The Atlanta Braves didn’t exactly make a splash at the trade deadline this year, but one of their quietest moves is already looking like a steal. While the headlines focused on what Atlanta didn’t do, the under-the-radar pickup of Tyler Kinley from the Rockies is quickly becoming one of the best bullpen additions of the season.
Kinley Following the Pierce Johnson Playbook
If this all feels familiar, it should. Two years ago, the Braves pulled Pierce Johnson out of Colorado, and he became a difference-maker down the stretch. Now it looks like Kinley is following the same script. In just 13 appearances with Atlanta, Kinley has been lights out, boasting a 0.71 ERA, 2.50 FIP, 13 strikeouts in 12.2 innings, and, most importantly, hitters simply cannot square him up.
What makes Kinley so tough? It’s his pitch mix. Unlike many modern relievers who rely on one or two pitches, Kinley keeps hitters off balance with a full arsenal. His breaking stuff has been particularly nasty, and Braves hitters who once groaned watching him carve up at Coors Field are now grateful he’s doing it in their uniform.
A Braves Bullpen in Transition
The timing couldn’t be better. Raisel Iglesias could be heading into free agency this offseason, so the Braves need to determine who can handle the high-leverage innings moving forward. Joe Jiménez is an option when healthy, and Pierce Johnson has already proven he can thrive in that role. But Kinley is making a case that he deserves to be right there in the late-inning conversation.
The Braves have a knack for reviving former Rockies arms — Tyler Matzek, Johnson, and now potentially Kinley. That’s not just a coincidence; it’s a trend. And if Kinley keeps this up, he might just be the latest name on the list of reclamation projects turned October weapons.
The Braves didn’t chase a blockbuster at the deadline, but they might have found what they needed anyway. They just need another reliever who can come in, slam the door, and help stabilize a bullpen that suddenly looks a whole lot more dangerous.
