Atlanta Braves Minor League Review: Gwinnett Braves
Mar 28, 2015; Dunedin, FL, USA; Atlanta Braves infielder Sean Kazmar (87) scores a run during the sixth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Florida Auto Exchange Park. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Atlanta Braves Minor League Review: Gwinnett Braves
Gwinnett was the stopping point for very few hitters this year, so this list will be very slight. Most of the guys who did hit in Gwinnett were bumped up to Atlanta due to the anemic offense in Atlanta this year.
Hitters
The Braves brought back Cedric Hunter for a second year in the system after having him play at Mississippi all of 2014. He’s a former top-100 prospect for the Padres who epitomizes the type of guy the Braves seemed to roll out in the late 90s/early 2000s that somehow were Quad-A type of hitters outside of one or two years of their careers. Hunter seems like that type of guy, and he could really put up a great season, but it’s going to have to come soon as Hunter’s already 27. He can play all three outfield positions, but he’s best in a corner. His final season numbers were .283/.331/.420 with 12 home runs and 11 stolen bases. Hunter would be more than welcome back at Gwinnett, but he has enough experience that he can shop for a place that might give him more of a chance at a major league job.
Many Braves fans have been hearing the name of Mycal Jones for so long that they really don’t care anymore to hear about him. He was the Braves’ 4th round selection in 2009 from Miami Dade College. Jones isn’t much for center field anymore, mostly stuck in left. He’s worked himself into a solid org outfielder role. Over the 2015 season, he had a .262/.363.387 line over 224 plate appearances with 4 home runs and 7 stolen bases. Jones is really an org outfielder at this point without much chance of making it to the majors.
Sean Kazmar returned to Gwinnett for his third tour of duty with the G-Braves, and he spent most of 2015 starting for the team rather than as the utility man as he was in 2013 and 2014. Over 424 plate appearances, Kazmar hit .280/.314/.395 and played at every position around the infield for at least 20 games. He’s 30, so there’s definitely not any prospect pedigree left here, but Kazmar has good contact skills and the ability to play at multiple positions, which could lead him to an audition as a bench utility guy.
After hitting .305 in the 2014 Arizona Fall League, the Braves made Mallex Smith a target when they had trade talks with the Padres about Justin Upton. Smith brings a speed dynamic that wasn’t really present to that level in the Braves system before picking up Smith. Mallex certainly did nothing to disappoint offensively, hitting a combined .306/.373/.386 between Mississippi and Gwinnett with 57 stolen bases. Offensively, Mallex reminds me a lot of a guy who returned to the Braves in 2015, Michael Bourn, when he was at his best. The huge difference is that Bourn was an elite center field defender, and Mallex really shouldn’t be in center. Mallex has terrible reads off of the bat, and though his speed can make up for some of it, it’s certainly not all. Mallex also has a below-average arm, which limits him in the deepest parts of center field even when he does take the perfect route to a ball. Now this is not something that could never be fixed, but it will require a ton of work. Having Bourn in major league camp next spring with Mallex could be the perfect mentor he needs as the early knock on Bourn was his route running on fly balls as well. Mallex will be given plenty of opportunity to earn a job in Atlanta in the spring, and his performance on defense could determine if he’s in Atlanta or Gwinnett to start 2016.
We’ll look at the Gwinnett pitchers on Monday!