Atlanta Braves Minor League Monday, August 24

Jun 9, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves catcher Christian Bethancourt (27) tags out San Diego Padres Melvin Upton, Jr., (2) in the eighth inning at Turner Field. The Braves won 6-5. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports

Atlanta Braves Minor League Monday

To start the week, we’ll review the transactions of the last week:
Promoted to Gwinnett: 3B Hector Olivera
Demoted to Gwinnett: IF/OF Joey Terdoslavich
Assigned to Gwinnett: P Danny Burawa
Demoted to Mississippi: IF Barrett Kleinknecht, P Hunter Cervenka
Assigned to Rome: OF Ryan Gebhardt
Promoted to Danville: P Fernando Miranda, P Chad Sobotka, P Dalton Geekie
Placed on DL: P Zack Bird, P Greg Ross, P Tyrell Jenkins

Highlight Player of the Week:

We highlighted the DSL hitters of note from the now-completed season on Thursday’s Ag Report. Today, we’ll explore the DSL pitchers who pitched well in 2015:

Gabriel Henry threw 44 innings for the DSL Braves with a 3.07 ERA, 1.18 ERA, and a 18/31 BB/K ratio. He had the second most starts for the DSL team this year. Henry was one of few guys in the DSL to be given 5-inning starts this year as the Braves rarely allow any pitcher to go more than 3-4 innings. Henry’s signed in 2013 from Panama, who is 19 and has a great body to fill out at 6’3, 180. He’s moved to the rotation gradually and likely will end up in the USA in 2016

Filyer Sanchez was signed this year from Venezuela. The 6’1, 175-pound lefty was signed at 18. While he only started 4 games, he threw 41 2/3 innings, ranking 4th on the DSL staff. In those innings, Sanchez had a 2.59 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, and had a 10/26 BB/K ratio. His low strikeout rate is notable, but without much of a scouting report on Sanchez at this point, we’ll have to hope to see more from him in 2016, possibly in another season with the DSL.

Ramon Tavares was the DSL closer, though he wasn’t your usual high-strikeout closer. The 6’1 right-hander was signed from the Dominican Republic in 2014. He exhibited excellent control this season, totaling a 3.15 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, and 6/20 BB/K over 34 1/3 innings of relief. At 19 years old, I would assume he’ll get a shot state-side in 2016 to see if there’s something there for the Braves.

Jason Laguna is another reliever only in 2015 that made some big strides in his second year in DSL this year. He was signed in 2014 from Nicaragua. The right-hander is under 6′ and very lean. In his 33 innings this year, he tallied a 2.73 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, and 7/29 BB/K ratio. Turning 20 in January will likely put Laguna on the fast track to the US to get a chance to prove himself.

Luis Mora led the DSL Braves in starts with 14 on the season. His 45 innings pitched also led the team. While he didn’t collect a victory on the season, he did show some solid possible future value. Mora had a 3.80 ERA, but a 1.18 WHIP and a 21/42 BB/K ratio. He allowed only one home run on the season. Mora has a very solid frame for long-term success at 6’4 with wide shoulders, though he’s only 160 lean pounds right now. He is 20 already after signing from the Dominican Republic in 2014, so he will likely be pushed to the states in 2016.

Let’s look at the weekend’s games!

Next: Gwinnett Braves Report

Gwinnett Braves (70-58)

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Thursday

Gwinnett was able to hold onto a 5-0 9th inning lead to defeat Louisville 5-4 on Thursday. Sugar Ray Marimon got the win after throwing 7 scoreless innings, allowing 2 hits and a walk while striking out 6. In his first game at AAA, Hector Olivera had two singles and a walk. Daniel Castro had three singles and drove in three runs. Joey Terdoslavich had a double, a single, and a walk. Marimon helped his own cause with a single and a walk.

Friday

Gwinnett beat Louisville on Friday 4-2. Kanekoa Texeira went 5 1/3 innings, allowing 2 runs on 4 hits and 5 walks, striking out 2. Joey Terdoslavich had a home run and 2 walks. Sean Kazmar had a single and a double. Mallex Smith and Cedric Hunter each had two singles.

Saturday

Gwinnett scored 5 in the bottom of the first inning and kept going strong, defeating Louisville Saturday 10-2. Victor Mateo had a solid start, throwing 6 innings, allowing 2 runs on 5 hits, striking out 5. Christian Bethancourt had 4 hits, including a double. Daniel Castro had three hits, including a double. Sean Kazmar had a double and a single. Cedric Hunter and Todd Cunningham each had two singles. Joey Terdoslavich had a double and a walk. Mallex Smith had a single, a walk, and stole his 26th base for Gwinnett.

Sunday

The Braves scored 2 runs in the bottom of the 7th to pull out the win over Louisville on Sunday 5-4. Greg Smith started for the Braves, throwing 6 innings, allowing 3 runs (1 earned) on 7 hits and 2 walks, striking out 2. Todd Cunningham had a home run, double, and single, and he drove in 4 runs. Mallex Smith had two singles and stole a base. Jose Yepez had two singles. Cedric Hunter added a triple.

