Dylan Dodd and Jared Shuster lead spring training in ERA
Dylan Dodd and Jared Shuster are both highly regarded pitching prospects in the Atlanta Braves organization, and each brings their own strengths and areas for development to the table.
Dylan Dodd is a left-handed pitcher who was selected by the Braves in the third round of the 2021 MLB Draft out of Southeastern Missouri. He is known for his ability to generate swings and misses with his fastball, which regularly touches the mid-90s. He also has a slider and a changeup that show potential, although they are still developing. Dodd's biggest area for improvement is adding more power to the slider - he can throw it for a strike, but it's successful more because of its location than its movement.
Jared Shuster is a left-handed pitcher who was drafted by the Braves in the first round of the 2020 MLB Draft out of Wake Forest. He possesses a four-pitch arsenal that includes a low-to-mid 90s fastball, a changeup, a slider, and a curveball. Shuster's changeup is considered his best pitch and has the potential to be a true out pitch at the Major League level. However, Shuster's command and control are still developing, and he will need to continue refining those skills as well as add more velocity to the fastball to get it back to collegiate speeds (96-97).
In spring, both pitchers have performed well, with Dodd having the slightest of edges statistically. Dodd has a 0.69 ERA in spring, with Shuster right behind him at 0.71 - those two ERAs represent the lowest amongst all MLB qualifiers this spring.
Overall, both Dodd and Shuster are exciting pitching prospects with high ceilings. While they each have their own areas for improvement, they also have the potential to be impact pitchers at the Major League level.
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