Atlanta Braves Minor League Weekend Wrap: July 11th
Atlanta Braves Minor League Weekend Wrap Up
Transactions
7/7 – 1B/OF Jordy Lara placed on DL by Mississippi
7/7 – OF Stephen Gaylor promoted from Carolina to Mississippi
7/7 – IF Luis Valenzuela activated from DL by Carolina
7/7 – SS Juan Carlos Encarnacion assigned to DSL Braves
7/9 – IF Levi Hyams demoted from Gwinnett to Mississippi
7/9 – IF/OF Emilio Bonifacio demoted from Atlanta to Gwinnett
7/9 – RHP Andrew Thurman placed on DL by Mississippi
7/9 – C Matt Kennelly retired
7/9 – RHP Max Povse promoted from Carolina to Mississippi
7/9 – 2B Luke Dykstra placed on DL by Rome
7/9 – 2B Darien McLemore promoted from Danville to Rome
7/9 – OF Tyler Neslony promoted from Danville to Rome
7/9 – LHP Corbin Clouse promoted from Danville to Rome
7/9 – OF Bradley Keller demoted from Rome to Danville
7/9 – LHP Adam McCreery demoted from Rome to Danville
7/9 – RHP Jacob Webb demoted from Rome to Danville
7/9 – RHP Devan Watts promoted from Danville to Rome
7/9 – RHP Ian Anderson assigned to GCL Braves
Hitter of the week: Connor Lien injured himself on the first game of the season, and he missed quite a while before coming back at the end of June. He’s getting back in the swing of things, and you can definitely tell it in the last week. On top of his elite defense (which is an incredible sight to behold if you can ever get to a Mississippi game or catch them on MiLB.tv), Lien this last week put up a line of .400/.556/.800 with two runs, an RBI, two doubles, two triples, and two stolen bases.
Honorable mention: Honestly, this is the hardest choice of them all, but I will go with the home run leader in the system on the week in Mel Rojas, who put up a .407/.484/.926 line with 5 runs, 2 doubles, 4 home runs, and 10 RBI. Rojas was acquired midseason by the Braves, and he’s showing to be a decent find that could be living up to the prospect hype he got right away after being a 3rd round pick in 2010, playing elite defense along with providing a power/speed balance (6 HR/4 SB in the Braves system this season).
Pitcher of the week: After one of his toughest starts last week, Robert Whalen rebounded with one of his most dominant starts of the season, going 6 innings with only an unearned run allowed on five hits and two walks, tying a career high with nine strikeouts. Whalen has been an incredible revelation in the system, and I think you’ll be surprised where you’ll see him show up in this week’s top 50 prospect list!
Honorable mention: Touki Toussaint didn’t truly dominate either one of his starts, but after you look at the total of both, you see he had a 2.45 ERA on the week with a 1.36 WHIP over 11 innings, striking out 12 batters. Touki’s worked his ERA down nearly every start through May and June after his rough April, and he’s now got a lower ERA than guys who are thought to have had better seasons like Max Povse, Sean Newcomb, or Kolby Allard.
Next: Gwinnett Braves
AAA Gwinnett Braves (41-50)
Thursday
The Braves blew out Charlotte on Thursday 15-3. Manny Banuelos made the start, going 4 innings, allowing 3 runs on 5 hits and 3 walks, striking out 3. Mel Rojas had two home runs and a double on the day. Reid Brignac had three walks. Daniel Castro had a home run, a single, and a walk. Ronnier Mustelier, Rio Ruiz, and Braeden Schlehuber had a double and a single each. Omar Infante had a single and a walk. Matt Lipka had a double.
Friday
Friday’s game with Charlotte was called early with Gwinnett up 6-0. Chris Ellis got the start and went 5 scoreless innings, allowing 4 hits and a walk, striking out 3. Ronnier Mustelier had two home runs. Reid Brignac had a home run and a double. Mel Rojas had a home run. Blake Lalli and Matt Lipka each had a double.
