Atlanta Braves Minor League Report

Braves Minor League Report: Rome Braves (17-21)

The Charleston RiverDogs came to Rome starting Monday, and opened the series with a 6-2 win. Seth Webster started for Rome in his first appearance of the year after being signed from independent ball. He went 5 innings in the start, allowing 6 runs on 7 hits and 2 walks, while striking out 7. Jordan Edgerton continued his hot hitting with 2 more hits, while Joseph Daris collected a triple, Wigberto Nevarez hit a home run, and Stephen Gaylor stole his 3rd base of the season.

Tremendous pitching from Caleb Beech brought Rome a 2-0 Tuesday victory. Beech was a 13th round selection in 2014 from Shelton State Community College. He has really shown improvement as the season’s gone on, only allowing one earned run in his last three starts. His Tuesday start was brilliant, with 8 scoreless innings, allowing 3 hits and a walk while striking out 7. Jordan Edgerton collected another 2 hits. Omar Obregon collected two doubles for his two hits. Braxton Davidson had 2 hits and a walk. Joseph Daris rounded out the offensive production with 2 hits and a stolen base.

Rome lost a tough game, dropping their Wednesday game against Charleston 2-1 in 10 innings. Max Povse completed 5 innings for the first time in 2015, going exactly 5 innings, allowing 1 run on 4 hits and 2 walks while striking out 5 batters. No Braves hitter had more than one hit, though Stephen Gaylor did knock out a double and Omar Obregon had his 5th stolen base and two walks on the day.

Weekend matchups:
Thursday, 7:05pm ET: TBD (Alec Grosser‘s spot) vs. Savannah (Casey Meisner)
Friday, 7:05pm ET, Game 1:  TBD (Chad Sobotka‘s spot) vs. Savannah (TBD)
Friday, Game 2: Brandon Barker vs. Savannah (Josh Prevost)
Saturday, 6:00pm ET: TBD (Seth Webster‘s spot) vs. Savannah (TBD) – This is Superhero Night!!
Sunday, 2:00pm ET: TBD (possibly Sean Furney) vs. Savannah (TBD)

Braves Minor League Report: Carolina Mudcats (19-17)

After a day off on Monday, Carolina took to the field against the Potamac Nationals on Tuesday, but they lost 3-2. Andrew Waszak continued his move from the bullpen to the rotation, being stretched out slow. Tuesday he went 4 innings, allowing 3 runs, though only one was earned after 3 errors by the Mudcat defense. Waszak allowed 5 hits and a walk while striking out 3. Johan Camargo collected a double and triple in the game, and Connor Lien had two hits, including a triple.

The Mudcats fell behind Potomac early on Wednesday, but they rallied back before finally falling 4-3. This was the Braves’ first look at Nationals super-prospect Lucas Giolito, and while he struck out 9 Mudcats, they did collect 3 runs off of Giolito. Blair Walters started for Carolina and went 5 1/3 innings, allowing 3 runs on 5 hits and 2 walks while striking out 4. Sean Godfrey had 2 hits. Joey Meneses had a triple and 2 RBI as well.

Weekend matchups:
Thursday, 7:05pm ET: Yean Carlos Gil at Potomac (John Simms)
Friday, 7:05pm ET: TBD (Brandon Barker‘s spot most recently) at Wilmington (Eric Skoglund)
Saturday, 7:05pm ET: TBD (Sean Furney‘s spot most recently) at Wilmington (TBD)
Sunday, 6:05pm ET: TBD (Steve Janas‘ rotation spot) at Wilmington (TBD)

Braves Minor League Report: Mississippi Braves (21-18)

Mississippi starter Jake Brigham left Monday‘s game after one out recorded, and the bullpen did an admirable job, but the M-Braves fell 4-3. Corban Joseph was the only Brave with multiple hits, including a double. Kevin Ahrens added a home run for Mississippi that scored all three Mississippi runs in the game.

Pensacola scored another victory on Tuesday, beating Mississippi 7-4. Greg Ross got the start and went 5 innings, allowing 5 runs on 9 hits and 2 walks while striking out only one. The Carolina bats scattered 12 hits, with KD Kang‘s double being the only extra base hit. Only Kang and Eric Garcia had multiple hits.

I was writing up this report, and Mississippi was the only game still being played Wednesday. They were down 2-1 heading into the 9th inning, so I assumed I’d be writing about a loss, but I was incorrect.  After a 4-run 9th inning rally, the M-Braves pulled out a 5-2 win. Victor Mateo had another solid start, going 6 innings, allowing 1 run on 5 hits and 2 walks while striking out 6. No Braves hitter had more than one hit. Mallex Smith had 2 stolen bases for his 10th steal of the year, and Matt Lipka stole his 5th base of the year. Rio Ruiz went 1-2 and walked twice on the day.

Weekend matchups:
Thursday, 6:05pm CT: Jason Hursh at Jacksonville (Kendry Flores)
Friday, 6:05pm CT: Tyrell Jenkins at Jacksonville (Austin Brice)
Saturday, 6:05pm CT: Ryan Weber at Jacksonville (Jake Esch)
Sunday, 6:05pm CT: Greg Ross at Jacksonville (Trevor Williams)

Braves Minor League Report: Gwinnett Braves (17-23)

Gwinnett on Monday pulled off what has become a rare win, 8-2. Manny Banuelos got the win after throwing 6 innings, allowing 1 run on 5 hits and a walk while striking out 6. Mycal Jones had the big offensive day, getting 3 hits with a home run. Barrett Kleinknecht also had a home run on two hits. Eury Perez had a double and triple for his 2 hits. Daniel Castro picked up two hits and a double while Joe Benson added a double.

Toledo brought their bats on Tuesday as Gwinnett lost on the road 10-5. Greg Smith went 6 innings, allowing 9 runs (only 4 earned) on 12 hits and a walk while striking out 5. Gwinnett committed three errors on the day. Mycal Jones had the best offensive game for the G-Braves, collecting 2 hits and a double.

Matt Wisler on the mound has meant good things for Gwinnett recently, but it took a 9th inning rally to force extra innings before the Braves fell 5-4 in 12 innings on Wednesday to Toledo. Wisler went 6 innings, allowing 4 runs on 5 hits and 1 walk, while striking out 4. Wisler also allowed a home run, his first home run allowed since April 23rd. Elmer Reyes clubbed a home run to cap the 9th inning rally. Daniel Castro collected 2 hits, and Cedric Hunter knocked out their 11th double of the season.

Weekend matchups:

Thursday,6:35pm ET: Chien-Ming Wang at Columbus (Toru Murata)
Friday, 7:15pm ET: Sugar Ray Marimon at Columbus (Michael Roth)
Saturday, 7:15pm ET: Manny Banuelos at Columbus (Jordan Cooper)
Sunday, 1:05pm ET: TBD (Cody Martin likely) at Columbus (TBD)

That’s All, Folks!

The projected rotations have been messed up a bit with the return of Cody Martin to AAA and the shuffling of guys between Carolina and Rome, but I think Braves fans can take solace in the continued solid performance of Manny Banuelos and Victor Mateo.  Take some time this weekend to check out Mississippi’s games as they have some very intriguing starters going in Hursh (can he build on his success of last weekend?), Jenkins, who could be considered the best performing Braves minor league pitcher, and Ryan Weber, who is establishing himself as a very valuable swing pitcher.