Atlanta Braves Minor League Monday, Labor Day Edition

Jul 9, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Jake Brigham (63) delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Atlanta Braves Minor League Monday

I delayed the post today in order to get the last games of each level. In the last week Carolina, Mississippi, and Gwinnett were all eliminated from the playoffs, meaning that Labor Day Monday would be the final game for the minor league season.

In the coming weeks, I will review the full season teams on Mondays and Thursdays. In October, look forward to a top prospect list from yours truly. This will be a list of my own device, not the entire TT staff, as that list will come later in the offseason. In November, I’ll have a review of every position on the field and how the depth at that position looks within the Braves organization ahead of the winter meetings.

This has been a very exciting season to be covering the minor leagues for the Braves. Thanks for reading this season!

Highlight Player(s) of the Week:

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

Matt Custred may go down as one of the Braves’ big finds in the 2015 draft, as he was selected in the 31st round out of Texas Tech, but the 6’5 righty did nothing short of blow hitters away out of the bullpen. Custred threw 31 2/3 innings in 18 appearances for Danville, throwing a total of 32 2/3 innings over 19 appearances over two starts. Custred picked up 4 saves and had a dynamic 46/9 K/BB over those innings. Interestingly, Custred was a reliever with Texas Tech who never closed and struggled with his control, but has a big fastball and a wicked curveball. He will likely start 2016 in the Rome bullpen, and it will be fun to see how he progresses.

Ryan Lawlor was an 8th round pick this June out of Georgia. While small in stature at 6′ and 170 pounds, Lawlor put together a very solid junior campaign for Georgia, striking out 84 hitters in 73 2/3 innings. Lawlor is a command and control lefty, but he does run his fastball up to 93. The thing to watch with Lawlor is how he can develop his secondary offerings. He has below-average movement on his secondary stuff, but he’s done well this year due to his excellent control. He threw 27 1/3 innings over 8 appearances (7 starts), sporting a 2.30 ERA and 1.28 WHIP, with a 25/12 K/BB ratio. Lawlor will likely start in Danville again next season, but a repeat of 2015 could have him in Rome quickly.

Josh Graham was the Braves’ 4th round selection this year out of the University of Oregon. Many viewed him as a catcher rather than a pitcher, but the Braves not only put him on the mound, they started this year. He’s been projected with a late-inning arm, having just recently taken to pitching on a more frequent basis, but he features a 95 MPH fastball and a slider that can be absolutely filthy. Mix in a change up that has reports of being plus at times (I saw him once, and it was average in action, but solid in deception), and you have the makings of an under-the-radar guy who could pan out big for the Braves. Graham is a 6’1 21 year-old righty, and he sported a 2.60 ERA in 17 1/3 innings over 6 appearances (5 starts) for the Braves, tallying a 1.15 WHIP with a sparkling 21/3 K/BB ratio. He’ll most likely start in Danville again next season, unless he really shows well on the back fields in the spring.

Ryan Clark was another Braves college pick in the 4-10 rounds of this year’s draft, and he is yet another arm that fared well in Danville this year. The 6’5, 220-pound righty was selected in the 5th round out of UNC-Greensboro. He led the Danville staff in wins with 6, but he also put up some very solid counting stats with a 3.08 ERA and 1.01 WHIP over 52 2/3 innings spread across 13 appearances (7 starts). He did not allow a single home run as he put up a solid 40/10 BB/K ratio. Clark isn’t a guy who runs the ball up there in the high-90s, but he has some deception in the way he holds the ball just before releasing that allows him success. He’s a pitch-to-contact type with a heavy fastball and a slider that he likes low in the zone. He’d move quite fast as a reliever, but with a fast-developing change up and what looked like a cutter that he toyed with a little in his time in Danville, Clark could be kept in the rotation and bumped to Rome in 2016.

Matt Withrow was the Braves 6th round selection in 2015 out of Texas Tech, and while he threw a solid season in Danville, he had the distinction of not picking up a single win on the season. Withrow is build similar to his brother Chris, who the Braves acquired earlier this season. With Danville, the 21 year-old Withrow threw 48 innings over 13 starts, sporting a 3.56 ERA and 1.33 WHIP. His 35/16 K/BB ratio left some unimpressed, however, and he did have a tendency to have his fastball straighten out on him. Withrow’s command will really determine where he ends up. With 4 hit by pitches and 5 wild pitches on his resume this season, Withrow will need to hone his command to remain a starter. Effective wildness could mean a move to the pen in 2016, however.

Lastly, and most impressively, we have Mike Soroka. Soroka was the Braves’ second pick of the 1st round in June out of high school in Canada. The 6’4 righty did nothing but impress this season at both GCL and with Danville. On the season total, he threw 34 innings over 10 appearances (9 starts), never tossing more than 4 innings in a start. His season ERA was 3.18, and he sported a 1.12 WHIP. His 37/5 K/BB ratio was strikingly good as well. Soroka will be making his stamp on many top prospect lists for the Braves this offseason, but I would imagine that he would return to Danville to start 2016, likely with a quick promotion to Rome if he pitches again with the results of 2015.

Let’s look at the weekend’s games!

Next: Gwinnett Braves Report

Gwinnett Braves (77-67)

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Thursday

Gwinnett opened the weekend by defeating the team they’re fighting a playoff spot by topping Norfolk 6-2. Ryan Weber had a poor night of control by his standards, but in my watching of this game, he had some wicked late movement, which led to hitters being unable to get good wood on the ball, other than Christian Walker who knocked out two solo home runs. Weber’s final line was 5 innings, allowing 2 runs on 3 hits and 3 walks, striking out two. To emphasize the point on Weber’s control, the 3 walks in this performance were 3 times the amount he had in the entire MONTH of August, spanning 24 2/3 innings over 9 appearances. Sean Kazmar had a triple and a walk. Cedric Hunter and Mycal Jones each had a walk and a single. Hunter also stole a base. Mallex Smith had two steals on the night.

