Opening Day 2018! Minor League Edition

Thursday, April 5 is Opening Day for the minor leagues, and the Braves are now entering their fourth season after the organization decided to rebuild. The highlights of that first draft in 2015 are now entering the upper minor leagues and several should contribute to the big league club in 2018 as well as provide competitive minor league clubs. The lower minor leagues however will have to contend with a 2017 draft class that seems to be less deep than prior drafts and the near-complete wipe out of the 2016 international signing class.

AAA Gwinnett Stripers

• For at least the first two weeks of the season, all eyes will be on top Braves prospect outfield Ronald Acuña Jr. Acuña’s tenure is expected to be brief. Even after Acuña’s departure however, the Striper outfield is expected to be a strength with prospect Dustin Peterson joined by veterans Jaff Decker and Xavier Avery. Danny Santana and Ezequiel Carrera will also be part of this group early on, but it would not be surprising to see either promoted to Atlanta to bolster the major league bench before too long.
• The starting rotation will once again project to be a strength, with 20-year-old 2015 first rounders Mike Soroka and Kolby Allard promoted from AA Mississippi. They will join Lucas Sims, who parlayed a strong 2017 season with Gwinnett into some major league innings. Aaron Blair and Matt Wisler will round out the rotation and look to put their young careers back on track.
• The Striper infield will be mostly composed of veterans. Second base seems to belong to former Royals first-rounder and World Series hero Christian Colon, while shortstop will be manned by former Mariner farmhand Tyler Smith. Rio Ruiz will man third base and look to get into a groove with a re-made swing that he hopes will get him back on the organizational radar. First base will primarily be longtime Braves farmhand Carlos Franco, who made a good impression this spring. Gwinnett mainstay Sean Kazmar will back up at every position.
• Perhaps the most likely area that the Gwinnett roster will impact the Atlanta Braves is in the bullpen. With the back end of the Atlanta rotation largely unsettled, a good run of appearances in Gwinnett could bring a major league shot for a number of young pitchers. In particular left-handers Phil Pfeifer and Jesse Biddle, both of whom got long looks this spring, could see their fortunes turn quickly with a good start of the season. Likewise right-handers Caleb Dirks, David Peterson, Bradley Roney, and Evan Phillips, all of whom have been thought highly of by the organization at one point or another, could find himself heading down I-85 to I-285 west to SunTrust riding that bullpen merry-go-round.
• With injuries roiling the major league catching corps, the current catchers on the Striper roster may not be permanent. Veteran Rob Brantly is a solid defensive catcher with some pop; he’ll be joined by prospect Kade Scivicque who brings strong leadership credentials back to Gwinnett. They could be joined by veteran catchers Chris Stewart and/or Carlos Perez once Kurt Suzuki and Tyler Flowers are given clean bills of health if they pass through waivers once they are designated for assignment.

Overall this would appear to be a strong Gwinnett roster that could be further bolstered in the middle of the season with higher-ceiling prospects from Mississippi. The largest swing in the team’s fortunes however could depend on how quickly top prospects Acuña and Soroka are brought to the major leagues.

Link to Gwinnett Stripers roster

Possible Line-Up:

1. Ronald Acuña Jr., LF
2. Jaff Decker, CF
3. Dustin Peterson, RF
4. Carlos Franco, 1B
5. Rio Ruiz, 3B
6. Danny Santana, DH
7. Christian Colon, 2B
8. Kade Scivicque, C
9. Tyler Smith, SS

OFR TOP PROSPECTS – GWINNETT STRIPERS:
1. Ronald Acuna, Jr.
2. Mike Soroka
5. Kolby Allard
15. Patrick Weigel (on DL)
18. Dustin Peterson
28. Kade Scivicque
49. Caleb Dirks

