Atlanta Braves Week 11 Farm Report: Drew Waters, Christian Pache form dangerous duo

(25-41) Florida Fire Frogs (A+)

Week 11 Record: 0-3

2019 FSL South Standings

*As of Monday, June 17th

(*) 1st half division winner

Week at a Glance

* FSL All-Star game

Week 11 Notes

The Florida weather didn’t allow much… Between the rain and the FSL All-Star game on Saturday, the Fire Frogs only played three games in Week 11 and two of them were played in one day, on Tuesday (both losses).

Speaking of the All-Star game: Riley Delgado, Kevin Josephina, and Hayden Deal represented Florida on Saturday night, as the North lost to the South, 2-0.

Neither Delgado nor Jospehina recorded a hit (both went 0-for-1), but Deal came in and struck out two batters in his one-inning appearance.

Freddy Tarnok has been quite disappointing… This really isn’t an observation made from just Week 11, but more of an assessment of his season overall (since Florida didn’t actually play much baseball this past week).

Tarnok is currently on the 7-day IL and hasn’t pitched since June 3, a start in which he lasted only four innings and gave up four runs. This season just hasn’t been much of a step forward for the Braves 16th ranked prospect.

Tarnok is coming off a decent 2018 season in Rome, where he pitched to a 3.96 ERA in 77.1 innings-pitched, split between a starter and reliever. He made 11 starts and 16 appearances out of the bullpen.

The walk rate wasn’t very good at 4.77 BB/9, but for his first season above Rookie-ball, last year was a great campaign to build from.

Build is not what he’s done so far in 2019. Tarnok has done quite the opposite.

Here are his 2019 numbers in Florida, thus far:

• 11 starts
• 52.2 innings pitched
• 6.49 ERA
• 7.01 K/9
• 4.44 BB/9

Granted, he’s suffered from some poor luck (4.25 FIP), coming from a high BABIP-against (.327), but Tarnok’s results this season just haven’t been that of a top-20 prospect, at least not yet.

Hopefully once he gets back from his ailment he can work towards turning things around. Tarnok, like all pitching prospects in the Atlanta Braves low minors, is an important piece of the Braves future.

With Rome and Florida currently thin with arms, his development will be crucial for the long term success of Atlanta Braves pitching.

Week 11 Roster Moves