Friday

Norfolk used a 3-run bottom of the 8th inning to defeat the Braves 3-1. Tyrell Jenkins started the game, but he left after 1 2/3 innings with an injury after giving up no runs on a hit and a walk. Kanekoa Texeira came in to follow Jenkins and threw 4 1/3 innings, allowing 2 hits and 2 walks, striking out 3. Jordan Lennerton had a home run and a single. Mallex Smith added a stolen base.

Saturday

Charlotte used a 3-run top of the 7th inning to defeat the Braves 4-2 on Saturday. Greg Smith started, throwing 6 2/3 innings, allowing 4 runs on 9 hits and a walk, striking out 2. Sean Kazmar had two singles and a walk as the only Braves hitter to reach base twice.

Sunday

Gwinnett won a pitcher’s duel on Sunday 2-1. Victor Mateo threw very well in his final start of the season, going 6 innings, allowing 1 run on 7 hits, striking out 6. Cedric Hunter and Sean Kazmar each had a single and a walk.

Monday

Gwinnett finished their season on a high note with a resounding 6-2 victory over Charlotte. Jake Brigham went 6 innings, allowing 2 runs on 8 hits and a walk, striking out 3. Mallex Smith had a double, two walks, and stole a base. Joey Terdoslavich had a double, a single, and a walk. Cedric Hunter and Barrett Kleinknecht each had two singles. Jose Yepez hit his first home run of the year. Sean Kazmar added a double.

Next: Mississippi Braves Report

Mississippi Braves (69-67)

Thursday

A 2-2 game after 9 went to extras, and Jacksonville ended up the victor after a crazy 10th inning, 7-6. Lucas Sims got the start, and he put together another excellent start in his good run to finish the year. Sims went 7 innings, allowing 1 run on 3 hits and a walk, striking out 7. Rio Ruiz was the offensive star of the day with a big home run and two walks. Matt Lipka had a single and a double. Emerson Landoni had two singles and a steal. Kevin Ahrens had a single and two walks. Levi Hyams, Matt Kennelly, and Sims each had a single and a walk. Eric Garcia stole a base.

Friday

Mississippi used a 6-run 9th inning to defeat Jacksonville 10-6 on Friday. John Gant had probably his worst start with the M-Braves, going 5 2/3 innings, allowing 3 runs on 5 hits and 3 walks, striking out 4. Emerson Landoni and Steve Rodriguez each had 2 singles and a single. Kevin Ahrens and Eric Garcia each had two singles, with both of Garcia’s coming in the top of the 9th inning. KD Kang had a triple and a walk. Levi Hyams had a single and a walk.

Saturday

Mississippi’s offense was quiet on Saturday, losing to Jacksonville 4-1. Andrew Thurman had a rough start, throwing 4 2/3 innings, allowing 4 runs on 8 hits and 3 walks, striking out 4. Rio Ruiz and David Rohm each had a single and a walk as the only two M-Braves to reach base twice.

Sunday

Allowing 7 runs in the first three innings was too much for Mississippi to overcome as they fell to Jacksonville in what ended up being the season finale, 7-3. Steve Janas started the game and went 2 1/3 innings, allowing 7 runs (6 earned) on 10 hits and a walk. Levi Hyams had a home run and a walk. Emerson Landoni drew two walks. Rio Ruiz and David Rohm had a double each. Matt Lipka had a stolen base.

Monday

The Monday game against Jacksonville was cancelled.

Next: Carolina Mudcats Report

Rome Braves (58-82)

Thursday

Hickory blew up with 7 runs in the bottom of the 8th to defeat Rome 9-4. Daniel Cordero got the start and went 4 2/3 innings, allowing 1 run on 4 hits and 3 walks, striking out 5. New Brave Luis Valenzuela had a sparkling debut with 3 hits, including a home run, and he started a nifty double play at shortstop, ranging well to his left and then stepping on the bag and going to first to complete the DP. Luke Dykstra had a single and a double. Braxton Davidson hit his 10th home run of the season. Stephen Gaylor stole a base.

Friday

Rain ended the game early, but Hickory was still able to score a shut out over Rome 4-0 on Friday. Sean Furney went 4 innings, allowing 4 runs on 6 hits and a walk, striking out 1. Luke Dykstra had a single and a walk. Jordan Edgerton and Matt Tellor each had a double.

Saturday

Rome had a solid offensive game on Saturday, defeating Hickory 5-1. Trevor Belicek threw 5 scoreless innings, allowing 5 hits and 3 walks, striking out 1. Luis Valenzuela, Braxton Davidson, and Luke Dykstra each had two singles. Matt Tellor and Tanner Murphy each had a home run. Erison Mendez had a double.

Sunday

Hickory scored two runs in the bottom of the 8th inning to take the game from Rome 3-2. Zach Quintana threw 6 scoreless innings, allowing 4 hits and a walk, striking out 3. Luis Valenzuela had a double and a single. Luke Dykstra had two singles. Matt Tellor and Stephen Gaylor each had a double and a walk. Gaylor added a stolen base.

Monday

Hickory again scored a run in the bottom of the 8th to take the lead to defeat Rome 5-4. Oriel Caicedo went 4 2/3 innings, allowing 4 runs on 6 hits and a walk, striking out 1. Omar Obregon had two singles and a walk. Stephen Gaylor had a single and two walks. Luis Valenzuela had a single and a walk. Luke Dykstra had two singles. Tanner Murphy had a double.

Next: Braves 'Silently' Snap Losing Streak