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Week 17 Atlanta Braves Farm Report: Mississippi’s pitchers show out

By Clint Manry

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 04: General manager Alex Anthopoulos and manager Brian Snitker #43 of the Atlanta Braves talk during batting practice prior to Game One of the National League Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on October 4, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 04: General manager Alex Anthopoulos and manager Brian Snitker #43 of the Atlanta Braves talk during batting practice prior to Game One of the National League Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on October 4, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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BOSTON, MA – OCTOBER 31: The World Series trophy is hoisted in the air during the 2018 World Series victory parade for the Boston Red Sox on October 31, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images) /

Catcher strong

Week 17 marks back-to-back weeks with an Atlanta Braves catcher winning Batter of the Week.

Now armed with 4 solid options behind the plate (Contreras, Jackson, Brown and Langeliers), the catcher position is a spot in the organization that has drastically improved over the last couple of years.

Top performers

More from Tomahawk Take

C, William Contreras (Mississippi)

4 games, .307 BA, 2 HR, double, 5 RBI

In Week 16, Gwinnett’s catcher Alex Jackson was one of the Batters’ of the Week, and how fitting is it that Contreras wins it the very next week. You don’t think Jackson and Contreras keep on eye on each other’s numbers? No! Surely not!

Contreras got the last laugh this past weekend when he was listed as the Atlanta Braves ninth best prospect by MLB.com’s latest top 30 ranking, receiving more love than Jackson — who came in at 29th.

But that midseason prospect list doesn’t need to go to his head. Contreras still needs to get better, as a .668 OPS in Double-A won’t cut it.

I like where he’s headed, improving his plate discipline (20.8 K%, 8.3 BB%) and turning in a solid week of hitting last week.

But he has to keep working at it now that the Atlanta Braves have two other plenty capable catchers, in Logan Brown and Shea Langeliers… not to mention the home run producer, Jackson.

SP, Alan Rangel

1 start, 7 innings pitched, 4 hits, 8 strikeouts 

While not considered a prospect, Rangel has spent the past almost 3 seasons posting middling stats in Rome, never really fully getting it together.

I’m predicting that 2019 will be a turning point for the 6-foot-2, 170-pound, 21-year-old, as he’s taken a nice step forward over the last 2 weeks or so.

Rangel’s last 10 starts have consisted of a 5-2 record, a 3.79 ERA and a solid K/BB ratio of 44 strikeouts and 19 walks.

His last 3 starts? 2-0 record with only two runs allowed in 19.2 innings pitched.

Next. Trade deadline focuse. dark

At this juncture in the season, Rangel’s numbers look eerily similar to his last two in a half years, but this could be when he finally takes off and finishes strong.

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