Kyle Wright (baseball)

Kyle Hardy Wright (born October 2, 1995) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball (MLB). The Braves selected Wright with the fifth overall selection of the 2017 Major League Baseball draft. He made his major league debut in 2018.

Kyle Wright
Wright with the Gwinnett Stripers in 2018
Atlanta Braves – No. 30
Pitcher
Born: (1995-10-02) October 2, 1995
Huntsville, Alabama
Bats: Right Throws: Right
MLB debut
September 4, 2018, for the Atlanta Braves
MLB statistics
(through 2020 season)
Win–loss record2–7
Earned run average6.22
Strikeouts53
Teams

Early life

Kyle was born in Huntsville, Alabama, to parents Roger and Belinda Wright. He has an elder brother, Mitchell, and younger brother Trey.[1][2]

Amateur career

Wright attended Buckhorn High School in New Market, Alabama. As a junior, he went 6–2 with a 0.88 earned run average (ERA) and 75 strikeouts.[3] He committed to Vanderbilt University to play college baseball.[4]

As a freshman at Vanderbilt in 2015, Wright appeared in 29 games with three starts and went 6–1 with a 1.23 ERA, 62 strikeouts and four saves.[5][6][7] Wright became a full-time starter in 2016.[8] In 16 starts, he went 8–4 with a 3.09 ERA and 107 strikeouts.[9][10] After the season, he played for the United States collegiate national team.[11] As a junior in 2017, Wright went 5–6 with a 3.40 ERA and 121 strikeouts.[12][13]

Professional career

Atlanta Braves

The Atlanta Braves selected Wright with the fifth overall selection of the 2017 Major League Baseball draft.[14] He signed for a $7 million signing bonus on June 16, and was assigned to the GCL Braves.[15] Wright was promoted to the Florida Fire Frogs in August 2017, and finished the season there.[16][17] In nine games started between the two teams, he was 0–1 with a 2.65 ERA.[18]

Wright received an invitation to spring training at the start of the 2018 season.[19] He began the season with the Mississippi Braves.[18] Wright pitched ​109 1⁄3 innings and recorded a 3.70 ERA alongside 105 strikeouts and 43 walks.[20] On July 30, 2018, Wright was promoted to the Gwinnett Stripers.[21]

Wright was called up to the major leagues for the first time on September 1, 2018. He was the first player from the 2017 draft class to make it to the majors.[22][23] He made his major league debut on September 4 against the Boston Red Sox.[24] He was 0-0 with a 4.50 ERA in six innings pitched.[25]

Wright made the Braves' starting rotation at the start of the 2019 season.[26] He struggled through three starts, and was optioned to Gwinnett on April 13.[27][28] In the majors, he was 0-3 with an 8.69 ERA in 19.2 innings.[25]

In 2020, he was 2-4 with a 5.21 ERA in 38 innings in eight starts.[25] He was 9th in the NL, with 24 walks.[25] He primarily threw a 94 mph sinker and an 88 mph slider, while also throwing a 95 mph fourseam fastball, 88mph changeup, and 82 mph curveball.[29]

References
  1. Sapakoff, Gene (June 2, 2017). "Sapakoff: Vandy's projected No. 1 overall pick had the Wright stuff early on". The Post and Courier. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
  2. Sparks, Adam (June 10, 2017). "Vanderbilt's Kyle Wright, family face Super Regional game, draft in 48 hours". USA Today. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
  3. Boyette, Daniel (April 6, 2015). "Buckhorn's Kyle Wright named SEC baseball co-Freshman of the Week". The Birmingham News. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
  4. Boyette, Daniel (April 12, 2013). "Buckhorn pitcher Kyle Wright commits to Vanderbilt". The Birmingham News. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
  5. Boclair, David (March 18, 2016). "Vanderbilt's Wright patiently prepped for SEC play". Nashville Post. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
  6. Sparks, Adam (June 22, 2015). "Injured Hayden Stone aids Vandy's Kyle Wright in CWS". The Tennessean. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
  7. Boclair, David. "Another freshman pitcher thrives for Vanderbilt at tournament time". Nashville Post. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
  8. Boclair, David. "Vanderbilt leads SEC in top pitching performances". Nashville Post. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
  9. "Vanderbilt's Kyle Wright, Jeren Kendall are preseason All-Americans". USA Today. December 19, 2016. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
  10. Boyette, Daniel (March 23, 2017). "See the state players who are among Baseball America's top-100 draft prospects". The Birmingham News. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
  11. Carter, Mo (July 3, 2016). "Kye Wright Named to the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team". WZDX. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
  12. Boyette, Daniel (June 12, 2017). "Alabamian Kyle Wright drafted No. 5 overall by the Atlanta Braves". The Birmingham News. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
  13. Pouncy, Colton (June 16, 2017). "Former Vanderbilt pitcher Kyle Wright signs with Braves". The Tennessean. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
  14. Bowman, Mark (June 12, 2017). "Braves draft Kyle Wright from Vanderbilt at 5". MLB.com. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
  15. Bowman, Mark (June 16, 2017). "Braves, No. 5 pick Wright agree to deal". MLB.com. Retrieved June 16, 2017.
  16. "Kyle Wright Added to Florida's Roster". MILB.com. August 1, 2017. Retrieved March 6, 2018.
  17. "Florida Drops Series Against Daytona With 4-3 Loss". MILB.com. September 1, 2017. Retrieved March 6, 2018.
  18. Boyette, Daniel (April 6, 2018). "Braves top pick, former Alabama HS ace Kyle Wright makes Double-A debut". The Birmingham News. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
  19. Bowman, Mark (March 4, 2018). "Wright excels in first taste of big league camp". MLB.com. Retrieved March 6, 2018.
  20. Carter, Mo (July 30, 2018). "Buckhorn graduate Kyle Wright is being promoted to Triple-A". WZDX. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
  21. "Roundup: Braves promote Wright, Allard". MILB.com. July 30, 2018. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
  22. Weinrib, Ben (September 1, 2018). "Wright, No. 2 prospect, among Braves' callups". MLB.com. Retrieved September 1, 2018.
  23. Burns, Gabriel (September 1, 2018). "Kyle Wright joins Braves bullpen for playoff push". Atlanta Journal Constitution. Retrieved September 1, 2018.
  24. Odum, Charles (September 5, 2018). "Pearce drives in 3 runs as Red Sox beat Braves again, 5-1". Fox Sports. Associated Press. Archived from the original on September 5, 2018. Retrieved April 14, 2019 – via Boston.com.
  25. "Kyle Wright Stats". Baseball-Reference.com.
  26. "Braves to have two rookie starters in rotation". ESPN.com. March 24, 2019. Retrieved April 14, 2019.
  27. Burns, Gabriel (April 12, 2019). "Kyle Wright struggles with strikes in Braves' loss to Mets". Atlanta Journal Constitution. Retrieved April 13, 2019.
  28. Bowman, Mark (April 13, 2019). "Braves option Wright, ready for Folty's return". MLB.com. Retrieved April 13, 2019.
  29. "BrooksBaseball.net Player Card: Kyle Wright". www.brooksbaseball.net.
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