Kevin McGlinchy isn't shy about saying he wasn't ready for the Carolina League back in April.

But the Durham Bulls' 20-year-old right-hander from Malden, Mass., who was the Atlanta Braves' fifth-round pick in the 1995 draft, has made up for his early shakiness by becoming a dominant pitcher in the second half.

McGlinchy said he's no longer intimidated by the CL's older and more experienced hitters, something the Braves brass was expecting to happen when he was sent here from spring training.

"McGlinchy's still learning, but he's pitched real good lately," said Bulls pitching coach Bill Slack, who at 64 is old enough to be McGlinchy's grandfather.

"He had a little rough spell in the first half, but now his slider's getting real good and his changeup is better. He's got as good of control as any guy his age I've seen."

McGlinchy agrees with his coach's assessment.

"This season has been pretty much a learning process," the 6-5, 220-pounder said. "It's my first full year, so it's not hard to figure out how things have gone. But I've learned more about pitching, you know?"

That had to happen for him to move up the minor-league ladder.

Prior to coming to Durham, McGlinchy could let fly with his fastball and strike out just about everybody.

At Danville in the Appalachian League last season, he struck out 77 against 11 walks, going 3-2 with a 1.13 ERA in 72 innings.

It was just like high school ball, said McGlinchy, who figures he pitched a no-hitter at every level of youth ball along with the one he hurled for Malden High.

Incidentally, McGlinchy -- who also starred in hockey and football -- isn't the only member of his family to be a legend at his high school. His mother, the former Barbara Tomasello, played field hockey, softball and basketball and was the first woman inducted into the Malden sports hall of fame.

"I thought it would be a lot more competitive last season," McGlinchy said. "But the Appy League wasn't as tough as junior college ball in Florida [he attended Central Florida C.C.].

"Most guys there just couldn't adjust to my fastball. But earlier this season I wasn't attacking the hitters, so I got behind in the count a lot. Then I'd have to throw my fastball, and a lot of times it ended up being a home run."

But in the second half, he has made the adjustments. Going into Monday's start against the Salem Avalanche, he is 3-6 with a 5.12 ERA and 101 strikeouts against 36 walks in 1262/3 innings. At the half, he was 1-4 with a 6.25 ERA in 59 innings.

"Things were a little bit tough for me early on, but I took it as a challenge," said McGlinchy, who will join eight teammates in the Braves' instructional league camp next month in Orlando, Fla. "But it's getting easier as the season winds down. I'm just glad the Braves had enough confidence in me to send me to Durham this season."