Atlanta Braves Minor League Report: Progress?

There’s a lot going on at the minor league level right now:  here’s an update of progress with some interesting prospects on the farm.

Despite all of the obvious talent in the minors, most of the full-season affiliates of the Atlanta Braves are having trouble stringing wins together.  Still, many of the top prospects are off to good starts.

South Atlantic League

Rome Braves (9-7)

PITCHERS

Kyle Muller was selected in the second round of the 2016 Draft and was off to an exciting start of his professional career while pitching in the Gulf Coast League.  But after a lackluster 2017, it looks like he’s back on track as he is now 1-0, 2.04 ERA after17.2 IP with 14 strikeouts.

Jasseel De La Cruz was signed by Atlanta out of the Dominican Republic in 2015 when he was 18. The lanky right-hander (6’1 175lbs) has a deceiving 1-2 record, but he also has a high popping 0.64 ERA having pitched 14 innings with16 SO, and a  0.93 WHIP.

HITTERS

Shortstop Riley Delgado, who was drafted in the 9th Round (260th overall) by Atlanta in the 2017 MLB Draft, is off to a stellar start. He’s sporting a .362 Avg. to go along with his 14 RBI and .511 slugging percentage.

Third baseman Jean Carlos Encarnacion is off to an outstanding start with a .327 Avg. and he’s hitting .400 against left-handers. The amazing part about Encarnacion’s start is that he has struck out 15 times. If he can cut down on the strikeouts his average could be even higher.

Florida State League

Florida Fire Frogs  (6-11)

PITCHERS

Jon Kennedy 2-1  0 ER, 12.2 IP, 14 SO  0.63 WHIP

Chad Sobotka  was drafted by the Braves in the 4th round of the 2014 draft from University of South Carolina Upstate.  Braves scouts could see his potential as a pitcher, but he had a stress fracture in his back and did not pitch in the remainder of the 2014 season.  His 2018 season has started off well.  Although his record is 0-0, he does have an 0.84 ERA in 10.2 IP to go along with 14 strikeouts and 0.84 WHIP.

HITTERS

Outfielder Jared James has only gone hitless in 2 games so far, showing why he has a .328 Avg. and is hitting .400 against lefties. He also has 2 homeruns and 9 RBI.

Southern League Action

Mississippi Braves (7-9)

PITCHERS

Kyle Wright  1-2, 2.45 ERA, 14.2 IP , 14 SO

Corbin Clouse, who has become a top closer in the Braves minor league system, is 1-0 with a 2.31 ERA over 11.2 innings pitched.  Where Clouse shows his dominance is strikeouts with 16 in his 11 plus innings, to go along with a 0.94 WHIP.

Jacob Webb, a 24-year old closer is 1-0,  0.96 ERA and is 2 for 2 in his save opportunities. Webb has appeared in more games (7) than any other current Mississippi pitcher.  Three of his seven appearances occurred this past week (since the 15th) where he went 4.2 innings of scoreless relief, only allowing four hits, and two walks.  Webb has pitched 9.1 innings so far, allowing six hits, one earned run, and struck out 15.

HITTERS

Outfielder Michael Reed, who was off to a fairly slow start, has picked it up – getting his season average up to .395 by going 11 for 22 in his last 7 games. To go along with his escalating batting average is his 4 stolen bases and 8 walks, making his OPS 1.037.

Third Baseman  Austin Riley is leading Mississippi in hits (22), doubles (8), triples (2), homeruns (3), runs batted in (14), and total bases (43) and OPS (1.190).  If Riley continues to improve you could see him moving up to Gwinnett around the time of the Southern League All-Star game.

International League

More from Tomahawk Take

• Atlanta Braves 2023 Preseason Top 30 Prospects List: 11-15
• Braves News: Braves sign Luplow, Atlanta’s shortstop plans, more
• Atlanta Braves Could Go With Six-Man Rotation in 2023
• Atlanta Braves sign free agent outfielder Jordan Luplow
• Atlanta Braves 2023 Preseason Top 30 Prospects List: 16-20

Gwinnett Stripers (5-9)

The Stripers pitching staff was short one when Matt Wisler was called up to Atlanta to make a start. Before being called up to Atlanta Wisler was 0-1 with 2.25 ERA, but the more impressive number was his 11 strikeouts in 12 innings pitched… with just 1 walk.  He did okay against the Mets, too.

PITCHERS

Mike Soroka is 1-0 with a 2.87 ERA in three games. But the eye opening stat is the 20 strikeouts he has in just 15.2 innings pitched.

HITTERS

The Stripers hitting has picked up during this past week and it shows with four players hitting over .270 and one other not far behind.

They have Chris Stewart and Rob Brantly splitting time at catcher and both had good weeks. Stewart is hitting .333 Avg.  with an OPS of.833 and Brantly has a solid .281 average.

While first baseman Carlos Franco is hitting .298 Avg. with 13 RBI, 3 HR and an .893 OPS, he does have one negative:  he has 25 strikeouts in 57 AB.

UPDATE:

Last week we mentioned Aaron Blair would be seeing Dr. James Andrews and was reported by Dave O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that Blair had surgery to repair a capsule tear and clean up part of his rotator cuff.  The capsule tear is similar (at least in concept) to the injury that side-lined Mets’ outfielder Michael Conforto.

Aaron Blair will miss the rest of the 2018 season as part of the recovery from the procedure.

Next: What the Bullpen Must Do

That’s all for this week in our look at the minor leagues!