Atlanta Braves Minor League Monday, August 10

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

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 Stella – Arodys 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

Gwinnett Braves (61-53)

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Thursday

Gwinnett couldn’t close out the sweep Thursday against Rochester, losing 7-5. Tyrell Jenkins had a very shaky start, going 4 2/3 innings, allowing 5 runs on 7 hits and 3 walks, striking out only 2. Jenkins was rolling with 4 scoreless innings, but his struggles led to Rochester scoring 6 in the top of the 5th. Sean Kazmar had a double, single, and walk on the day. Mallex Smith, Christian Bethancourt, and Jose Yepez each had two singles. Smith also stole his 17th base for Gwinnett. Eric Young, Jr. also had a single and a walk on the day.

Friday

Gwinnett bounced back to their winning ways on Friday, defeating Buffalo 5-3. Greg Smith had another strong start, going 5 innings, allowing 1 run on 6 hits and 2 walks, striking out 5. The Braves offense racked up 6 hits, 7 walks, and 4 stolen bases on the day. Christian Bethancourt had a tremendous night with 3 walks, a double, and a single. Eric Young, Jr. was the only other Braves hitter on base twice on the night with 2 walks and 2 steals. Cedric Hunter continued his power surge with his 10th home run of the season, driving in 3 runs. Mallex Smith and Luis Mateo each had stolen bases.

Saturday

Gwinnett walked it off on Saturday, winning 6-5 over Buffalo in 10 innings. Victor Mateo had an up-and-down start, going 6 innings, allowing 3 runs (2 earned) on 5 hits and 4 walks, striking out 6. Gwinnett had 12 hits and 6 walks on the day. Mallex Smith had two singles, a double, and stole his 19th base of the season. Not to be outdone, Eric Young, Jr. had 3 singles, a walk, and stole 2 bases to reach 19 on the season as well. Christian Bethancourt had two singles and a walk. Cedric Hunter had a triple, a walk, and a stolen base. Sean Kazmar and Mycal Jones each had a walk and a single.

Sunday

Gwinnett lost a solid pitchers duel on Sunday, 2-0, to Buffalo. Sugar Ray Marimon got the start and threw 6 1/3 innings, allowing 2 runs on 7 hits and 3 walks, striking out 4. In spite of 9 hits, the Braves couldn’t push across a run as the team went 0-9 with runners in scoring position. Jordan Lennerton had two singles and a walk. Mallex Smith also had two singles. Luis Mateo added a double.

Leaders

BA: Christian Bethancourt .309
OBP: Mycal Jones .355
SLG: Christian Bethancourt .447
HR: Cedric Hunter 10
SB: Eric Young, Jr/Mallex Smith 19

W: Greg Smith 5
SV: Pete Moylan 5
SO: Greg Smith, Kanekoa Texeira 51
ERA: Jason Hursh 0.00
WHIP: Jason Hursh 0.00

Next: Mississippi Braves Report

Carolina Mudcats (58-55)

Thursday

Carolina gave up 3 runs over the first two innings and never could mount the comeback needed as they lost to Winston-Salem on Thursday night, 3-0. Rob Whalen got the start and left after an inning with an injury, having given up 2 runs on 2 hits. The Mudcats offense was silent on the night, collecting only 5 hits and 2 walks. Carlos Franco was the lone Mudcat to reach base twice, collecting a single and a walk on the day.

Friday

Carolina defeated Potomac on Friday 9-4. Brandon Barker had a workmanlike effort on the day, throwing 7 innings, allowing 4 runs on 8 hits and a walk, striking out 2. Tanner Krietemeier had a single and two walks on the day, scoring 3 runs. Carlos Franco had a double and a walk. Connor Lien had a single, a walk, and his 10th stolen base on the season. Keith Curcio also had a single and a walk. Every Mudcat hitter reached base on the day.

Saturday

A 9th inning rally fell short, and the Mudcats lost on Saturday to Potomac 7-4. Andrew Thurman got the start, going 6 innings, allowing 6 runs (5 earned) on 8 hits, striking out 4. The bottom of the Mudcat order each had two hits as Joey Meneses had two singles, Tanner Krietemeier had a double and a single, and Johan Camargo had a triple and a single. Joseph Odom and Jacob Schrader each added doubles, and Keith Curcio stole his 13th base as a Mudcat.

