Ben Sheets Tosses 6 Shutout Innings For Braves In Return To Majors

Sheets has always been a rarity -- a two-pitch starting pitcher. In 2010, he played around with a change-up, but for the most part, he’s been consistently fastball/curve since breaking into the big leagues. His fastball would normally sit around 92/93, and his curve would bite and spike, leaving hitters helpless when he was right. His command was usually impeccable. Look at those GIFs again. When Oakland made the rare decision to blow their budget out of the water and sign Sheets after elbow surgery, they thought they were getting the pitcher in those GIFs.

And occasionally, that’s exactly what they got, so let’s not get caught up in proclaiming that Sheets is the pitcher he was in 2008. He had flashes in 2010, too. It’s still just one start. But his fastball was sitting around 91/92, and the curve was biting and spiking. It was as encouraging as six innings from Ben Sheets in 2012 could be.

Sheets last appeared in the majors in 2010, starting 20 games for the Oakland A’s before suffering a torn flexor tendon in his right elbow for the second time in two years. After sitting out the entire 2011 season, he signed a minor-league contract with the Braves on July 1 to begin his comeback.

The veteran, who turns 34 years old on Wednesday, made two starts for Double-A Mississippi, where he showed some signs of rust by giving up six earned runs in 10.2 innings. He also missed a lot of bats, though, striking out 10 with just one walk, which was enough to convince the Braves he was ready for Sunday’s promotion. Clearly, he was ready.

Sheets last pitched in the major leagues almost exactly two years ago, July 19, 2010 against the Red Sox, allowing two runs in six innings, before missing the rest of 2010 with injuries.

If he pitches that well Sunday, the Braves will be quite satisfied.

It’s rare for a player to succeed at this; it’s even rarer for someone with Sheets’ injury history. But after a solid Double-A rehab start, Sheets could be pitching for the Braves soon:

Ben Sheets gave up three runs in 5 2/3 innings during his second start with the M-Braves. The four-time All-Star threw 89 pitches, including 58 strikes. Only two of the runs were earned. The 33-year-old right-hander allowed seven hits — all singles — while striking out four. His fastball was consistently around 90-91 mph.When the Braves first signed Sheets, they said they’d evaluate him after two starts, one of about 75 pitches, the other of about 90. He’s accomplished that with no injury issues and good results both in velocity and opposing team hits and runs.

Sheets is still just 33, which is probably about five years younger than you were thinking. He threw 20 games in 2010 for the Oakland A’s, compiling a 4.53 ERA before having season-sending elbow surgery. He missed the 2009 season because of elbow surgery as well, but he made the All-Star team in both 2007 and 2008.

In 2004, Sheets had one of the greatest single-season strikeout-to-walk ratios ever, striking out 264 and walking 32 in 237 innings.

But it sure seems like Ben Sheets is going to join the Braves. Well, say, that’s kind of neat.