Rockies trade Tyler Kinley to Braves for pitching prospect Austin Smith
Tyler Kinley, the Rockies’ veteran right-handed reliever with a wicked slider but a high ERA, was traded to the Braves on Wednesday, the Rockies announced.
In return, the Rockies receive right-handed pitching prospect Austin Smith.
Smith, 26, is 0-4 with a 4.31 ERA, four saves, 15 walks, and 34 strikeouts in 29 relief outings between High-A Rome and Double-A Columbus this season.
“He’s a Double-A righty with arm strength,” general manager Bill Schmidt said. “His fastball’s been up to 99 mph. His slider has shown swing-and-miss potential.”
Smith missed nearly all of the 2023 and ’24 seasons recovering from Tommy John surgery. He pitched 26 innings last year across three minor league levels, posting a 6.92 ERA.
A native of Cedar Park, Texas, Smith was selected by Atlanta in the 18th round of the 2021 draft. In five seasons with the Braves organization, he was 3-10 with a 5.10 ERA with 18 saves, 63 walks, and 131 strikeouts over 107 games. He pitched three seasons for Southwestern University (Texas) before transferring to the University of Arizona.
Kinley is making $3 million in the final year of his contract, but has a $5 million club option for 2026, which gives the Braves possible bullpen depth next season.
Kinley has pitched well for the last six weeks, posting a 2.37 ERA with a 31.1% strikeout rate and 6.7% walk rate in 19 innings.
The major league trade deadline is 4 p.m. Thursday.
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