Atlanta Braves Minor League Monday, July 20

Jul 12, 2015; Cincinnati, OH, USA; World Team infielder Ozhaino Albies hits during batting practice before the All Star Futures Game with the U.S. Team at Great American Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports

Atlanta Braves Minor League Monday

After a week of travel and poor internet, we’re back with the weekend review. The Braves system is within a few games of .500 at the top 3 levels, yet from Rome on down, only Danville is playing near .500 ball right now. While player development does not require winning teams, specifically the GCL Braves and Rome team getting a taste of winning would be good.

We’ll begin with a quick review of Ozhaino Albies’ performance in the Futures Game. Albies easily got good wood in his first at bat on a fastball that was 95-96 depending on which scout’s gun you heard from. His second at bat was against Nationals prospect Lucas Giolito, whom many consider the best pitching prospect in all of baseball. To say Albies looked rough against Giolito would be an understatement. Albies looked very solid in the field, and I’ll tell you that many scouts who saw the game remarked on how while his build doesn’t lead one to think Albies will contribute much power, he has the ability to get the best part of the bat on balls better than most thought, which when paired with his incredible speed will allow Albies to routinely rack up extra base hits, whether or not those balls leave the park.

My highlight player this week is Carlos Franco, playing 3B for Carolina. Franco is a guy I had very high hopes for in 2012 when I was able to see him in Danville for one game, which enhanced his tremendous stats that year. Franco is in the midst of a hot streak, but he is someone who could surprise us all and play a very solid 3B, offering the ability to take a walk and drive the ball hard. He does strike out more than one would like, and he’ll never hit .300, but Franco has a tremendously powerful swing that has led to 34 extra base hits in 89 games this season, as many as he had in 123 games last season for Rome. Keep an eye on him as he could really move up the system fast if he continues this power streak.

Next: Gwinnett Braves Report

Gwinnett Braves (46-48)

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Thursday

Gwinnett ran into the buzz saw of Syracuse’s Joe Ross on Thursday, losing to the Chiefs 2-0. Williams Perez made a rehab start for Gwinnett, going 2 1/3 innings, allowing one unearned run on one hit while striking out three. The entire Gwinnett pitching staff combined for 0 ER and 10 strikeouts on the day, but fell short as three Brave errors and 3 Brave walks proved costly. Jose Peraza got the start at second base and was the only Gwinnett hitter on base twice with two singles.

Friday

Gwinnett got off to a strong start on Friday night, scoring 5 runs in the top of the first inning, but in the end, Syracuse came back to win the game on a walk off hit in the bottom of the ninth inning, 7-6. Tyrell Jenkins followed up his sparkling AAA debut with a dud on this day, going 4 innings, allowing 4 runs (3 earned) on 6 hits and 4 walks while striking out 2, needing 99 pitches without even getting out of the 5th inning. The Braves had 10 hits, including two singles from Mallex Smith, Adonis Garcia, and Mycal Jones. Eric Young, Jr. added a pinch hit double. Mallex Smith stole his 8th base since his promotion to AAA.

Saturday

Gwinnett used a 7-run 7th inning to defeat Syracuse on Saturday 11-8. Mike Foltynewicz threw 5 innings, allowing 3 runs on 7 hits and a walk while striking out 3. Gwinnett had 20 base runners via 14 hits and 6 walks on the day. Adonis Garcia was on base 6 times on the day through 3 singles and 3 walks. Jose Peraza had 3 hits, a walk, and he stole his 24th base of the season. Eric Young, Jr. and Jose Yepez each had two singles, and Yepez added his first steal of the year. Mallex Smith and Sean Kazmar each had a single and walk. Todd Cunningham and Daniel Castro each had a double.

