whatever happened to …

Chris Ellis, who this time a year ago looked like a rising star in Atlanta’s system, has been bumped to the bullpen at Memphis, St. Louis’ Triple-A club. Former Ole Miss star Ellis, traded by the Braves to the Cardinals in the Jaime Garcia deal, was 1-3 with a 7.77 ERA in five starts for the Redbirds. Three straight scoreless relief outings have trimmed that figure to 6.98. In 29 2/3 innings, he has 28 strikeouts and 14 walks. After going 8-2, 2.75 for the Double-A Mississippi Braves last spring, Ellis was promoted to Triple-A Gwinnett and hit a wall. Plagued by control problems, the 6-foot-5 right-hander went 5-7, 6.52. He also struggled in the Arizona Fall League. Drafted out of Oxford by the Los Angeles Angels in the third round in 2014, Ellis was a top 10 prospect when Atlanta got him in the Andrelton Simmons deal. He is currently No. 28 on St. Louis’ chart. The good news: At age 24, Ellis still has time to turn things around.