Bryce Elder has waited a year for his chance to prove he has the skills to pitch in professional baseball. The Atlanta Braves picked him in the fifth round of the 2020 amateur draft, only to have Elder and every other player’s career put on hold due to COVID-19.
With the 2021 season set to soon begin, Elder, from Decatur, Texas, has a chance to show the Braves that he is well worth the opportunity. He enters the new campaign as the Braves’ #15 prospect.
Elder, soon to be 22, spent his college pitching career with the University of Texas Longhorns. The right-hander left the Forty Acres after a three-year stint wearing the burnt orange with a 10-6 record in 39 games, 3.42 ERA, and a 1.286 WHIP. In 144.2 innings for David Pierce’s Longhorns, the 6’2 hurler struck out 149, walked 58, and saved two games along the way.
Elder is shown as a member of the Gulf Coast League Braves, and with the recent minor league realignment, it’s likely that is where he will begin his pro career. Rookie level teams are often heavily stocked with pitchers, making it difficult for any one man to stand out, however, a pitcher of Elder’s caliber should soon make a name for himself in the pro ranks.
Update: About 14 months later, on April 12, 2022, the Braves called Elder up and he made his first MLB start. The rookie went 5.2 innings, allowed 6 hits (3 of them in the 6th inning), 3 runs, struck out 4, with no walks. It was an outstanding effort in his first appearance.
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