Sunday

Syracuse finished a strong weekend against the Braves by taking Sunday’s game 5-3. Alex White started the game and went 5 2/3 innings, allowing 5 runs on 7 hits and 3 walks while striking out 4. No Brave hitter was on base multiple times, but 3 of the Braves 6 hits were extra base hits. Sean Kazmar had a double, Mallex Smith had a triple, and Cedric Hunter hit his 6th home run of the season. Jose Peraza had his 16th error of the season on yet another throwing error, a struggle he’s had all season at 2B.

Leaders

BA: Christian Bethancourt .315
OBP: Mycal Jones .362
SLG: Mycal Jones .438
HR: Cedric Hunter 6
SB: Jose Peraza 24

W: Aaron Kurcz 4
SV: Aaron Kurcz 7
SO: Mike Foltynewicz 57
ERA: Vin Mazzaro 0.00
WHIP: Matt Marksberry 0.75

Next: Mississippi Braves Report

Carolina Mudcats (45-48)

Thursday

Carolina got a very solid start from Lucas Sims to lead them to a victory 4-2 over Winston-Salem Thursday. Sims threw 6 innings, allowing 1 run on 5 hits and 1 walk with 8 strikeouts in his best start since the bus crash derailed what was shaping up to be a promotion to AA Mississippi. It sounds like Sims will be getting the call up to AA this week, however. The Braves stole 4 bases on the day. Connor Lien stole his 23rd base of the year as well as collecting two hits, including a double, and a walk. Dustin Peterson had two singles and stole a base, driving in 2 runs. Carlos Franco also had two hits, including a double. Johan Camargo and Joey Meneses each stole a base on the day as well. Mudcats defense turned 3 double plays behind Sims in one of the better defensive displays in the entire Atlanta Braves minor league system this year!

Friday

Carolina scored 4 runs in the first inning and just kept going, defeating Winston-Salem 8-2 on Friday. Brandon Barker continued his very solid season with 5 innings, allowing 2 runs on 5 hits and a walk while striking out 9 Dash hitters. Joseph Odom had three hits and 3 RBI with a double. The star of the day, however, was Dustin Peterson, who broke out of a slump in a big way on the day with a double, a home run, and a walk, driving in 3 runs, and even stealing his 5th base of the year as well. Connor Lien had two hits, including a 2-run home run. Reed Harper added two singles.

Saturday

Carolina’s relievers picked up Andrew Thurman in his first start back in Carolina since the bus crash. However, it wasn’t enough as the Mudcats lost to Winston-Salem 6-1. Thurman went 4 innings, allowing 5 runs on 4 hits and 2 walks while striking out 4. Seth Webster and Andy Otero combined to follow Thurman with 5 innings, allowing 1 combined run on 8 hits, striking out 8 Dash hitters. No Mudcats hitter was on base twice in this game. Carlos Franco and Reed Harper each had doubles in the game.

Sunday

Wilmington shut out the Mudcats on Sunday 3-0. Blair Walters had a solid start, throwing 6 2/3 innings, allowing 2 unearned runs on 6 hits and 2 walks, striking out 4. Connor Lien and Tanner Krietemeier each had two singles while Dustin Peterson walked twice on the day.

Leaders

BA: Connor Lien .296
OBP: Connor Lien .347
SLG: Joseph Odom .470
HR: Carlos Franco 9
SB: Connor Lien 23

W: Andrew Waszak, Blair Walters 5
SV: Andy Otero 3
SO: Blair Walters 53
ERA: Kyle Kinman 1.23
WHIP: Kyle Kinman 0.82

Next: Rome Braves Report

Rome Braves (42-51)

Thursday

Rome swept a double-header against Charleston on Thursday. In the first game, Rome defeated the RiverDogs 4-1 behind an excellent start from Wes Parsons, who went 5 innings, allowing 1 run on 2 hits while striking out 2. A lead off home run to Vicente Conde in the 1st inning was Parsons’ only real mistake. The Braves did not have any hitters who reached base multiple times, but Ozhaino Albies had a double, Bryan De La Rosa hit his 4th home run of the season, and Connor Oliver and Omar Obregon each stole bases in the victory.

