Aug 2, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Atlanta Braves relief pitcher Arodys Vizcaino (38) pitches during the of the ninth inning of the game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. The Braves won the game 6-2. (John Geliebter-USA TODAY Sports)
ATLANTA — The Atlanta Braves are trying to determine if they’ve identified their closer of the future in Arodys Vizcaino.
Vizcaino is the third closer the team has used this year. Jason Grilli held the role until he suffered a season-ending ruptured Achilles tendon. Jim Johnson took over responsibilities until he was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers. That left Vizcaino, a hard-throwing right-hander, next in line.
“He’s what you’re supposed to look like on the back end of the bullpen, whether that’s the seventh, eighth or ninth inning,” Atlanta manager Fredi Gonzalez said.
Vizcaino, whose fastball approaches 100 mph at times, started the season by serving an 80-game suspension for violation of the league’s performance-enhancing drug regulations. He worked briefly in the minor leagues before being recalled to the big leagues on July 6.
In 20 games, Vizcaino is 2-0 with a 0.48 ERA. In 18 2/3 innings he has 19 strikeouts and seven walks. He’s 4-for-4 in save opportunities.
“Whether it’s a save situation or not, we’re going to run him out there in the ninth inning and let him get used to the situation,” Gonzalez said. “It will be good to use him in that role if that’s how it develops.”
