Braves under fire as prized pitching prospect Didier Fuentes crumbles: ‘Front office has lost itself’

The Braves can’t even get hope this season from promising prospects.

With some injuries to the pitching staff, the Braves elected to bring 20-year-old Didier Fuentes up to the big leagues after just three starts in High-A, five in Double-A and one in Triple-A throughout 2025 — and it seems to have been far too soon for the team’s No. 10 prospect.

“Didier Fuentes was a speculative promotion based on arm talent and potential. He is not ready to pitch, let alone contribute in the major leagues right now,” Braves reporter Grant McAuley posted to X. “Yes, the Braves have lost four starters, but they need to try something else.”

Through four starts in MLB, Fuentes has posted a 13.85 ERA and made it through just 13 innings.

He’s allowed 23 hits and six home runs while walking six batters and striking out 12.

His struggles reached new heights Tuesday when he gave up eight runs — including three homers — to the A’s in just one inning.

The Braves may continue to lean on Fuentes through the growing pains, but many oppose that ideology.

“Genuinely feel so bad for Didier Fuentes,” a Braves fan posted to X. “The kid has so much potential, but his stuff is just not ready for the big leagues yet. Every inning he throws in the bigs is hurting more than helping. The Braves are not helping this kid at all.”

From 2022-25 in the minor leagues, Fuentes posted a 3.70 ERA with a 1.14 WHIP.

In 2025, that ERA sat at 4.81 with his High-A number at 5.54, Double-A at 4.98 and Triple-A at 1.93, which came in a single start before his MLB call-up.

Chris Sale, Reynaldo Lopez and Spencer Schwellenbach are all injured at the moment for Atlanta, but the early opportunity for the righty seems to be doing more harm than good.

“What are the Braves doing with Didier?” another X user posted. “This is moronic. The front office has lost itself.”

The Braves have had a tough season as they currently sit at 39-51 and are 10.5 games back from the final wild-card spot in the National League.