Sunday

Carolina was down 2-0 coming into the bottom of the 9th, but rallied to defeat Potomac 3-2 on Sunday. Blair Walters got the start for the Mudcats and threw 7 innings, allowing 2 runs on 4 hits and 3 walks. Johan Camargo had 3 walks. Reed Harper had two singles. Joey Meneses had a single and a walk. Connor Lien had a double.

Leaders

BA: Connor Lien .292
OBP: Connor Lien .346
SLG: Jacob Schrader .469
HR: Jacob Schrader 12
SB: Connor Lien 28

W: Seth Webster, Brandon Barker 7
SV: Richie Tate 4
SO: Blair Walters 65
ERA: Brad Roney 0.00
WHIP: Brad Roney 1.00

Next: Rome Braves Report

Rome Braves (47-65)

Thursday

Rome was rained out on Thursday.

Friday

Augusta jumped out with a 4-run first inning and never looked back, defeating Rome on Friday 7-2. Touki Toussaint had another rough outing, going 4 innings, allowing 7 runs on 6 hits and 5 walks, striking out 2. Luke Dykstra had a double and a walk. Bryan De La Rosa had a single and a walk. Leudys Baez added a triple.

Saturday

Rome split a pair of games on Saturday against Augusta. In the first game, the Braves ran into a dominant pitching performance from Augusta’s D.J. Snelton, losing 4-0. Sean Furney got the start and went 6 innings, allowing 4 runs on 7 hits and a walk, striking out 4. Bryan De La Rosa had two singles and a walk. Omar Obregon had a single and a walk. Jordan Edgerton had two singles.

In the night cap, the Braves broke a 3-all tie in the 8th inning with 2 runs and won 5-3. Yean Carlos Gil started the game and went 4 innings, allowing 3 runs on 4 hits, striking out 3. Rome took advantage of shaky control from the GreenJackets pitchers, walking 6 times on the day. Braxton Davidson had a double and two walks. Tanner Murphy also walked twice. Omar Obregon had a double and a single. Stephen Gaylor also had a double.

Sunday

Rome’s offense took control on Sunday, defeating Augusta 12-1. Zach Quintana threw 5 scoreless innings, allowing 4 hits and 2 walks, striking out 3. The Braves took advantage of 7 walks and 4 errors by the GreenJackets. Joseph Daris had a triple and two singles. Braxton Davidson had 3 walks. Matt Tellor had a double, a single, and a walk. Leudys Baez had two singles and had a walk (!). Bryan De La Rosa and Omar Obregon each had a double and a walk. Stephen Gaylor had a double.

Leaders

BA: Ozhaino Albies .310
OBP: Braxton Davidson .392
SLG: Joseph Daris .408
HR: Braxton Davidson 7
SB: Ozhaino Albies 29

W: Sean Furney 6
SV: Zach Quintana, Dustin Emmons 3
SO: Sean Furney 53
ERA: Sean Furney 2.75
WHIP: Sean Furney 1.13

Next: Danville Braves Report

Danville Braves (20-24)

Thursday

Danville was simply pounded on Thursday by Princeton, 12-1. Starter Patrick Weigel went only 2 2/3 innings, allowing 3 runs on 8 hits and 3 walks. Yeudi Grullon was the only Braves hitter on base twice as he collected two singles. Austin Riley added a double.

Friday

The Danville defense struggled, and it cost the team a tight game against Pulaski, losing 3-2 Friday. Mike Soroka‘s stat line took the brunt of the poor defense, as he went 4 innings, allowing 3 runs (1 earned) on 6 hits and a walk, striking out 3. He was credited with 2 hits that arguably could have also been ruled errors, but with the Braves tallying 3 errors on the night, perhaps the official scorer felt it rude to pile on! Michael Custred continued his tremendous pitching, going 3 1/3 perfect innings in relief, striking out 6. Danville had 8 hits and 6 walks, but could only push 2 across the plate, going 1-14 on the night with runners in scoring position. Yeudi Grullon had two singles, a walk, and a stolen base. Trey Keegan had a double and a single. Carlos Castro added a double and a walk. Kurt Hoekstra and Jeff Campbell each had a single and a walk.

Saturday

Danville stopped their losing streak Saturday with a 5-1 victory over Pulaski. Trevor Belicek had a tremendous start, going 5 scoreless innings, allowing 5 hits and striking out 7. Jose Morel had a big day, hitting a double and a single and also walking twice. Justin Ellison had two doubles. Carlos Castro, Jake Lanning, and Yeudi Grullon each added two singles.