Saturday
Charlotte put up 3 runs in the bottom of the 7th and the Braves could not push a run across in the last 2 tries, losing 6-4. Aaron Blair got the start and went 5 innings, allowing 3 runs on 6 hits and 3 walks, striking out 5. Ronnier Mustelier had two singles, a walk, and a stolen base. Matt Lipka had a double and a triple. Reid Brignac had a triple and a single. Omar Infante and Daniel Castro each had two singles.
Sunday
Charlotte put up one big inning to defeat the Braves 5-4. Rob Wooten went 4 innings, allowing 5 runs on 6 hits and 1 walk, striking out 3. Mel Rojas had 3 singles and a walk. Reid Brignac had two doubles and a walk. Rio Ruiz had a double and a single. Braeden Schlehuber had two singles. Omar Infante had a double.
Leaders
BA: Ronnier Mustelier .297
OBP: Reid Brignac .377
HR: Matt Tuiasosopo 11
SB: Emilio Bonifacio 23
W: Aaron Blair 3
SV: Jose Ramirez 5
SO: Aaron Blair and Rob Wooten 42
ERA: Jose Ramirez 2.12
Video Highlights
Next: Mississippi Braves
AA Mississippi Braves (42-44)
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Thursday
Mississippi scratched out a seventh inning run to break a tie to win 3-2 over Montgomery. Lucas Sims got the start, going 5 1/3 innings, allowing 2 runs on 2 hits and 3 walks, striking out 6. Ozzie Albies had a triple, a single, and stole a base. Connor Lien had a single, walk, and stole a base. Jacob Schrader had a home run and a walk. Dansby Swanson had two walks.
Friday
Mississippi exchanged big innings early, but couldn’t keep up with Montgomery over the length of the game as Montgomery took Saturday’s game 9-7. Sean Newcomb got roughed up in the start, going only 2/3 of an inning, allowing 5 runs on a single hit and 4 walks, striking out 2. Johan Camargo had a triple and three singles. Dustin Peterson had a home run and two singles. Stephen Gaylor had a single and two walks. Ozzie Albies had a double and a single. Willians Astudillo had two singles. Jake Schrader had a stolen base.
Saturday
Mississippi had a big lead after 4, but Max Povse struggled in his first start at the AA level, and the bullpen couldn’t hold the lead, with Mobile eventually taking the win 7-6 in 12 innings. Povse went 5 1/3 innings, allowing 4 runs (all after the 4th inning) on 7 hits and no walks, striking out 4. Jake Schrader had a double and three singles. Connor Lien had a double, triple, 2 walks, and stolen base. Johan Camargo had two singles and a walk. Carlos Franco had a single and a walk. Ozzie Albies had a home run. Dustin Peterson had a double.
Sunday
The Braves were defeated by Mobile 6-1. Jed Bradley made the start for Mississippi, throwing 6 innings, allowing 3 runs on 5 hits and 2 walks, striking out 5. Ozzie Albies and Johan Camargo each had three singles. Willians Astudillo had two singles.
Leaders
BA: Ozzie Albies .397
OBP: Ozzie Albies .463
HR: Jake Schrader 9
SB: Ozzie Albies and Connor Lien 5
W: Robert Whalen 7
SV: Madison Younginer 9
SO: Robert Whalen 92
ERA: Robert Whalen 2.20
Video Highlights
Next: Carolina Mudcats
Carolina Mudcats ()
Thursday
After four scoreless innings, Carolina’s offense scored in every inning, finishing up with a 5-2 victory over Salem Thursday. Ryan Clark got his first win of the season, going 6 innings, allowing 2 runs on 5 hits and no walks, striking out 5. Jose Fernandez walked four times. Joseph Daris had a double, a triple, and a walk. Keith Curcio had a single, two walks, and a stolen base. Isaias Tejada had a home run and a walk. Luis Valenzuela had two walks.
Friday
Enderson Franco gave the Mudcats a solid start, but the offense just couldn’t push anything across, as Carolina lost to Potomac 5-1. Franco went 5 1/3 innings, allowing 3 runs on 5 hits and 4 walks. Braxton Davidson provided all of Carolina’s offense with a solo home run.