Leaders

BA: Christian Bethancourt .327
OBP: Joey Terdoslavich .409
SLG: Joey Terdoslavich .495
HR: Cedric Hunter 11
SB: Mallex Smith 27

W: Greg Smith, Kanekoa Texeira 6
SV: Ryan Kelly 12
SO: Greg Smith 62
ERA: Ryan Kelly 1.03
WHIP: Ryan Kelly 0.72

Next: Mississippi Braves Report

Mississippi Braves (64-59)

Thursday

Like Gwinnett, the M-Braves held on during a late rally as Birmingham scored two in the top of the 9th, but Mississippi was able to hold on to win 4-3. Andrew Thurman had a very solid start, throwing 6 innings, allowing 1 run on 3 hits and 2 walks, striking out 3. Matt Kennelly and Emerson Landoni each had two hits. Levi Hyams had a single and two walks. Rio Ruiz and KD Kang each had a single and a walk.

Friday

Mississippi was defeated by Birmingham 7-2 on Friday. Stephen Janas struggled again, going 5 innings, allowing 7 runs on 9 hits and 4 walks, striking out 5. Mauricio Cabrera had an amazing relief appearance, throwing 2 perfect innings, striking out 4. Matt Kennelly had a double and a walk. Rio Ruiz and Keven Ahrens each had doubles. KD Kang had a stolen base.

Saturday

Mississippi fell behind 1-0 early on Saturday, but came back big to defeat Birmingham 5-1. Andrew Barbosa threw 5 innings, allowing an unearned run on 1 hit and 3 walks, striking out 7. No Brave was on base twice on the day, but four Braves (Emerson Landoni, Rio Ruiz, KD Kang, Kevin Ahrens, and Barrett Kleinknecht) each had doubles on the day.

Sunday

All of the scoring on the day on Sunday occurred in the 4th inning, with the Braves pulling off the win 3-1. Lucas Sims had easily his best start of his time in Mississippi. He threw 6 innings, allowing a run on 3 hits and 2 walks, striking out 10. While no Brave had multiple times on base, the Braves collected 7 hits on the day. Rio Ruiz drove in 2 runs on his 3rd home run of the season. Braeden Schlehuber and Emerson Landoni each had a double.

Leaders

BA: Emerson Landoni .291
OBP: Levi Hyams .355
SLG: KD Kang .391
HR: Kevin Ahrens 8
SB: Matt Lipka 15

W: Greg Ross 7
SV: Tyler Jones 15
SO: Greg Ross 70
ERA: Mitch Lambson 0.68
WHIP: John Gant 0.87

Next: Carolina Mudcats Report

Rome Braves (52-74)

Thursday

Asheville scored two runs in the top of the 10th inning to defeat Rome 3-1. Trevor Belicek got the start, going 5 2/3 innings, allowing an unearned run on 6 hits and a walk, striking out 5. The Braves managed only a single hit against Asheville, a double by Luke Dykstra.

Friday

Asheville had a run in each of the first 4 innings to defeat Rome on Friday 4-1. Zach Quintana went 6 innings, allowing 4 runs on 11 hits and 2 walks, striking out 1. The Braves had only 3 hits on the day with no hitter reaching base twice or collecting an extra base hit.

Saturday

Rome stormed back from being down 2-0 heading into the bottom of the 4th inning to defeat Asheville 7-4 on Saturday. Oriel Caicedo went 7 innings, allowing 4 runs (3 earned) on 9 hits, striking out 3. Braxton Davidson flashed his mammoth power with an 8th inning moon shot home run and a double. Leudys Baez had two singles.

Sunday

Asheville poured on 11 runs on in the first inning to defeat Rome 13-1. Starter Alec Grosser threw only 1/3 of an inning, allowing 8 runs on 5 hits and 2 walks. Luke Dykstra had two doubles. Joseph Daris had two singles. Stephen Gaylor, Braxton Davidson, and Leudys Baez each had a double.

Leaders

BA: Ozhaino Albies .310
OBP: Braxton Davidson .384
SLG: Ozhaino Albies .404
HR: Braxton Davidson 9
SB: Ozhaino Albies 29

W: Sean Furney 6
SV: Dustin Emmons 4
SO: Sean Furney, Zach Quintana 56
ERA: Sean McLaughlin 1.64
WHIP: Sean McLaughlin 1.09

Next: Danville Braves Report

Danville Braves (28-31)

Thursday

Greeneville defeated Danville 6-5 on Thursday. Matt Withrow got the start, throwing 4 innings, allowing 2 runs on 5 hits and 2 walks, striking out 2. Ronald Acuna had a double and a triple. Austin Riley and Yeudi Grullon each had two singles. Justin Ellison had a double. Juan Yepez had a solo home run. Riley also picked up his 7th error at Danville, his 14th total in 43 games in the field this year.

Friday

Danville was shut out by Greeneville on Friday, 5-0. Ryan Clark suffered his first loss of the season, allowing 3 runs over 5 innings on 4 hits and a walk, striking out 2. Jake Lanning had 2 singles and a double. Austin Riley had a single and a walk. Trey Keegan had a pair of singles. Yeudi Grullon had a single and two walks.