Sunday

Pulaski took the Sunday afternoon game from Danville 8-2. Matt Withrow was throwing bullets, but often without direction, going 3 innings, allowing 2 runs on 3 hits and 3 walks, striking out 3. Juan Yepez collected 3 hits on the day. Jake Lanning had two singles.

Leaders

BA: Austin Riley .364
OBP: Austin Riley .481
SLG: Austin Riley .727
HR: Multiple with 1
SB: Ray-Patrick Didder 7

W: Ryan Clark 4
SV: Chase Johnson-Mullins 5
SO: Trevor Belicek 33
ERA: Daniel Cordero 0.00
WHIP: Daniel Cordero 0.35

Next: GCL Braves Report

GCL Braves (17-22)

Thursday

The Braves came back to record a walk-off win on Thursday over the Pirates, 4-3. Gilbert Suarez got the start for the Braves, going 4 innings, allowing 3 runs on 2 hits and 4 walks while striking out 1. The Braves offensive attack tallied up 7 hits, 2 walks, and 4 stolen bases on the day. Isranel Wilson had the big bat for the day with a home run and a single along with his 1st steal of the season. Jose Pina had two singles and stole a base. Alejandro Salazar had a double. Bradley Keller and Ronald Acuna each added stolen bases.

Friday

The Braves came out on top in a slugfest on Friday, winning 12-10 over the Astros. Jaret Hellinger had a good start for the Braves, going 3 innings, allowing 2 unearned runs on a hit and a walk, striking out 7. Bradley Keller had a tremendous day at the plate, hitting two home runs and a double, driving in 5 runs and scoring 3. Jose Pina had 3 singles and a walk. Alejandro Salazar had two singles, a walk, and a stolen base. Kevin Josephina had a double, a single, and a walk. Ronald Acuna had a single, a walk, and a stolen base. Robert Nesovic and Isranel Wilson each had a single and a walk.

Saturday

The Astros took the Saturday game against the Braves 5-1. Felix Falcon started for the Braves, going 3 innings, allowing 3 runs (1 earned) on 3 hits and 2 walks, striking out 2. Robert Nesovic had a double, a single, a walk, and stole his 4th base of the season. Collin Yelich had 3 singles and a stolen base. Isranel Wilson had a single, 2 walks, and a stolen base.

Sunday

The Braves were off Sunday.

Leaders

BA: Alejandro Salazar .313
OBP: Collin Yelich .400
SLG: Bradley Keller .443
HR: Isranel Wilson 5
SB: Ronald Acuna 11

W: Dalton Geekie and Evertz Orozco 3
SV: Three with 1
SO: Jhon Martinez 23
ERA: Dalton Geekie 1.93
WHIP: Jhon Martinez 1.02

Next: DSL Braves Report

DSL Braves (31-29)

Thursday

The Braves used a 5-run 7th inning to defeat the Tigers and move to .500 on the season on Thursday, winning 6-4. Javier Sanchez started the game for the Braves and went 3 innings, allowing 1 run on 3 hits and a walk, striking out 3. Alexander Sanchez recorded his 5th victory with 3 innings of dominant relief, allowing one unearned run on one hit, striking out six. Sander Boeldak had a single, a walk, and stole his 9th base of the season. Alex Aquino had two singles. Anthony Concepcion had a double on the day.

Friday

The Braves continued their winning ways Friday, defeating the Brewers 5-3. Luis Mora got the start and went 3 scoreless innings, allowing a hit and a walk, striking out 3. Jeremy Fernandez had a double and two singles. Terrence Josephina had 3 singles. Anthony Concepcion had a triple and a single. Raysheandall Michel had a double and a single. Randy Ventura had two singles. Sander Boeldak added a double.

Saturday

The Braves extended their winning streak on Saturday, defeating the Brewers 7-4. Gabriel Henry got the start and went 3 scoreless innings, allowing 2 hits and striking out 4. William Contreras had a double, a single, and 2 walks. Anthony Concepcion had a single and 3 walks. Grendis Ferrer had a double and a single. Terrence Josephina had two singles. Ildion Martina had a double.

Sunday

The Braves were off Sunday.

Leaders

BA: Randy Ventura .346
OBP: Randy Ventura .434
SLG: Randy Ventura .420
HR: Anthony Concepcion 3
SB: Randy Ventura 46

W: Alexander Sanchez 5
SV: Ramon Taveras 6
SO: Ali Pantoja 36
ERA: Ramon Taveras 2.12
WHIP: Ramon Taveras 0.88

Next: Lack of Offense Sinks Shelby