Saturday
Carolina put up 3 runs in the top of the 9th to win 6-5 over Potomac. Matt Withrow made the start, throwing 6 innings on 3 runs on 5 hits and 3 walks, striking out 5. Isaias Tejeda had two doubles and a single. Jose Fernandez had a double and two walks. Sal Giardina had a double and a triple. Erison Mendez had two singles. Reed Harper had a single and a walk.
Sunday
Carolina was able to hold off a fierce comeback to defeat Potomac 8-7. Raymar Navarro made the start and went 3 innings, allowing 3 runs on 6 hits and 2 walks, striking out 1. Sal Giardina had a home run and two singles. Joseph Daris had a double and two walks. Luis Valenzuela and Erison Mendez each had a double and a single. Jordan Edgerton had two singles. Keith Curcio had a double.
Leaders
BA: Ryan Gebhardt .293
OBP: Ryan Gebhardt .347
HR: Braxton Davidson 7
SB: Keith Curcio 13
W: Matt Withrow and Enderson Franco 5
SV: Chase Johnson-Mullins 8
SO: Matt Withrow 79
ERA: Sean McLaughlin 1.40
Video Highlights
Next: Rome Braves
GCL Braves (5-9)
Thursday
The Braves offense took down the Tigers West squad on Thursday 8-3. Jesus Heredia went 4 2/3 innings, allowing 3 runs on 4 hits and 4 walks, striking out 3. Derian Cruz had a home run, a double, and a single. Christian Pache had a triple, a single, a walk, and a stolen base. Randy Ventura, Griffin Benson, and Luis Mejia each had a single and a walk. William Contreras had a double.
Friday
The Braves scored all 3 of their runs in the 3rd to defeat the Pirates 3-1. Dilmer Mejia made the start and three 4 innings, allowing one unearned run on 3 hits and no walks, striking out 4. Alex Aquino had two singles, a walk, and a stolen base. Randy Ventura had a single a walk, and stole a base. Luis Mejia stole a base.
Saturday
After 10 innings, the Pirates put up 4 runs to win 5-1. Kyle Muller went 3 innings, allowing one unearned run on 3 hits and no walks, striking out 3. Randy Ventura had two singles. Jeremy Fernandez had a double. Derian Cruz had a stolen base.
Sunday
The Braves had the day off
Leaders
BA: Three with .333
OBP: Anthony Concepcion .392
HR: Derian Cruz 2
SB: Randy Ventura 7
W: Five with 1
SV: Three with 1
SO: Alan Rangel 13
ERA: Joey Wentz 0.00
Next: DSL Braves
DSL Braves (14-16)
Thursday
The Braves offense drilled the Nationals 10-5. Ciriaco Javier got the start and went 2 innings, allowing 2 runs (1 earned) on one hit and two walks, striking out 2. Jean Carlos Encarnacion had three singles. Shean Michel had two singles and a stolen base. Luis Ovando had a triple and a single. Reilys Blanco and Carlos Centeno each had two singles. Yoeli Lopez had a double.
Friday
The Braves scored in the bottom of the ninth to take the game against the Nationals 6-5. Ali Pantoja started the game and went 2 1/3 innings, allowing 2 runs on 2 hits and 5 walks, striking out 2. Shean Michel had three singles and a triple. Luis Ovando had two singles, a walk, and a stolen base. Yoeli Lopez had a double and two walks. Juan Morales, Eudis Lora, and Carlos Centeno each had a single and a walk.
Saturday
The Braves defeated the Rockies 4-2. Gregory Bautista got the start and went 2 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing 5 hits and no walks, striking out 5. Luis Ovando had a double, two singles, and a stolen base. Yoeli Lopez had a home run, single, and a walk.
Sunday
The Braves had Sunday off
Next: Braves Minor League Database
Leaders
BA: Shean Michel .313
OBP: Yoeli Lopez .393
HR: Three with 1
SB: Shean Michel 7
W: Three with 2
SV: Jason Laguna and Kelvin Rodriguez 2
SO: Gregory Bautista 28
ERA: Carlos Lopez 1.13