Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Braves Aquire Billy Bullock

I like this trade. The Braves got the better end of the deal I think. You'll see why.


"
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- The Braves acquired right-handed pitcher Billy Bullock from the Twins in exchange for left-handed pitcher Scott Diamond.

This swap of Minor League pitchers gives the Twins the opportunity to keep Diamond without having to carry him on their 25-man roster throughout the season. They would have had to do so, because they originally acquired him from the Braves in December's Rule 5 Draft.

Bullock has posted a 3.18 ERA and recorded 150 strikeouts in the 107 2/3 innings he has pitched during his first two professional seasons. Selected by the Twins in the second round of the 2009 First-Year Player Draft, the 23-year-old right-handed reliever soared to the Double-A level by the end of last summer.

While pitching for Double-A New Britain, Bullock worked 36 2/3 innings, recording 60 strikeouts and issuing 24 walks.

Diamond went 8-7 with a 3.46 ERA in the 27 combined starts he made for Double-A Mississippi and Triple-A Gwinnett last year."

From Talking Chop

Billy Bullock, a 22-year old from the University of Florida, was a second round pick in the 2009 draft. He's a big kid coming in at 6'6'' and 225 pounds. He's destined to be a late-inning reliever should he reach the Major Leagues. He recorded 27 saves and 105 strikeouts in just 74 innings last year in A and AA-ball. He was ranked as the Twins' 8th best prospect in John Sickels' most recent top-10 list, and this is what he had to say about him:

Grade B- : Could be a huge bullpen force if the command sharpens up a bit more.

Keith Law also had this to say about the deal:

Really like this move for Atlanta - Bullock > Diamond by a wide margin.

Yup, another big power arm prospect with a lot of potential.

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