ESPN’s Law: Braves have 7 of top 50 prospects, but Ozzie’s slipping
Tomahawk Take Editor’s Note: With the new top prospect rankings popping up everywhere, it’s hard not to look down the list immediately and look for all Atlanta Braves players. But with these, it’s kinda different.
Looking down the lists, you’ll see Braves players moving up a lot. Like Kyle Wright for instance. Just being drafted in June is now #35 on ESPN (mostly around there is a lot of lists). Luiz Gohara jumped from 77th to now 39th on ESPN. Ronald Acuna is now #1 on ESPN in the Braves system and #9 in all of baseball (up from #26).
The one that caught my attention the most was where Ozzie Albies fell in at. He was the Braves top prospect in the system to start the season, but is falling in many lists. Why’s this? The guy is hitting .292 with an OPS of .787 at the Triple-A level. Before Acuna, he was the youngest player at this level and still performing really well. He’s on the verge of a call-up. If it wasn’t for Brandon Phillips, he probably would have been called up to Atlanta already. Why’s he dropping in lists?
I dunno…maybe this will motivate the youngster. Remember, he’s still only 20-years-old.
"In January, ESPN Insider Keith Law ranked nine Braves among his top 100 prospects. Five were in the top 50. Since Dansby Swanson, who was No. 2 behind the Red Sox’s Andrew Benintendi, is off the board, that makes Law’s midseason top 50 even more encouraging for the local team. Seven Braves are listed, four of whom are making their first appearance in the upper half-hundred.Kyle Wright (No. 35) just got drafted. Mike Soroka didn’t grace the January list; he’s No. 49 now. Ian Anderson nudged up from 52nd to 41st. Kolby Allard was No. 32; he’s now No. 26. Ronald Acuna, who’s 19 and was just promoted to Triple-A Gwinnett, jumped from 32nd to ninth. Max Fried, who was 50th in January, isn’t included in this top 50.Still, it’s worth noting that Albies, regarded as the Braves’ No. 1 prospect after Swanson’s graduation, is no longer No. 1 (Acuna is) or even No. 2 (that’s Allard). Law’s isn’t the only source who has downgraded Albies: Baseball America ranked him No. 8 overall in May; he’s No. 23 now."
Acuña, Kazmar Lead G-Braves to Rout in Charlotte
Tomahawk Take Editor’s Note: Ronald Acuna made his Triple-A debut last night with the Gwinnett Braves and he made a huge splash. The 19-year-old hit leadoff in the lineup and started the game in right field. In his first at-bat he struck out, but he was just trying to get a feel for the pitcher, right? His second AB he took Charlotte Knights starting pitcher Tyler Danish deep to right field for a solo homer.
In the 5th inning, Acuna hit a sharp ground ball right up the middle for a single. In the 7th, he continued to spray the field and hit a line drive to left field for a single. Then, up 13-2 in the 9th inning, Acuna was up again but lined out to first base.
If you saw a pattern in where Acuna hits the ball, great job…because there is none. He’s hitting oppo, up the middle, pulling the ball…man this kid looks to be special.
Gwinnett won 13-4 and now improve to 45-44 for the 2017 season. They still sit 10.5 games behind first place Durham Bulls in the South of the International League standings.
The Gwinnett Braves (45-44) pounded out a season-high 19 hits and rolled past the Charlotte Knights (39-50) 13-4 on Thursday night in game one of the four-game series at BB&T Ballpark.The game saw 19-year-old Ronald Acuña homer and notch three hits in his Triple-A debut and Sean Kazmar Jr. set a new career high with six RBIs.
"Acuña got the scoring started in the third inning, crushing a two-out solo home run to right off Charlotte starting pitcher Tyler Danish for a 1-0 Gwinnett lead. The advantage grew to 3-0 in the top of the fifth on RBI singles by Acuña and Rio Ruiz ."
Next: Braves promote third base prospect Austin Riley
Finalists for Gwinnett Braves team naming contest announced
Tomahawk Take Editor’s Note: Well, these names are interesting AND none that I submitted!! Maybe the Braves organization is just throwing these out there to get a feel for what the fans think. Gwinnett’s general manager North Johnson said that they organization won’t decide on a name until late-October or mid-November.
Personally, I think all six of these names are horrible. It’s strange to think that these are the six names they picked to be the finalist. Who picked these?! Did they all go to their young children and say ‘hey, which one makes you laugh?’
I dunno…the names just sound childish and not something a baseball team would be called. Maybe they just need to grow on me, but right now I’m not seeing a “best choice” from any of these six.
"• Gwinnett Buttons"
"The Buttons honor Gwinnett County’s namesake, Button Gwinnett, signer of the Declaration of Independence."
"• Gwinnett Big Mouths"
"Named after the state fish of Georgia, the largemouth bass, it is a tribute to bass fishing on Lake Lanier."
"• Gwinnett GobblersThe Gobblers celebrates the outdoors, hunting and eating all the foods we love.• Gwinnett Hush PuppiesThe club’s tidbit on this name — “Our stealthy hunting dog is sneaking through the weeds, about to rustle up some ducks. But don’t think we’re all that serious. You can expect a “corny” fan experience at the “Puppies” game!”• Gwinnett LambchopsA chop off the old block, the Lambchops marries the region’s love of home cooking with the Tomahawk Chop of the Atlanta Braves.• Gwinnett Sweet Teas"
"The Sweet Teas celebrate the laid-back lifestyle of Gwinnett County while displaying a real sweet look."