Luiz Gohara’s Triple-A debut left much to be desired. His first appearance at Coolray Field flashed the promise that has him ranked among the best 100 prospects in baseball.
The G-Braves starter pitched six innings, giving up one run on five hits and striking out eight in his home debut Wednesday. He patrolled his way through two-on trouble twice, earning a 5-2 win.
“Pitching at this level is hard,” Gohara said. “It’s a challenge. Everybody’s going up to the big leagues, coming down, and I just got one thing on my mind: to go out there and compete against those guys.”
Gohara sat around 94-95 mph, topping at 97. Entering the game, he owned a 2.61 ERA and held opponents to a .228 average over 93 innings in Advanced-A Florida, Double-A Mississippi and Gwinnett.
In his first Triple-A start, Gohara allowed four runs in 4 2/3 innings, losing in Syracuse. Wednesday was a marked improvement for the 21-year-old.
“It’s more my command on the fastballs and breaking balls,” he said. “It’s more mental, all the adjustments. I’ve been working pretty hard since the last start. … Take four days working on the movements and everything. I got that today and it worked pretty good.”
The lone run allowed came in the first via Pedro Alvarez driving in Chris Johnson with a double. Alvarez snuck one past first for another double in the sixth, but Gohara got Alex Castellanos to pop out and struck out Luis Sardinas to escape unscathed.
Gohara has 13 strikeouts in two games. After walking five in his first outing, he walked just one, Johnson in the first inning, Wednesday. He’s walked three or fewer in 18 of 21 outings this year.
“Really good arm,” G-Braves infielder Sean Kazmar Jr. said. “It seems like there are younger guys coming up every week and they’ve been impressive. For everyone to come up from Double-A, High-A … they’ve contributed and done a great job. It’s fun to watch.”
The Braves aren’t shy about promoting younger players who have success. Gohara logged a 1.98 ERA in Florida. In Mississippi, Gohara allowed no more than three runs in each of his 12 appearances, allowing one or less in seven outings. A 2.60 ERA uplifted him to the next level.
“Last week I stopped literally and I’m like ‘hold on a second, yeah I’m moving pretty quick,’” Gohara said. “And I keep working hard for progress and I hope I finish in the big leagues with all the work I’ve been doing. I’m going to keep working hard for that.”
His eight strikeouts Wednesday fell two shy of his career-high, accomplished in his final Double-A start July 22. Gohara doesn’t consider himself a strikeout arm, rather a pitcher who gets ahead in strikes.
Gohara threw 88 pitches (63) strikes, ending a streak of five consecutive games of 90 or more throws.
Signed by the Mariners out of Brazil in 2012, Gohara was traded to the Braves last offseason for outfielder Mallex Smith and pitcher Shae Simmons. He comes in at No. 76 in Baseball America's top 100 prospects.
“That (trade) doesn’t change it at all because it’s the same baseball there, the same baseball here,” he said. “The only thing you have to do is keep working. Nothing changes.”
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