Atlanta Braves Minor League Monday, August 10

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Jul 12, 2015; Cincinnati, OH, USA; World infielder

Ozhaino Albies

fields a ball 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

To start the week, we’ll review the transactions of the last week:
Promoted to Atlanta: P Ryan Kelly, IF/OF Joey Terdoslavich
Demoted to Gwinnett: OF Todd Cunningham, IF Daniel Castro
Promoted to Gwinnett: P Jason Hursh
Demoted to Mississippi: P Mitch Lambson
Activated from DL to Rome: OF Braxton Davidson
Promoted to Rome: 2B Luke Dykstra, P Sean McLaughlin, OF Leudys Baez
Promoted to Danville: OF Justin Ellison, IF Juan Yepez
Demoted to Danville: P Daniel Cordero
Demoted to GCL: OF Elias Arias
Placed on DL: SS Ozhaino Albies (season-ending)
Released: Gwinnett IF Elmer Reyes, Rome OF Connor Oliver, Danville 1B Ian Hagenmiller

Highlight Player of the Week:

Leudys Manuel (Garcia) Baez was signed this offseason and has proven to be even more than what the Braves thought they were getting. Baez was signed at 18 years old, one of the offseason minor league signees that required extra international slot money acquired in offseason trades like the Tommy La StellaArodys Vizcaino trade. Baez had high raw tools, but very little refinement, as could be expected from a guy from the Dominican Republic who hasn’t signed on somewhere by 18. Baez was assigned to advanced rookie league Danville after extended spring training, and he certainly showed well there, slashing .311/.331/.473, earning him a recent promotion to Rome.

Baez has a BB/K ratio this year of 3/38, so his patience and eye at the plate absolutely needs work, but a promotion to full season ball now at 19 years old is a tremendous sign. Baez is listed as 6′ and 160 pounds, and the 6′ is likely accurate, but he’s certainly more than 160 pounds at this point. Baez has handled left field quite well, and that’s likely where he’ll be kept as he moves up as his reads off the bat are likely too raw for center field. Baez does have an intriguing power/speed combination, and I could see him as a guy who could be a 20/20 type of hitter if the hit tool can carry him. He’ll likely start 2016 in Rome again, and if he shows progress on his pitch recognition, he could see high-A or even AA quickly as his tools are incredibly loud when you watch him on the field.

He’s a very exciting player getting very little press currently.

Let’s look at the weekend’s games!

Next: Gwinnett Braves Report