Over the years, the Braves have focused on drafting and acquiring young pitchers. A big reason for that is their incredible success in developing arms through their minor league system. Spencer Strider is just the latest example. However, another reason is that for every one arm that finds success at the major-league level, there are a couple that fizzle out and never make the impact that’s expected of them. Touki Toussaint is sadly beginning to look like he belongs in the latter category.
After being drafted 16th overall by the Diamondbacks, the Braves acquired Toussaint in a trade that also netted them Bronson Arroyo. It was a salary dump for Arizona, and Atlanta was willing to take on the money for Touissant, who they hoped would one day be a key piece to their rotation.
A few years later, Toussaint would make his debut for the Braves in 2018. It was easy to see why he was a highly touted prospect, and over the next three seasons, he flashed several times at the highest level. However, Toussaint’s control remained inconsistent, and so did his overall results. The Braves have tried him out as both a starter and a reliever, but he’s failed to have success in either role and began this season in Gwinnett, where he continues to struggle mightily.
Through seven games (six starts) for the Stripers, Toussaint owns a 5.16 ERA, and May has been absolutely brutal for the right-hander. He’s given up 13 runs in 12 innings (9.75) ERA, thanks to five homers. He’s also showing the same problems with his control that have plagued him throughout his career, surrendering eight free passes over that stretch.
The Braves don’t have much of a choice but to leave Toussaint in Gwinnett and hope he eventually figures things out, but the days of believing he could one day be apart of the rotation are long gone. It wouldn’t surprise me if we never saw him in a Braves uniform again.
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