Former Highland Hurler Finds Comfort Zone in Atlanta Braves Organization

Sometimes a change of scenery can be a good thing.

Ryan Buchter, a 24-year-old Highland Regional High School graduate who was drafted by the Washington Nationals in the 33^rd round in 2005 and traded to the Cubs in 2008, started this season with Tennessee, the Cubs AA farm team in the Southern League.

Off to a 3-0 start but with a 6.55 ERA, the Cubs sent him to Daytona, their Class A affiliate in the Florida State League.

"They told me to go down to Daytona and figure things out," Buchter recalled in a recent telephone conversation. "After a while I started to throw the ball real well."

Buchter got into six games for Daytona. He had a 1-0 record with a 0.00 ERA and one save.

Right before Memorial Day Buchter was traded to the Atlanta Braves, who sent veteran major league right-hander Rodrigo Lopez to the Cubs.

"I got called into the manager's office and he tells me to sit down," Buchter recounted. "It happens right before we’re going to take the field for a game and I can feel butterflies in my stomach. He tells me he’s got good news and bad news. 'The good news,' he said, 'is you've been traded.' Then he said, 'The bad news is you’re going to High A.' I thought I had deserved a promotion with the Cubs. I thought I had put up some good numbers and the results were there.

“Getting traded is tough. New place. New team. New faces. You don’t know anybody. You get down on yourself a little because you think nobody wants you. But then you turn that around and you realize somebody does want you. It’s probably a good thing.”

The way he’s throwing it looks like a very good thing. Pitching for Lynchburg in the High A Carolina League, Buchter had appeared in 12 games through Monday. The lefty was 1-2 with a sparkling 1.72 ERA and a team-leading seven saves. Opponents were hitting just .160 off him.

"When we got Ryan, I called Bill Dancey, his manager at Tennessee, and he spoke very highly of him," said Lynchburg pitching coach Derek Botelho. "He took off right from the start. One of things I like about him is he is very aggressive. He’s not afraid to go after people. He doesn't get flustered. He stays pretty calm.

"If there is one negative, it's he needs to develop a better breaking ball and that's what we've been working on with his arm slot and his release. He has a four-seam fastball he throws between 92-94 and a cutter. He just needs to develop the curve to go with it."

Buchter said he takes it day-to-day, but admitted the success he's experienced has boosted his confidence.     

"Yes, I am definitely building confidence and becoming more and more comfortable every day," he said. "Everybody tells me the same thing—throw strikes to get ahead and then throw the breaking ball for strikes. Some days I go in and throw more breaking balls, other days I just use the fastball."

Botelho said Atlanta scouts who have been through like what they see in Buchter. He said he’ll be happy the day Buchter comes in and tells him he’s moving up.

"Back in 2006, if somebody told me it was going to take 10 years, but in 10 years you’ll be in the big leagues, I wouldn't change a thing,” Buchter said. "I'm in my fifth full year, but I’m still relatively young. I think the average age for guys to reach the big leagues in 27 or 28. I'm in it for the long haul. That's what I signed on for."