With their left handed bullpen options on the shelf the Atlanta Braves signed Joe Beimel to a minor league contract. After some time in extended spring training the 36-year-old has been sent to Triple-A Gwinnett.
Since baseball activities began the Braves has lost both Jonny Venters and Eric O’Flaherty to Tommy John surgery.
Beimel knows a little about Tommy John surgery himself as he is working his way back from missing the entire 2012 season from it. He last pitched in 2011 with Pittsburgh.
In his career Beimel has appeared in 567 games and has a 4.27 ERA and a 1.70 WHIP. Of course the numbers the Braves are more concerned with is Beimel’s .261 BAA versus left handers.