Saturday

After Greeneville took the lead 5-3 in the top of the 7th inning, Danville put up 3 runs in the bottom of the inning and held on to win 6-5. Patrick Weigel started the game and went 4 innings, allowing 3 runs on 3 hits and a walk, striking out 4. Chad Sobotka pitched two perfect innings of relief, striking out 2. Juan Yepez had three singles on the day. Jeff Campbell had two doubles. Austin Riley had a single and a double. Ray-Patrick Didder had two singles. Justin Ellison had the big hit with a 3-run home run in the 7th inning that gave the Braves the lead for good.

Sunday

Danville finished the weekend with a victory over Johnson City, 6-4. Mike Soroka had 3 scoreless innings, but he finished with 4 innings thrown, 3 runs allowed on 6 hits, striking out 3. Danville’s offense pounded out 12 hits and 7 extra base hits. Jeff Campbell had 2 doubles and a single. Ray-Patrick Didder and Jake Lanning each had a double and a single. Austin Riley hit his 3rd home run in Danville. Ronald Acuna and Juan Yepez each had a double.

Leaders

BA: Carlos Castro .314
OBP: Austin Riley .391
SLG: Justin Ellison .544
HR: Justin Ellison, Austin Riley 3
SB: Kurt Hoekstra, Ray-Patrick Didder 8

W: Ryan Clark 5
SV: Chase Johnson-Mullins 6
SO: Matthew Custred 37
ERA: Daniel Cordero 1.20
WHIP: Matthew Custred 0.79

Next: GCL Braves Report

GCL Braves (23-31)

Thursday

The Braves were defeated on Thursday 7-2 by the Phillies. Felix Falcon got the start, throwing 4 innings, allowing 4 runs (3 earned) on 7 hits and 3 walks, striking out 7. Angel Perez was the only Braves hitter to get on base twice with two singles.

Friday

The Astros defeated the Braves 2-1. Kolby Allard got the start and went 3 innings, allowing only a single hit, striking out 4. Isranel Wilson had a home run, a single, and a walk. Robert Nesovic had a single, two walks, and a stolen base. Collin Yelich had a double and a walk.

Saturday

The Braves closed out their weekend with a 7-5 win over the Astros. Manny Banuelos made a rehab start for the Braves and went 2 innings, allowing 3 unearned runs on 2 hits and 2 walks, striking out 3. Gabino Avalos had a great day of relief, throwing 5 innings of relief, allowing 2 runs (1 earned) on 4 hits, striking out 8, to pick up his 3rd win of the year. Isranel Wilson continued to respond to his move to the leadoff position in a big way with his 9th home run, a single, and a walk. Collin Yelich and Kelvin Estevez each had a single and a double. Robert Nesovich had a single and two walks. Alejandro Salazar had a home run. Elias Arias added a double.

Sunday

The Braves had Sunday off.

Leaders

BA: Alejandro Salazar .297
OBP: Robert Nesovic .366
SLG: Isranel Wilson .492
HR: Isranel Wilson 9
SB: Alejandro Salazar, Bradley Keller 7

W: Evertz Orozco 4
SV: Evertz Orozco 2
SO: Gabino Avalos, Felix Falcon 33
ERA: Kolby Allard 0.00
WHIP: Kolby Allard 0.17

Next: DSL Braves Report

DSL Braves (37-35)

Thursday

The Braves scored 3 in the bottom of the 8th to defeat the Red Sox2 squad 3-2 on Thursday. Carlos Lopez started for the Braves, going 4 innings, allowing 1 run on 3 hits and a walk, striking out 2. Jason Laguna had a very good relief performance, allowing only one hit over 3 innings, striking out 3. Anthony Concepcion had 2 singles and a double. Randy Ventura and Luis Mejia each had two walks. Grendis Ferrer had a single, a walk, and a stolen base.

Friday

The Braves defeated the Rangers2 team in their last home game of the year, winning on Friday 9-8. Ramon Taveras started the game, throwing 3 innings, allowing 5 runs on 8 hits and a walk, striking out 1. Terrence Josephina had a double, a single, and a walk. Sander Boeldak had three singles. Luis Mejia had a single and two walks. Grendis Ferrer had two walks. Jeremy Fernandez had a single and a walk. Anthony Concepcion had a double. Randy Ventura had 3 stolen bases, bringing his season total to 55.

Saturday

The Braves defeated the Rangers2 squad in their final game of the season 7-6. Roy Iriarte got the start and threw 4 innings, allowing 2 runs (1 earned) on 4 hits, striking out 3. William Contreras collected a triple, double, and a single. Luis Alonso, Danyer Salazar, and Sander Boeldak each had two singles. Luis Mejia had a double and a triple. Grendis Ferrer had a triple.

Leaders

BA: Randy Ventura .329
OBP: Randy Ventura .421
SLG: Anthony Concepcion .451
HR: Anthony Concepcion 5
SB: Randy Ventura 55

W: Alexander Sanchez 7
SV: Ramon Taveras 7
SO: Luis Mora 42
ERA: Filyer Sanchez 2.59
WHIP: Ramon Taveras 1.05

Next: Braves Should Wait on Olivera