BREAKING: Kyle Wright begins rehab assignment with AAA Gwinnett

Atlanta fans worried about the lack of options in the rotation with the loss of Max Fried to the Injured List can take a small breath.

RHP Kyle Wright, who led all of Major League Baseball last year in wins with 21, starts a rehab assignment tonight with AAA Gwinnett, the team announced this afternoon.

RHP Kyle Wright is set to begin a major league rehabilitation assignment with Triple-A Gwinnett tonight.

Additionally, OF Jordan Luplow was claimed off waivers today by the Toronto Blue Jays.
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) April 5, 2023

The timing is fortunate for Gwinnett manager Matt Tuiasosopo, as tomorrow's starter Bryce Elder was called up to Atlanta to start today in place of Max Fried, placed on the IL with a hamstring issue.

Wright, 27, debuted in MLB in 2018 but never seized a permanent rotation spot until last year, where he dazzled with a 3.19 ERA in 30 starts en route to a MLB-leading 21 wins.

He was dealing with a sore shoulder over the winter, and according to reports received a cortisone injection into the shoulder that delayed the start of this spring training and left him unable to build up to a starter's workload. Opening the season on the IL gave Atlanta room for both Dylan Dodd and Jared Shuster to make starts in the opening week, Shuster starting on Sunday versus Washington and Dodd starting last night versus St. Louis.

UPDATE: Wright will be starting on Wednesday night, per Gwinnett:

Looking for Mr. Wright? He's our starting pitcher tonight. pic.twitter.com/SVV9KppQtC
— Gwinnett Stripers (@GoStripers) April 5, 2023

Additionally, Atlanta lost outfielder Jordan Luplow on waivers to the Toronto Blue Jays. Luplow, 29, was signed to a one-year, $1.4M deal and the veteran profiled as a platoon outfield option, but an oblique injury delayed the start to his spring and he was passed by veteran option Kevin Pillar and youngster Eli White on the depth chart. Out of options, he was officially designated for assignment by Atlanta to create a 40-man roster spot for Dylan Dodd and will now join the Blue Jays.