce Johnson and the Braves’ coaching staff, Tyler Kinley has a real shot at pulling off the copycat move of the year.