Gwinnett Braves Opening Day Roster

AA Mississippi Braves

• The offensive side of the frame for Mississippi on Opening Day will look similar the end of the season in 2017. The M-Braves return infielders Austin Riley, Travis Demeritte, Luiz Valenzuela; outfielders Tyler Neslony and Connor Lien; and catchers Alex Jackson, Jonathan Morales, and Sal Giardina. Added to the offense are free agents first baseman Michael Snyder, infielders Cleuluis Rondon and Daniel Lockhart, outfielder Michael Reed, and catcher Tyler Marlette. Mississippi will also welcome 2017 Fire Frog infielder and reigning Florida State League batting title champion Alay Lago.
• Demeritte was surprisingly listed as an outfielder when the official roster came out, indicating that the team may be playing him in a utility role, similar to how they are now moving Ray-Patrick Didder around.
• The starting rotation should be a strength of the team, lead by three former first-round picks: Max Fried, Kyle Wright, and Touki Toussaint. Tyler Pike and Ricardo Sanchez round out the rotation with two interesting lefties. It should be noted as well that pitching coach Dennis Lewallyn returns to the team after a one-season stint with the Fire Frogs; Toussaint, Pike, and Sanchez all showed significant development in 2017 under Lewallyn’s tutelage.
• The bullpen is an embarrassment of riches of arms likely ready for AAA ball, but the organization simply doesn’t have enough room for everyone. Josh Graham, Adam McCreery, and Corbin Clouse are all likely major league relievers at some point. The ‘pen is rounded out with the intriguing arms of Chase Johnson-Mullins, Michael Mader, Jacob Webb, Wes Parsons, and Jason Hursh.

All but three players in the projected opening line-up and rotation (Lago, Wright, Sanchez) have experience at the AA level. This experience, plus the impressive rotation, bullpen, and heart of the line-up, should make the Mississippi Braves an early contender in the Southern League. Like Gwinnet however, the team could be quickly undone by aggressive promotions of top prospects like Wright, Riley, Fried, and Toussaint.

Link to Mississippi Braves roster

Possible Line-Up:

1. Michael Reed, CF
2. Travis Demeritte, LF
3. Tyler Neslony, RF
4. Austin Riley, 3B
5. Alex Jackson, C
6. Michael Snyder, 1B
7. Alay Lago, 2B
8. Cleuluis Rondon, SS
9. Kyle Wright, P

OFR TOP PROSPECTS – MISSISSIPPI BRAVES:
4. Kyle Wright
6. Austin Riley
8. Max Fried
10. Touki Toussaint
13. Alex Jackson
20. Travis Demeritte
21. Ricardo Sanchez
33. Corbin Clouse
36. Tyler Pike
39. Matt Withrow
41. Tyler Neslony
44. Jonathan Morales
48. Wes Parsons

A+ Florida Fire Frogs

• As the only Braves affiliate not owned by the Atlanta Braves organization, the Advanced-A team seams to be the most likely to have prospects skip or only play briefly. That may change with the new Braves front office lead by Alex Anthopolous, who has signaled a more deliberate advancement for prospects. No team may benefit more than the Fire Frogs, who saw in their inaugural season top pitchers Mike Soroka, Kolby Allard, and Max Fried skip the level completely and Ronald Acuna, Luiz Gohara, Austin Riley, Alex Jackson, and Touki Toussaint all have abbreviated stays with the club last year.
• This season, none of the top pitching prospects from last year’s Rome Braves club will be skipping the Fire Frogs, as Ian Anderson, Joey Wentz, Bryse Wilson, Tucker Davidson, and Jeremy Walker should form one of the top rotations in the Florida State League. While most attention will be payed to the top three members of the rotation, Davidson and Walker have been getting increasingly positive coverage, and Walker will actually be on the mound for Opening Day.
• While the Rome Braves offense in 2017 was largely punchless, there is hope that organic growth from Cristian Pache, Brett Cumberland, Lucas Herbert, and Braxton Davidson could put some hop into the Frogs line-up. Last year’s Rome squad did have an abundance of speed and that will continue with the Fire Frogs as Pache teams up with Anfernee Seymour, Alejandro Salazar, and Ray-Patrick Didder to potentially make every inning a track meet. The squad will be bolstered at least early on by outfielder Jared James, who had skipped the advanced-A level last season and had a successful run at Mississippi. University of Tennessee alum Jordan Rodgers completes the line-up and can play anywhere around the diamond. Infielders Omar Obergon and Marcus Mooney and outfielder Justin Ellison form an experienced bench.
• A part of the fantastic 2017 Rome bullpen will hopefully make for a fantastic 2018 Fire Frogs bullpen, lead by lefties Jon Kennedy and Oriel Caicedo and righty Bladimir Matos. Perennial breakout candidate Chad Sobotka will make a return engagement, as will Devan Watts, Andres Santiago, Joe Rogers, Sean McLaughlin, and Drew Harrington. Former Atlanta Brave Mauricio Cabrera will start in Florida in his bid to regain control of his 100 mph heater and climb the organizational ladder once more. Justin Kelly, acquired from the Angels this offseason, and Luis Gamez round out the ‘pen.

