Tyler Pike Has One Major Hurdle To Clear

As part of the Braves’ rebuild, the organization traded for second baseman Travis Demeritte and outfielder Dustin Peterson, a pair of high school bats drafted among the top 50 picks in 2013.

Because of those players’ pedigrees, they are probable 40-man roster adds this offseason who will be shielded from the Rule 5 draft. The same might not be true of 23-year-old lefthander Tyler Pike.

“If Atlanta exposes him, somebody will take him early,” one National League scout said. “The pieces are there. He just needs to clear another hurdle or two.”

The Braves acquired Pike last December as the player to be named in the deal that brought catcher Alex Jackson to the Braves and sent righthanders Rob Whalen and Max Povse to the Mariners. Pike has spent at least part of the past four seasons at high Class A, including a 2014 campaign at hitter-friendly High Desert in the California League that seemed to rattle his confidence and alter his approach.

In his first season with the Braves, Pike went 5-2, 2.20 in 12 starts at high Class A Florida and 0-9, 4.58 in 15 starts at Double-A Mississippi. In seven of his Double-A outings, he allowed two runs or fewer while pitching at least six innings, and overall he limited Southern League hitters to a .228 average. Lefthanders hit just .185/.333/.222.

Pike’s problems center on his lack of control, resulting in 5.6 walks per nine innings and a 1.44 WHIP. He also notched 154 strikeouts in 144.1 innings, thanks in part to the deception in his delivery.

The Mariners’ supplemental third-round pick in 2012 out of Winter Haven (Fla.) High, Pike has displayed solid promise throughout his six pro seasons. He has an easy, athletic delivery with a fluid arm action while employing a three-quarters arm slot. His fastball sits in the 89-91 mph range and touches 95 with late glove-side run. His changeup has outstanding late fade, and his slow-breaking curveball is solid-average when he throws it for strikes.

According to scouts, Pike must improve the consistency of his landing foot to reduce his walk rate. And even though he is not overpowering, his lefthandedness and feel for pitching make him at least a potential big league bullpen piece.