LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Kevin McGlinchy is a quick study. It took just two months in Puerto Rico for him to go from a low-minors starting pitcher to a reliever with an excellent chance of being an Atlanta Brave this season.

McGlinchy, 21, has played in only six games above the Class A level, and he's started all 69 games he's pitched in during his three-year career.

Yet the Braves are going ga-ga about his future as a reliever. He won't be the Atlanta closer to start this season. He may have that job before long, though.

"He seems to be mature beyond experience," said Atlanta pitching coach Leo Mazzone, who followed that up with his ultimate praise. "What I like about McGlinchy is his mound presence. That means a lot. You can't have somebody out there all goofed up."

Said Atlanta manager Bobby Cox, "He's a good-looking kid. He throws a lot of strikes."

The Braves took McGlinchy in the fifth round of the June 1995 draft, soon after he finished his career at Malden (Mass.) High. As a starting pitcher, the right-hander made decent progress. He was 9-8 with a 2.91 earned-run average in 22 starts last season for Class A Danville. He was sent there before going 1-1 with a 5.18 ERA in six games at Class AA Greenville.

A power pitcher with excellent control, McGlinchy had the traits Atlanta was looking for in a reliever. He wouldn't have to add extra pitches and he wouldn't have to conserve anything for longer stints. So he was sent to Puerto Rico to learn to work from the bullpen.

"He completely dominated the league, dominated it," said Deric Ladnier, Atlanta's director of minor league operations. "Every scout was coming back and saying, 'Where did this guy come from?'"

McGlinchy had a 1.40 ERA for the Caguas squad in the Puerto Rican league. He struck out 30 and walked only two in 28 innings.

"I don't know what it was they saw, but I think they had relieving in mind for me at some point from the start. Whatever it takes to get to the promised land, I'll do it," said McGlinchy, a 6-5 220-pounder. "Going to Puerto Rico really helped. I saw it as a challenge, and I learned a lot about coming out of the bullpen."

McGlinchy earned an invitation to Atlanta's spring training as a nonroster player. He struck out seven in his first 6 innings and allowed opponents to hit only .174 against him.

If he doesn't stick in Atlanta, McGlinchy will probably start the year in Richmond. But his chances of opening the season in the majors are strong.

"I'm rooting for him to make that club," Ladnier said.

Said McGlinchy, "I'm fired up. We'll see what happens. This is probably the best job in the world . . . no, it's definitely the best job in the world. I want to pitch against the best and I want to be successful at it. I'm really in a win-win situation. Even if I go to Richmond, it's a promotion from last year.

"But I'd rather take the higher option."