Atlanta Braves Minor League Review: Carolina Mudcats
Sep 17, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; An Atlanta Braves tomahawk member performs for the fans against the Toronto Blue Jays during the seventh inning at Turner Field. The Blue Jays defeated the Braves 5-0. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Relievers
Andy Otero will present the Braves with an interesting issue in this offseason. After a season where the tiny (5’9″!) lefty reliever threw 59 1/3 innings, primarily in relief (he started two “relief games” in double headers) with a 3.19 ERA and 1.25 WHIP and 16/53 BB/K ratio, he’s eligible to be a 6-year minor league free agent and subject to the Rule 5 draft. The 23 year-old could possibly step in as a LOOGY reliever, but he’s likely not MLB ready just yet, so the Braves should be safe not protecting Otero. He’s a solid lefty in spite of his tiny size that could end up a solid bullpen lefty in the next couple of years.
The Braves selected Bradley Roney in the 8th round of the 2014 draft. The 22 year-old righty moved through low-A Rome and high-A Carolina in 2015. Roney overall had a 2.98 ERA and 1.08 WHIP with a 35/70 BB/K ratio over 48 1/3 innings. His strikeout rate was an off the charts 13 K/9. Roney could move very quickly if he continues at that rate, and the great part is that with Carolina, his walk rate was 4.8 BB/9 compared to a 6.5 BB/9 ratio overall. His control will be the one thing that limits how fast he speeds through the Braves system.
Richie Tate is a guy who the Braves drafted out of high school in 2010, so he will need to be protected or be exposed to the Rule 5 draft this offseason, but after arm surgery took away his 2011, he’s moved very slowly through the Braves system. While he put up a 2.50 ERA, he also had a 1.67 WHIP over 36 innings with a 24/35 BB/K ratio.
After signing out of Honduras in 2012, Jorge Zavala finally reached full-season ball in 2015. At only 21, he’s still young enough to make a big move, but he’s found his way to full-time relief duty at this point. His overall line between Rome and Carolina was a 2.28 ERA and 1.52 WHIP with a 26/55 BB/K ratio over 43 1/3 innings pitched. Zavala is much like Roney in that he can rack up the strikeouts, but he struggles at times with keeping the ball in the strike zone. He could start 2016 in Carolina, but expect him to move quickly if he continues to strike out hitters at an elite rate.