Kirkendall Posted March 26, 2004 Report Share Posted March 26, 2004 This actually may be a good trade...SARASOTA -- Cincinnati Reds general manager Dan O'Brien today announced the acquisition of LHP Jung Keun Bong (pronounced june(g) kewn bong) and RHP Bubba Nelson from the Atlanta Braves in exchange for RHP Chris Reitsma. "The acquisition of these two young starters is consistent with our organizational plan," O'Brien said. "From the outset, we have talked about adding depth to our starting rotation, both at the Major League level and throughout the system. Potentially, we have done that." Bong will report to the club's Major League spring training camp, while Nelson will report to the minor league camp. Bong will wear uniform number 34. Bong, 23, made 45 appearances for Atlanta over the last 2 seasons. Since he was signed as an undrafted free agent in November 1997, the southpaw has been one of the most highly touted prospects in the Braves' organization. This spring he made 5 relief appearances for the Braves and went 1-0 with a 2.89 ERA (9.1ip, 10h, 2bb, 4k). In his minor league career, the native of Seoul, South Korea is 38-33 with a 3.32 ERA and 3 saves in 103 starts and 19 relief appearances. Nelson, 22, was selected by the Braves in the second round of the June 2000 first-year player draft. In just 4 professional seasons he is 34-26 with a 3.03 ERA and 3 complete games in 76 starts and 21 relief appearances. Last season Nelson ranked sixth in the Class AA Southern League with a 3.18 ERA, and in 2002 he led all minor league starting pitchers with a 1.66 ERA. Nelson enters the 2004 season rated by Baseball America as the third-best prospect in the Braves organization and by USA Today Sports Weekly as one of the organization's top prospects. In 5 relief appearances for Atlanta this spring he went 1-1 with a 5.40 ERA (6.2ip, 7h, 6bb, 1k). Reitsma, 26, pitched for the Reds during all or parts of the last 3 seasons and went 22-32 with a 4.52 ERA and 12 saves in 53 starts and 72 relief appearances. He originally was acquired from the Red Sox on August 31, 2000, along with LHP John Curtice, in exchange for OF Dante Bichette. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
middy19 Posted March 26, 2004 Report Share Posted March 26, 2004 Sound like both pitchers are pretty good, plus one of them is left handed. Sorry to see Reitsma go though he was one of the teams best releif pitchers last year. I hope that Wagner can step in and take his place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BengalszoneBilly Posted March 27, 2004 Report Share Posted March 27, 2004 Bong!?! Are you serious about his name!?! Now what kind of message is THAT sending to our youth!?!I can here the announcer already... "Now in for the relief of the starting pitcher...BONG!!!" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xjjeep90 Posted March 27, 2004 Report Share Posted March 27, 2004 I hope they don't sell "Bong" jerseys...I'm actually sort of upset about this one (what's new?) Reitsma was a solid middle releif pitcher and it is hard to determine what the management is thinking on this one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BengalszoneBilly Posted March 27, 2004 Report Share Posted March 27, 2004 I hope they don't sell "Bong" jerseys...\ C'mon...Now think about the marketing value of this proposition. There is more than a few bucks to be made here!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redsfan2 Posted March 27, 2004 Report Share Posted March 27, 2004 For those of you who didn't see it. Graves' comment in the Enquirer was " every time someone starts doing good around here the last couple of years they trade them."Reitsma was going to be in for a big raise next year and both of the young guys they got for him are years away from large increases. Lastly, even though I don't like the Braves .......... can anyone remember a deal they made whre they came out on the short end ?????? O'Briens attempts at justifying this trade are BS .......... This had to be a released statement, cause there's no way he could've kept a straight face while he was trying to sell this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AGrizzlyBaer Posted March 29, 2004 Report Share Posted March 29, 2004 bong and bubba! i love it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Brew Man Posted March 30, 2004 Report Share Posted March 30, 2004 This was a good and potentially great trade for the Reds. Bubba Nelson is one of the best young arms in the Braves org and was even thought to be a possibility to make the rotation this year. Bong was also a top prospect who was mired in the bully last year with mixed results. I really like Nelson though.Also, its true Reitsma was due for a big payday next year we werent willing to pay, so why not get something for him? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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