Braves Reveal Plan for Spring Star Didier Fuentes

Young pitching prospect to start in bullpen before returning to minors as starter

Mar. 22, 2026 at 5:37pm

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The Atlanta Braves have decided to add pitching prospect Didier Fuentes to their big league bullpen for Opening Day. The team's reported plan is for Fuentes to initially serve as a long reliever for a couple of weeks before being sent down to Triple-A Gwinnett to work as a starting pitcher.

Why it matters

This move allows the Braves to utilize Fuentes' impressive spring training performance while also giving the 20-year-old right-hander a chance to get his first major league appearances under his belt before returning to the minors to further develop as a starter. With injuries already impacting Atlanta's starting pitching depth, Fuentes could still factor into the team's rotation at some point this season.

The details

Fuentes, the Braves' No. 3 prospect for 2026, has yet to give up a hit, run, or walk in nine innings pitched during spring training. The team believes using him as a long reliever early on will fill an important need, as starting pitchers continue to build up their pitch counts at the start of the season. After his stint in the big league bullpen, Fuentes will then go to Triple-A Gwinnett to work as a starting pitcher.

  • Fuentes will be on the Braves' Opening Day roster.
  • Fuentes will spend the first couple of weeks in the major league bullpen.
  • Fuentes will then be sent down to Triple-A Gwinnett to work as a starting pitcher.

The players

Didier Fuentes

The Braves' No. 3 prospect for 2026, a 20-year-old right-handed pitcher who has impressed in spring training.

Atlanta Braves

The Major League Baseball team that has decided to add Fuentes to their big league bullpen to start the season.

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What they’re saying

“The Braves' plan is for Didier Fuentes to spend the first couple weeks as a long reliever for Atlanta and then go to Triple-A Gwinnett to work as a starter.”

— Mark Bowman, MLB.com reporter

What’s next

Fuentes will look to make the most of his initial stint in the Braves' bullpen before transitioning back to a starting role in the minors.

The takeaway

This move by the Braves demonstrates their belief in Fuentes' potential, as they look to give the young prospect a taste of major league action while also allowing him to continue developing as a starter in the minors.