Braves Make Bold Move, Call Up 20-Year-Old Didier Fuentes for Friday Start
The Atlanta Braves are making headlines with the surprise promotion of right-handed pitching prospect Didier Fuentes, who will make his MLB debut on Friday against the Miami Marlins, per MLB.com’s Mark Bowman. Fuentes, who just turned 20 this week, had only one Triple-A start under his belt before getting the call to the majors — a highly aggressive move by the organization. Atlanta has yet to announce the corresponding 40-man and active roster moves.
A Rare Debut for a Young Arm
Fuentes’ promotion is historic. According to David O’Brien of The Athletic, he becomes the third-youngest player in Braves franchise history and the youngest since Mike McQueen debuted in 1969. He’ll also be the youngest starting pitcher in MLB since Julio Urías in 2016 and the youngest active player in the league come Friday.
Despite his youth and limited experience, the Colombian righty has quickly climbed the minor league ladder since signing as an international free agent at 17. This season, he holds an 0-7 record with a 4.81 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP across nine starts, mostly at Double-A. Still, his strikeout-to-walk ratio has turned heads, and he made a strong impression by striking out seven batters in three innings during March’s Spring Breakout Game.
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What Fuentes Brings to the Table
At 6-foot, 170 pounds, Fuentes is a bit undersized for a starter, but he makes up for it with top-tier athleticism and electric stuff. His mid-90s fastball regularly touches 98–100 mph, and he mixes in a sharp slider and deceptive splitter. Scouts have raved about his mature command and refined pitch mix — especially for someone so young — which no doubt contributed to the Braves fast-tracking his debut.
Fuentes has all the tools to become a future difference-maker for Atlanta, and now fans will get an early look at one of the system’s most intriguing arms.
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