Atlanta Braves: Reviewing the High-A Carolina Mudcats Roster

Atlanta Braves High-A Affiliate Carolina Mudcats

Catchers

I typically see the Braves go with three catchers at each level, and I see the third I had predicted, Sal Giardina isn’t assigned currently, so I wonder if he’s going to be added before the season or soon thereafter. I really like the pairing of Odom and Murphy together. I think you’ll see quickly why I like Murphy so much with this pitching staff throwing to him. He has tremendous skills behind the plate, and he and Odom both have some all-or-nothing sort of thump in their bats at the plate. Murphy has a bit more skill with the bat in that I could see him working himself into a .250+ hitter down the road, but I’d say you’ll probably be looking at a catching pair that will hit .220 on the season yet knock out a combined 15+ home runs.

Infielders

More from Tomahawk Take

Jordan Edgerton

Reed Harper

Joey Meneses

Omar Obregon

Dansby Swanson

The Mudcats roster is very pitching heavy, which means they have very flexible bench pieces. Harper can back up every position but short in the infield, and he can even cover there in a pinch. Obregon covered short quite ably when Ozhaino Albies went down for Rome at the end of last season, so he’ll be at second, but he can give Dansby a day off now and again. Let’s be honest, the real draw here is absolutely Swanson, and the curiosity will be how long he stays with Carolina, especially if he comes out of the gate hitting well and flashing the leather.

Outfielders

Keith Curcio, Joseph Daris, Braxton Davidson, Ryan Gebhardt, Sean Godfrey

Godfrey for Stephen Gaylor was the only one I got wrong in this grouping. Curcio got plenty of time at 2B last season as well, so he provides some roster flexibility, and Gebhardt can play all over the field. The big draw here will definitely be Davidson. Some early reports had him repeating Rome, and honestly, I wouldn’t blame the Braves for that decision, as surprising as it would have been, so hopefully he can come to Carolina and absolutely rake!

Pitchers

Zachary Bird, Ryan Clark, Enderson Franco, Chase Johnson-Mullins, Ryan Lawlor, Sean McLaughlin, Raymar Navarro, Wes Parsons, Evan Phillips, Max Povse, Zach Quintana, Carlos Salazar, Richie Tate, Matt Withrow.

Wow, I like this. The Braves were incredibly aggressive with 2015 draftees Clark, CJM, Lawlor, McLaughlin, Phillips, and Withrow here, and I like the push. I mentioned in my predictions that I thought at least one of the 2015 draftees should start in full season ball, but I figured they’d be in Rome, not jumped to high-A Carolina! It does add some intrigue to things with the pitching staff, though, as my eyes count Bird, Clark, Lawlor, Parsons, Povse, Quintana, and Withrow as guys who started last year, and I’m not familiar with the 7-man rotation philosophy. I do know that the intention was to move some of those 2015 draftees to the bullpen, and I’m curious which of them they will be doing that with as Clark, Lawlor, and Withrow would all be good candidates. Quick primer on two guys who are new to the system – Franco is a righty from Venezuela who was last seen in the Marlins system as a starter, so his role will be interesting to see, and Navarro is a Cuban the Braves signed last August getting his first taste of pro ball. One intriguing thing about the Carolina pitching is that only two lefties are currently assigned to the Mudcats, CJM and Lawlor. Tate has been suspended to start the season.

Next: Minor League Roster Predictions

Coaching Staff

Rocket Wheeler – Manager, Carlos Mendez – Hitting Coach, Derrick Lewis – Pitching Coach, Jose Mota – Coach

With the high power arms stacked up here (I count 4 guys rumored to have touched 98+ on the staff, and most with “wicked” stuff) and the diversity of the power of Davidson and the catching duo, the speed of Curcio and Obregon and the all-around game of Swanson should allow Carolina to have a very fun season to watch in 2016.

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