Anthony (wouldn’t he be better as “Tony Lerew”? Let’s get on that.) was an 11th round draft pick in 2001. He rose through the lower parts of the system with no problems — a 2.22 ERA in rookie ball, a sterling 1.73 in Danville in 2002, 2.38 in Rome in 2003. Oddly, he had home run difficulties in Myrtle Beach in 2004, the first real bump in the road, but pitched well enough to continue his rise in 2005.

He had a solid enough season, starting in Greenville and spending the second half between Richmond — where he pitched a little better — and Atlanta. He was used in the bullpen for the Braves, who were desperate for relievers, even though he really doesn’t seem suited for relief. He doesn’t have an outstanding strikeout pitch, though he would seem to fit Bobby’s desires for ground-ball righthanders. It’s a fetish at this point.

He had a shot to make the big club in spring of 2006 but didn’t pitch well. This carried on to the regular season, where he got pounded in Richmond. His strikeout rate was up, but he nearly doubled his walks and was homer prone, a bad combination that often signals an injury. The Braves evidently diagnosed it as a confidence issue and sent him down to Mississippi. They were apparently right, and he pitched much better.

This season, he started out in Richmond and put up a great ERA (1.37) his walk and strikeout numbers really can’t sustain. The big key was that he didn’t give up any homers, and controlling home runs has traditionally been the big variable. He did allow two solo homers in his first major league start, and he’ll need to get that under control… Projects as a back of the rotation starter; though he throws fairly hard, he lacks the out pitch or outstanding characteristic that makes him frontline starter or closer material. His best minor league K rates are in the high sevens, again a little low for a top guy but serviceable in a support role.

Anthony Lerew Baseball Statistics