Now Pitching...Van Pope?

By Guy Curtright

It looked like Van Pope. The number and name on the back of his uniform matched, too.

But could that really be the Gwinnett Braves third baseman on the mound for Myrtle Beach in a spring training game and pitching so well?

Make that former G-Braves third baseman.

Pope is indeed making the switch to pitching after batting only .202 a year ago in Triple A and is taking a step back do it.

There was never any question about Pope's glove or arm, but his hitting was another matter. So the Braves decided to take advantage of the arm and converted the Mississippi native to the mound during the fall instructional league.

So far, so good.

Pope pitched a perfect eighth inning for Advanced Class A Myrtle Beach on Thursday against Lakeland of the Detroit organization and recorded a strikeout. He threw just three balls out of 11 pitches.

It was the third straight scoreless outing for Pope, who recently turned 26, and he has allowed just one hit.

Pope was a closer as well as a third baseman during his one season in junior college, and has a slider and changeup to go with his fastball.

"I pitched before, so it isn't all new to me," Pope said. "I'll give it this year and see how it goes. It's been OK so far."

Pope was voted player of the year with Myrtle Beach in 2006. Now he may be headed back to the Pelicans as he tries to reestablish himself as a Major League prospect.