Several potential break-out stars, particularly Pache and Anderson, could make the Fire Frogs a tough opponent in the Florida State League. Last year’s inaugural squad was plagued by managerial turnover, disruptive promotions and injuries, and an overall lack of pitching talent. The infusion of he top talent from the 2017 Rome squad should turn that last deficit into a strength, and the team will welcome the steadying hand of manager Luis Salazar.

Link to Florida Fire Frogs roster

Possible Line-Up:

1. Anfernee Seymour, LF
2. Cristian Pache, CF
3. Brett Cumberland, RF
4. Jared James, DH
5. Lucas Herbert, C
6. Ray-Patrick Didder, 2B
7. Jordan Rodgers, 3B
8. Braxton Davidson, 1B
9. Alejandro Salazar, SS

OFR TOP PROSPECTS – FLORIDA FIRE FROGS:
7. Ian Anderson
9. Cristian Pache
11. Bryse Wilson
12. Joey Wentz
17. Brett Cumberland
23. Lucas Herbert
30. Devan Watts
31. Tucker Davidson
34. Jared James
37. Anfernee Seymour
40. Jeremy Walker
42. Ray-Patrick Didder
47. Drew Harrington

 

A Rome Braves

• As has been the case for the previous two seasons, it looks like the strength of the Rome roster will be in the starting pitching. Second-round 2016 draft pick Kyle Muller is coming off a strong spring and will headline the rotation, followed by Jasseel De La Cruz, lefty Bruce Zimmermann, Huascar Ynoa (acquired in the Jaime Garcia trade), and returning R-Brave Alan Rangel. Odalvi Javier, and 2017 third-rounder Freddy Tarnok start out in the bullpen, but both could see starting opportunities.
• Rome has a chance for a dynamic outfield. Drew Waters and Izzy Wilson are two athletic 5-tool prospects that will be looking polish the rough edges of their offensive game. Jefrey Ramos is a potential big-power corner bat. Gary Schwartz also gets a promotion from Danville as an advanced collegiate bat.
• The infield will be suffering the effects of the international sanctions imposed by MLB this offseason, but will still feature intriguing third baseman Jean Carlos Encarnacion, another potential power/speed/glove player. In the middle infield, Derian Cruz will return to Rome after an aggressive Opening Day 2017 assignment didn’t stick; he’ll likely play second base. First base will mostly be manned by Griffin Benson, a high school project slugger drafted in 2015, and 2017 Rome infielder Kurt Hoesktra. Riley Delgado, a 2017 senior sign with solid defense and bat-to-ball skills, will hold down shortstop.
• A trio of catchers make the opening day squad, headlined by former Michigan Wolverine Drew Lugbauer, who will be looking to catch more after also spending time at first and third last year. He is joined by defensive specialists Carlos Martinez and Alan Crowley. Conspiciously absent is prospect William Contreras, who will start the season in extended spring training.
• The bullpen as typical is mostly composed of collegiate arms that should fair well in the South Atlantic League. Tanner Allison, Jake Belinda, and Walter Borkovich all fall into this bucket, as does returning relievers Thomas Burrows and Brandon S. White. Righties Odalvi Javier, Freddy Tarnok, and Luis Mora brings versatility to the bullpen, as each could also spot start. Side-winding lefty Kelvin Rodriguez will give a different look to batters. Most intriguing here may be former 2016 draft pick Matt Rowland of Marietta’s Pope High School, an over-slot signing who has yet to throw a professional inning due to a litany of medical issues, including a UCL tear.

