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Atlanta Braves Minor League Season Review – Danville

By Benjamin Chase |
Mar 30, 2015; Lakeland, FL, USA; Atlanta Braves outfielder Jonny Gomes (7) tosses his bat weight as he prepares to hit in the batting cage before the start of the spring training game against the Detroit Tigers at Joker Marchant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 30, 2015; Lakeland, FL, USA; Atlanta Braves outfielder Jonny Gomes (7) tosses his bat weight as he prepares to hit in the batting cage before the start of the spring training game against the Detroit Tigers at Joker Marchant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports

Atlanta Braves Minor League Season Review: Danville Braves

Danville finished the season 31-36, but their record certainly didn’t reflect the level of talent that moved through the team on the season. Multiple early picks finished their year in Danville and other picks that started their season in Danville launched themselves to promotions up the ladder to Rome or even Carolina.

Stat Leaders (no AB/IP limits on rate categories)

Ben’s Award Winners

More from Tomahawk Take

Player of the Year

– The organization chose to go with Osuna, but my choice is not a guy who played the entire season for Danville. I’m going to go with the guy who had the highest OPS of any player that finished his season in Danville, Cristian Pache. I haven’t worked out the final numbers yet, but I will tell you that Pache has worked his way into my top 20 pretty comfortably and could easily work into the top half of that batch before all is said and done. Combined between GCL and Danville in 2016, he hit .309/.349/.391 with 7 triples and 11 steals in 220 AB. Pache was easily the most exciting player in Danville the second he arrived from GCL, and the crazy part is that he’s only 17!!

Pitcher of the Year – This is really a tough award. The most dominant starter was Kolby Allard, but he only made 5 starts. The most impressive reliever that spent his entire time with Danville was Jacob Webb, who went a stretch of nearly 20 batters straight without recording any outs other than by strikeout. However, I’m going to stick with the organization choice, which could seem boring, but it’s the guy who was there all season long and put up the best numbers in the starting rotation for those there all year, Jhon Martinez. Martinez has had a slow burn since being signed out of Venezuela as a 17 year-old. He’s built himself into a guy who induces a lot of ground ball contact and keeps the ball in the zone from the left side. He may not end up being a dominant starter, but he’s the type of guy that goes out and goes deep into the game each time he has the ball, which is tremendously valuable in its own way.

Guys To Watch


Ian Anderson, RHP, 5 G, 21 2/3 IP, 3.74 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 8/18 BB/K – Drafted #3 overall in the past draft, came up to Danville after not allowing an earned run with the GCL squad. Excellent results showed the #3 selection to be much more than “just a money move” as many made it out to be. Overall line was 10 G, 39 2/3 IP, 2.04 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 12/36 BB/K

Elias Arias, OF, .223/.293/.348, 2 HR, 4 SB, 10/33 BB/K, 112 AB – Injuries have held Arias back in the last two seasons after flashing some incredible raw tools with the DSL squad in 2014 when he had a .406 OBP and 21 steals. Intriguing power/speed combo if he could ever get healthy, but already 22 and hasn’t been out of rookie ball yet.

Dalton Carrol, RHP, 16 G, 27 2/3 IP, 2.93 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 7/26 BB/K – College arm drafted out of Utah in the 21st round this season showed a lot of versatility in his arm, able to go multiple innings, but also showing good stuff in righty matchups as well.

Derian Cruz, SS, .183/.204/.279, 3 triples, 3 SB, 3/28 BB/K, 104 AB – The Atlanta Braves’ biggest-money signing in 2015, Cruz showed well in GCL before being promoted to Danville where he struggled mightily, and not just at the plate. He may need another season at Danville to get his bearings.

Brett Cumberland, C, .216/.317/.340, 3 HR, 14/49 BB/K, 162 AB – While contact skills were lacking, he showed solid OBP delta and ISO in his first season. Switch-hitter needs polish behind the plate, but definitely flashed his power.

Luis Gamez, RHP, 6 G, 27 2/3 IP, 2.93 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 15/16 BB/K – Gamez has some ridiculous stuff, which is why he was the big-money pick after the 10th round in the 11th out of high school in Arizona in 2014. He’s been showing well ever since, but he’s struggled to stay healthy. He did make one appearance in Rome this year, pitching 2 innings of scoreless relief.

Connor Gilmore, RHP, 13 G, 18 IP, 2.50 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 2/19 BB/K – Gilmore was an undrafted free agent out of Central Arkansas this summer that the Braves brought in, and I’ve got one scouting report that compared him to former Braves closer Kerry Ligtenberg in his poise on the mound and ability to get hitters to make weak contact. Could be a scouting gem for the team!

Matt Gonzalez, IF, .302/.327/.397 – Senior pick in the 6th round out of Georgia Tech, where he set a number of hits records over his time there, Gonzalez showed a solid contact ability and the ability to play around the infield. Most likely path to the majors would be in a utility role, but there’s definitely value in that.