Sean Furney returned to Rome after struggling in his promotion to Carolina, and he threw a gem in the 2nd game of the double-header to lead Rome to a 3-0 win. Furney threw 6 scoreless innings, allowing only 1 hit as well as 3 walks while striking out 2. Omar Obregon had two singles and stole his 25th base of the season. Braxton Davidson added a double.

Friday

Rome lost Friday to the Lakewood BlueClaws (have to love that name!) 5-4. Yean Carlos Gil threw 7 1/3 innings, allowing 5 runs (4 earned) on 7 hits and 3 walks while striking out 4. Braxton Davidson was the offensive star of the day with a double, a home run, and a walk. Ozhaino Albies knocked around two doubles of his own. Tanner Murphy also added a home run. Wigberto Nevarez had two singles. Stephen Gaylor had a single and a walk along with his 6th stolen base of the season.

Saturday

Rome’s pitching staff shut out Lakewood on Saturday 7-0. Zach Quintana started the game and threw 6 innings, allowing 3 hits. The Braves had 5 extra base hits on the day. Connor Oliver had a double and a triple on the day. Joseph Daris and Ozhaino Albies had 2 hits, including a double. Daris also added his 16 steal of the year. Omar Obregon had two singles. Braxton Davidson added his 17th double of the season.

Sunday

Lakewood’s offense exploded Sunday, defeating the Braves 13-3. Oriel Caicedo got the start and went 4 innings, allowing 4 runs on 5 hits and a walk while striking out 2. Erison Mendez had two hits, including a double. Jordan Edgerton had a single and a walk. Bryan De La Rosa, Connor Oliver, and Matt Tellor each had a double. Mendez also added a stolen base.

Leaders

BA: Ozhaino Albies .331
OBP: Braxton Davidson .396
SLG: Ozhaino Albies .431
HR: Braxton Davidson 7
SB: Ozhaino Albies 27

W: Caleb Beech, Sean Furney 5
SV: Brad Roney 4
SO: Carlos Salazar 46
ERA: Mitchell Osnowitz 1.53
WHIP: Sean Furney 1.08

Next: Danville Braves Report

Danville Braves (12-13)

Thursday

Danville took their Thursday game against Elizabethton 3-1. 2015 4th round selection Josh Graham continued his very impressive pitching since his selection in June with 5 innings, allowing 1 run on 7 hits while striking out 6 and walking none. Trevor Belicek got the victory with 4 scoreless innings of relief. Jose Morel had two singles and a walk on the day. Carlos Castro added two singles of his own.

Friday

Danville enjoyed a walk-off win on Friday in the 10th inning as they defeated Elizabethton 2-1. Ryan Lawlor threw 5 innings, allowing 1 run on 5 hits. Trey Keegan had two hits on the day and Kurt Hoekstra had a single and a walk on a very light offensive day for the Braves in victory.

Saturday

Danville had their second consecutive walk off extra inning game, winning 5-4 over Bristol on Saturday in 11 innings. Matt Withrow threw 4 innings, allowing 2 runs on 4 hits and 2 walks while striking out 2. 5th round selection Ryan Clark had an impressive showing, allowing a 2-run home run as his only damage as he threw 4 innings, allowing 2 runs on 3 hits and a walk while striking out 5 hitters with tremendous stuff. Danville had 13 hits on the day. Kelvin Estevez and Luke Dykstra had 3 hits. Estevez added a double. Leudys Baez hit a lead off home run as part of his two hits. Jose Morel added two hits.

Sunday

Bristol’s offense got off to a strong start with a 6-run first inning, and they kept piling on, defeating Danville 13-3 on Sunday. Luis Gamez got the start, but he didn’t make it out of the first inning, going 2/3 inning, allowing 6 runs (2 earned) on 4 hits and a walk. Sean McLaughlin did put up a great relief appearance on 3 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing 3 hits and striking out 6. Alejandro Flores had 3 hits, including 2 doubles. Jake Lanning had a double and a walk. Kelvin Estevez, Yeudi Grullon, Luke Dykstra, and Ray-Patrick Didder each had 2 singles as the Braves had 13 hits, yet could only push 3 runs across.

