Part 4/12:
Tyler Kinley, on the other hand, was an absolute revelation after arriving at the trade deadline. Previously ineffective with Colorado, Kinley dominated in Atlanta, finishing the season with a 0.72 ERA in 25 appearances, striking out 22 over 11 hits allowed. His performance outperformed his peripherals, notably his batting average on balls in play (BABIP) of just .156 and an astonishing 96.4% strand rate, both of which suggest luck played a significant role.
Mismatch with New Pitching Philosophy
The primary reason these relievers are no longer part of Atlanta’s plans centers around Jeremy Hefner’s emerging pitching philosophy. Hefner, the team’s new pitching coach, emphasizes relievers who can throw multiple innings, possess wide arsenals, and throw strikes consistently.