Kyle was strong at Danville most of the 2002 season. After dominating at the single A level in Rome (Ga.) the following year, he was impressive at Double A Myrtle Beach, Double A Greenville, before getting a quick trip to close out the year at Triple A Richmond.

Davies has the whole package: A fastball that hits 96, great breaking stuff, and the ability to pull the string on the heat. He has a nearly 4-to-1 strikeout to walk ratio since starting his minor league career, and was dominant in the Braves major league camp this spring.

So why did he get a trip to minor league winter camp just two weeks into Spring T?

John Smoltz, Tim Hudson, John Thomson, Horacio Ramirez, and Mike Hampton are arguably the best five-man rotation in baseball. That group went 21 innings this spring before allowing a run. It became clear that Davies’ time would be better spent at Richmond.

”Kyle Davies is going to be a major league pitcher for a long time” Atlanta manager Bobby Cox said. “He’s got a lot of talent, there’s just no room for him here right now, but we’ll be keeping an eye on him. He’s got a great arm.”

Davies has to be keeping an eye on the major league transactions page. Each of the Braves five starting pitchers have suffered serious arm injuries in the past two years.

Smoltz is making a return to the starting rotation after being the Braves closer the past three years after recovering from a year off due to arm surgery. Ramirez went through Tommy John surgery last season after falling during a pre-game drill in Montreal. The other injuries were less harsh, but Davies knows that he is probably a sore arm away from the majors.

”I don’t mind going to Richmond,” Davies said. “We’ll just see how it goes. They have a great pitching staff in Atlanta, but I plan to be with the Braves for a long time. Right now, I’m just trying to make a good impression.”

The Braves also want to take their time with Davies' right arm. He was considered one of the top players in the nation as early as the age of 15, but his heater fell from the mid-90s to the mid-80s during his early years in the Braves organization.

Pitching coaches in the organization Mike Alvarez, Jim Czajkowski, and Rick Adair urged Davies to work on his mechanics even though he was highly successful both seasons.

Between the three coaches, they hatched a plan. Davies would completely change his delivery, pitching at a more downhill angle instead of throwing across his body.

Davies told the coaches he didn’t want to make any changes, but admitted that the coaches were looking out for his best interests.

”I didn’t think I could win the way they were telling me to pitch,” Davies said.  “I was you and hot-headed, but I saw things were starting to work and I was able to hit spots. It all came together. Now I am throwing it better than ever and I feel comfortable.‚‚

One thing Davies hasn’t had to work on is his attitude: Like a typical Braves pitcher, he is a bear on the mound, ferocious, someone who owns the entire plate and eats innings.

Davies has been the ace of his staff since he was a kid and wants to earn that spot sooner than later with the Braves.

In three of his first four starts in Myrtle Beach last year, Kyle didn’t allow a run. He eventually won six straight starts before moving up to Greenville where he fanned 14 batters in a game against Kinston, the top-hitting team in the league. He also held opposing Double A batters to a .183 average.

Now he’s a breath away from baseball’s biggest stage, waiting for his chance. He’s patient. At least he says that he is. He says all the right things. You get the idea, though that he’s looking at the big lights of Atlanta, a place where he could be today if the pitching staff just wasn’t that good.

”My dream is the big leagues,” Davies said.  “If I have to pitch in the bullpen for awhile instead of as a starter, no problem. I’m happy where I am for now.”

Davies is like many parked players.  There wasn’t enough hope of a starting rotation change to place him on the FAB50 list, but he’s in one of those rarified positions that he could move to the front of the class quickly if injuries or deals yield a whole in the Berlin Wall of the Atlanta Braves starting rotation. We like him as One2Watch™

- Jeff Berlinicke