PEARL — The Mississippi Braves will begin the 2014 season on Thursday by welcoming back a familiar face.

Mike Minor, who won 13 games for the Atlanta Braves last season, will be the M-Braves’ opening day starter as he makes a rehab start with the Double-A club at Trustmark Park.

The M-Braves begin the season at home with a five-game series against Mobile.

Minor will begin the 2014 season on Atlanta’s 15-day disabled list with left shoulder tendonitis. The 26-year-old left-hander’s spring work was delayed after he underwent a urinary-tract procedure on Dec. 31 and was not able to complete early work in January.

The Braves slowed Minor’s spring schedule after he felt left shoulder soreness early in camp.

Minor made his first start of the spring against the Braves Future Stars in an exhibition game Saturday at Class-A Rome. He was scheduled to toss two innings, but rain cut the outing short with one out in the second. Minor recorded three ground outs and one fly out, tossing 11 of 14 pitches for strikes.

If all goes as planned, he’s expected to make several rehab appearances in the minor leagues in hopes of returning to Atlanta in late April.

Minor was Atlanta’s first-round draft pick in 2009. He pitched in 15 games for the M-Braves in 2010 before being promoted to Triple-A Gwinnett, and then on to the majors that August.

Minor went 13-9 for the Atlanta Braves last season, with a 3.21 ERA and 181 strikeouts in 204 2/3 innings.