Leaders

BA: Carlos Castro .361
OBP: Jose Morel .409
SLG: Leudys Baez .480
HR: Leudys Baez 4
SB: Ray-Patrick Didder 5

W: Four with 2
SV: Sean McLaughlin 2
SO: Josh Graham, Patrick Weigel 19
ERA: Taylor Lewis 0.00
WHIP: Matthew Custred 0.57

Next: GCL Braves Report

GCL Braves (6-16)

Thursday

The GCL Braves and Yankees1 team were rained out on Thursday.

Friday

The Braves and Phillies were rained out on Friday.

Saturday

The Braves and Phillies split a double-header on Saturday. In the first game, the Braves hit well and defeated the Phillies 8-1. Jhon Martinez threw 5 innings, allowing 1 run on 4 hits while striking out 3. The Braves had 16 base runners on the day. Isranel Wilson had the biggest day at the plate, knocking out a home run and a double. Austin Riley had a hit and two walks. Alejandro Salazar, Juan Yepez, Jonathan Morales, and Angel Perez had two singles apiece. Justin Ellison had a triple and a walk.

The first place GCL Phillies club defeated the Braves in the night-cap, 3-2. Gilbert Suarez got the start and went 3 innings, allowing 1 run on 3 hits and 2 walks while striking out 3. Ronald Acuna had a double and triple. Bradley Keller had two singles and a stolen base. Alejandro Salazar knocked out his first home run of the year in the first inning.

Sunday

The Braves were off on Sunday.

Leaders

BA: Alejandro Salazar .297
OBP: Bradley Keller .412
SLG: Austin Riley .423
HR: Austin Riley 3
SB: Ronald Acuna, Justin Ellison 4

W: Six with 1
SV: Evertz Orozco 1
SO: Jhon Martinez 17
ERA: Four with 0.00
WHIP: Mike Soroka 0.33

Next: DSL Braves Report

DSL Braves (12-19)

Thursday

The Braves defeated the Brewers squad 9-3 on Thursday. Jesus Heredia started the game for the DSL squad, going 3 scoreless innings, allowing 2 hits and a walk while striking out 2. Carlos Lopez had a very impressive relief outing, going 1 2/3 perfect innings, striking out 3. William Contreras had 3 hits, including a double, and 4 RBI on the day to lead the Braves offense. Raysheandall Michel had two hits, including his 4th triple of the season. Sander Boeldak had two hits and added his 5th stolen base of the year. Alex Aquino added a single and a walk. Danyer Salazar hit a double.

Friday

The Braves offense went wild against the Brewers on Friday, totaling 21 hits and 8 runs as they defeated the Brewers 8-3. Ray Iriarte started the game and threw 2 scoreless innings, allowing 1 hit and 2 walks. Every Braves hitter had at least one hit. Four Braves – Anthony Concepcion, Sander Boeldak, William Contreras, and Danyer Salazar – had three hits apiece with Contreras adding a double. Four Braves – Randy Ventura, Luis Mejia, Richard Estrada, and Alex Aquino – each had two hits with Mejia adding a triple and Ventura stealing his astounding 36th base of the season (in his 31st game of the year).

Saturday

The Braves had Saturday off.

Sunday

The Braves were off Sunday.

Leaders

BA: Randy Ventura .350
OBP: Randy Ventura .441
SLG: Randy Ventura .431
HR: Anthony Concepcion, Terrence Josephina 2
SB: Randy Ventura 36

W: Roy Iriarte, Alexander Sanchez 2
SV: Ramon Taveras 3
SO: Luis Mora, Ali Pantoja 24
ERA: Jason Laguna 2.65
WHIP: Ramon Taveras 0.93

Next: Lefty Relievers Crowd the Braves Bullpen