Atlanta Braves Minor League Weekend Wrap Up
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5/11 – RHP Joel De La Cruz activated by Gwinnett Braves from the 7-day DL
5/11 – RHP Jason Hursh assigned to Mississippi Braves from Gwinnett Braves
5/11 – OF J.B. Moss assigned to Florida Fire Frogs from Danville Braves
5/12 – C Kade Scivicque assigned to Danville Braves from Mississippi Braves
5/12 – C Carlos Martinez assigned to Mississippi Braves from Danville Braves
5/12 – 1B Carlos Castro placed on 7-day DL by Florida Fire Frogs
5/13 – C Kade Scivicque assigned to Mississippi Braves from Danville Braves
5/13 – C Carlos Martinez assigned to Danville Braves from Mississippi Braves
5/14 – LHP Jaret Hellinger assigned to Rome Braves from Danville Braves
5/14 – OF Justin Ellison assigned to Rome Braves
Hitter of the week: For much of April, the whispers around Ronald Acuna were wondering exactly what was wrong with the gifted outfielder. Had we overrated his gifted ability? Had the constant playing since getting healthy in the fall last season been too much? What exactly was going on with the supposed future superstar?
Turns out, absolutely nothing! For the second time in three awards given in May, Acuna is the choice. Acuna was promoted to AA Mississippi during the week and didn’t skip a beat at the new level as the youngest player in AA. Acuna hit .552/.594/.931 with an absolutely astonishing line over 7 games in a week. He posted 8 runs scored, 12 runs driven in, 27 total bases, a double, 2 triples, 2 home runs, a 3/4 BB/K ratio, and he even stole 4 bases (though he was caught 3 times this week as well).
On the 2017 season, Acuna is now hitting .336/382/.557, 4 doubles, 6 triples, 5 home runs, and 18 stolen bases. He has posted a 10/44 BB/K ratio, but it is notable that he has seen his walk rate go up from 5.32% in April to 8.47% in May along with his strikeout rate going down from 32.98% in April to 22.03% in May.
Honorable mention: Mississippi’s entire offense seemed to explode this week, but Travis Demeritte has actually been ticking up the entire month of May. This week was simply another step forward from his first week of better performance.
On the week, he hit .393/.469/.857 with a double, 4 home runs, and a 4/7 BB/K ratio, scoring 7 runs and driving in 7 as well. On the month, Travis has hit .315/.393/.593 with 3 doubles, 4 home runs, 11 runs scored, 9 runs driven in, and a 7/18 BB/K ratio. That has brought his season line up to .273/.356/.470 with 11 doubles, 5 home runs, 2 steals, 25 runs, 19 RBI, and a 17/35 BB/K ratio over 35 games. Notable is that Demeritte has struck out at 23.49% this season, down from over 30% in his career and 32.89% with Carolina after his acquisition from the Rangers last season.
Pitcher of the week: The Atlanta Braves have been waiting to see Lucas Sims have it all click since taking the Georgia righty in the first round of the 2012 draft. Last season, many fans forget that Sims was one of the first promotions of the season, going from AA Mississippi to AAA Gwinnett.
This season, Sims is taking a big step forward in Gwinnett, making his case to be the first “prospect” arm called up in 2017. This week was already in contention on his first start of the season, but his Sunday start iced things, as he put up a line of 13 innings, 7 hits, one run, 3 walks, and 14 strikeouts over the week.
On the season, Sims has made 7 starts, with a 4-0 record, 2.16 ERA, 0.82 WHIP, and a 9/42 BB/K over 41 2/3 innings.
Honorable mention: After winning the note last week with a huge start in a prospect match up with Michael Kopech last week, Kolby Allard continued back in the same manner that has allowed him to be so consistently good this season, not exhibiting the big strikeouts he had in that game, but keeping hitters off balance and getting consistent weak contact.
Allard went 11 innings on the week, allowing just one run on 5 hits and 5 walks, striking out 7. On the 2017 season, Allard has put up a 4-1 record over 8 starts and 44 innings, with a 1.23 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, and a 12/35 BB/K ratio.
Next: Gwinnett Braves