Drew Harrington, LHP, 9 G, 14 2/3 IP, 2.45 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 5/15 BB/K – While his arm was a big exhausted after a long season for Louisville, the 2016 3rd round selection flashed some excellent skills that could be near-elite out of the bullpen as a lefty if the team keeps him in a short role.

Jaret Hellinger, LHP, 13 G, 62 IP, 4.50 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, 28/47 BB/K – In a system so deep with lefty arms, a guy like Hellinger could get lost easily, but he shouldn’t be overlooked for sure. Hellinger threw tremendously well last season after being a 20th round selection out of high school. He doesn’t turn 20 until November, so he’s still quite young and likely will take his turns on the hill in Rome next year. You can bet he’ll not be missed on my top 100 upcoming!

Taylor Hyssong, LHP, 11 G, 17 1/3 IP, 1.56 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 7/14 BB/K – College senior drafted in the 8th round this year came out and flashed excellent stuff in the pen, pitching even better in tough situations – for instance, in 1 1/3 innings with the bases loaded, he didn’t allow a single hit or walk. He’s not a dominating arm, but he has solid pitching skills that could work as a LOOGY as he advances.

Jordy Lara, RHP, 7 G, 7 2/3 IP, 3.52 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, 5/9 BB/K – After nearly 10 years chasing his dream as a hitter, Lara made the transition to the mound with the Braves minor league system this year in just a handful of games, but he flashed enough that I’m certain he’ll get another shot somewhere, if not in the Braves system, to continue his attempt as a pitcher.

Alex Lee, 1B, .262/.305/.410, 4 HR, 8/24 BB/K – Solid power hitting lefty swinger was overshadowed in college by teammate Heath Quinn. Braves snagged him in the 22nd round…and he was paired with the eventual organizational player of the year – talk about not catching a break!

Jhon Martinez, LHP, 12 G, 61 2/3 IP, 3.21 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, 16/45 BB/K – See Pitcher of the Year Write-Up

Adam McCreery, LHP, 11 G, 18 2/3 IP, 3.86 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 6/19 BB/K – Towering (6’8) lefty acquired in the Jhoulys Chacin deal early in the season. BABIP’d a bit in his time in Rome, but Braves saw something in him and really turned it on when he got in the org, putting up easily his best results. Could be a tremendously fun guy to watch with a ridiculous ground ball rate out of the ‘pen.

Ramon Osuna, 1B, .276/.342/.423, 4 HR, 3 SB, 18/54 BB/K – Surprisingly athletic at his size, 14th round selection paired with Alex Lee at 1B to give Danville quite a bit of punch from the position. Limited to 1B defensively, but could have some growth left in the bat from the left side.

Christian Pache, OF, .333/.372/.404, 3 triples, 4 SB, 7/13 BB/K, 114 AB – See Player of the Year Write-Up

Zach Rice, LHP, 15 G, 17 2/3 IP, 8.66 ERA, 2.26 WHIP, 18/20 BB/K – Numbers look brutal, but Rice was an arm that was more than abused in college at UNC, and with a season of proper handling, his tremendous arm could really take off in the bullpen. I was clued in on Rice by CB Wilkins (@cbwilkinstweets on Twitter) before the draft, and I’m quite happy to see him in a Braves uniform. I make no qualms when I say I could absolutely see Rice having a similar 2017 to what A.J. Minter had in 2016.

Cameron Stanton, RHP, 14 G, 35 IP, 2.57 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 8/20 BB/K – 30th round pick this June, Stanton showed versatility, throwing out of the bullpen and also making 5 starts.

Jeremy Walker, RHP, 13 G, 39 2/3 IP, 3.18 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 8/37 BB/K – Atlanta’s 5th round selection this June, sinker specialist showed very well in his pro debut. Could have a very nice career as a double-play specialist in the bullpen at the least or even work his way to a mid-rotation guy with how well his sinker plays. His secondary stuff will really determine his path.

Jacob Webb, RHP, 12 G, 11 1/3 IP, 3.18 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 7/28 BB/K – Webb was the 18th selection in the 2014 draft for the Braves, but he had Tommy John surgery after a very impressive first season. He came back this year and was ridiculously good out of the bullpen, setting a Danville record for the most hitters faced recording only outs via strikeout. I’ll be intrigued to see if the team puts him back into the rotation in 2017 or leaves him in the bullpen, where he could be an absolute weapon.

Joey Wentz, LHP, 8 G, 32 IP, 5.06 ERA, 1.59 WHIP, 20/35 BB/K – Promoted after just 4 starts with the GCL team, Wentz may have had rough numbers, but he did finish strong with 10 innings in his last two starts, striking out 12 hitters and allowing 2 earned runs. He looked tremendous with GCL, and I think the Braves got a steal at the #40 overall selection.

Next: Braves Minor League Database

Isranel Wilson, OF, .192/.276/.315, 11 XBH, 6 SB, 14/51 BB/K, 130 AB – Absolute tool shed that the team is very excited about his overall talent level, but he was suspended to finish the season, and it’s been an issue with Wilson in his past. He’s got the type of talent that could absolutely rocket up the system if he’d put in the time. Still just 18, so time to get that “immaturity” out of his system.

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