Link to Rome Braves roster

Possible Line-Up:

1. Izzy Wilson, RF
2. Derian Cruz, 2B
3. Drew Waters, CF
4. Drew Lugbauer, C
5. Jefrey Ramos, LF
6. Gary Schwartz, DH
7. JC Encarnacion, 3B
8. Kurt Hoesktra, 1B
9. Riley Delgado, SS

OFR TOP PROSPECTS – ROME BRAVES:
19. Kyle Muller
22. Drew Waters
25. Freddy Tarnok
26. Izzy Wilson
27. JC Encarnacion
32. Drew Lugbauer
35. Huascar Ynoa
38. Thomas Burrows
45. Derian Cruz
46. Jefrey Ramos
50. Alan Rangel

Twenty-Seven Cuts

Since the beginning of 2018, the Braves have cut twenty-five minor league players, and lost another one (reliever Troy Conyers) to retirement. Some of these cuts were minor league free agents brought in to provide competition and bolster depth, but didn’t make it though the spring (Nick King, Skyler Ewing, Junior Rincon).

I have highlighted below a few of the higher-profile cuts, and listed the rest.

Dylan Moore, IF – the starting shortstop for Mississippi last season, Moore had a a down 2017 at the plate. He was acquired in the deal that sent Jeff Franceour to the Marlins. The versatile infielder has already been picked up, and will play for the Biloxi Shuckers of the Southern League.

Keith Curcio, OF – another 2017 Mississippi mainstay, Curcio was originally drafted as a second baseman, but made himself into a solid defensive outfielder. A victim of the outfield numbers crunch, much like…

Stephen Gaylor, OF – maybe the most surprising cut to me, because he seemed like someone who would be an organizational guy for eight years.

Leudys Baez, OF – I ranked him #43 in my top 50 prospects this offseason, but his lack of hit tool always made him a fringe prospect, and younger and better prospects like Drew Waters and Izzy Wilson have simply crowded him out.

Carlos Castro, 1B – massive power potential, but like Baez also challenged to put the bat on the ball and lay off the ones out of the zone. On May 10 against the Daytona Tortugas however, he did have pretty much the best day you can have in professional baseball. The next day he would be struck in the face by a pitch, requiring hospitalization and essentially ruining his season.

Kyle Kinman, LHP – observant Braves fans may recall Kinman as a someone who was looked at as a possible lefty for the Atlanta bullpen in spring training 2016. Instead he went to Mississippi and tore his UCL. He had TJ surgery, but apparently he wasn’t able to come back all the way. This is a cautionary tale for anyone who thinks TJS is automatic these days.

Other cuts:

Gilbert Suarez, RHP
Taylor Lewis, LHP
Eudis Lora, IF
Manuel Juan, OF
Eric Jimenez, 2B
Reilys Blanco, IF
Erick Abreu, LHP
Jesus Heredia, RHP
Ryan Lawlor, LHP
Taylor Hyssong, LHP
Ryan Schlosser, RHP
Dalton Geekie, RHP
Jaret Hellinger, LHP
Matt Gonzalez, OF
Anthony Concepcion, OF
Bradley Keller, OF
Zach Becherer, RHP
Landon Hughes, RHP
Matt Custred, RHP

 

Soaking Up The Sun

Here are the most significant Braves players that are now in extended spring training in Orlando, either waiting for assignment if a player goes out with injury or working towards playing in one of the short-season leagues in June. The big name here is catcher William Contreras, a favorite among prospect hounds (including yours truly) and who received a big league training camp invitation. Kevin Josephina was Rome’s starting second baseman in 2017, but finds himself on the outside looking in at the start of 2018.

Catchers: William Contreras, Hagen Owenby, Ricardo Rodriguez

Infielders: Austin Bush, Kevin Josephina, Luis Ovando, Nicholas Shumpert, Braulio Vasquez

Outfielders:  Jose Bermudez, Ray Michel, Jackson Pokorney, Yoeli Lopez, Justin Smith

Right-Handed Pitchers: Troy Bacon, John Curtis, Hayden Deal, Cutter Dyals, Enderson Franco, Connor Simmons, Albinson Volquez, Keith Weisenberg

Left-Handed Pitchers: Miguel Jerez, Dilmer Mejia, Zach Rice