Welcome to the Braves Farm Report, where we will take a look at the Braves farm system and look at trends and players that seem interesting, and give first hand accounts of what we’re seeing down on the farm.
For up-to-date draft signing coverage, check in with last week’s Sunday Farm Report, which has been kept updated with the latest news.
Danville Braves Roster Review
The Danville Braves started their regular season schedule this week. Here’s a look at their team.
INFIELDERS: 1B Bryce Ball, 1B/3B Ray Hernandez, 1B Nicholas Vizcaino, 2B Cody Milligan, IF Cody Birdsong, SS Beau Philip, SS Juan Morales
This is a dynamic group with a wide arrange of skills. GCL veteran Hernandez and 24th-rounder Ball potentially providing towering power. Both will play nearly every day at first, DH, or (in the case of Hernandez) third. When Hernandez isn’t at third, the position will belong to Birdsong, a 32nd-rounder who can play multiple infield positions and should be a good all-round hitter. This is Vizcaino’s third season in the organization and he will be a bench option.
The middle infield will mostly be manned by 2nd-rounder Philip and 9th-rounder Milligan. Philip brings potentially elite-level shortstop defense and above-average speed and a developing bat. Milligan is learning the second-base position after spending almost all of his time in his last season at college as a catcher. He’s a high-motor player with good speed and some power. Juan Morales was a 2015 international amateur signee who also has a strong defensive reputation at shortstop.
OUTFIELDERS: CF Brandon Parker, CF Jose Palma, RF Willie Carter, OF Connor Blair, IF/OF Michael Mateja, OF Charles Reyes
The D-Braves should expect some solid offense from their outfield unit. Palma is a speed/defensive centerfielder in his third year with the organization. Parker has also been playing centerfield, but profiles more as a corner bat and will be a source of power on the team. Carter is another power source with a strong arm in right field. Blair is a an all-round player that can man all three outfield positions with a relatively polished bat. Mateja is a swiss-army-knife player that can credibly hold down all four corners plus second base and has a feel to hit. Reyes is the wild card here, only 19 years old but in his third season in the organization, he has good body projection and could be a power bat with development.
CATCHERS: Mitch Calandra, Brandon Chapman, Victor De Hoyos, Ray Soderman
De Hoyos should be expected to get the most playing time out of this group, a 21-year-old from Colombia who has become an offensive stand-out. Calandra is a 30th-round senior sign with a strong reputation for leadership. Soderman returns to Danville and is a good catch-and-throw guy who could probably handle pitchers anywhere on the organizational ladder. Chapman was an undrafted free agent who was signed to log innings for the GCL Braves last season after some injuries to the catching corps there and ended up making an impression.
STARTING PITCHING: LHP Filyer Sanchez, LHP Mitch Stallings, RHP Walner Polanco, RHP Alec Barger, RHP Luis De Jesus
This set of pitchers just represents who went through the first turn of the rotation, but on a roster that includes 17 pitchers roles are somewhat fluid and the Braves will want to get looks from several pitchers.
One of the more likely to stick in the rotation however is Sanchez, who enters his fifth season in the Braves organization. Sanchez is a reliable strike-thrower. Stallings is a polished pitcher drafted out of Duke last season and slow-walked through 2018 after a long college season. Polanco will try his hand at starting after two seasons and 38 relief appearances in the DSL and GCL; he has shown strikeout stuff and solid control. On the flipside, De Jesus has been developed as a starter for the last two seasons on those same teams; results haven’t been there for De Jesus thanks to iffy control, but he is an upside arm. Barger was a swingman with NC State before being drafted in the 17th round by Atlanta, and it would not be a surprise to see him moved around and perhaps be one of the first D-Braves up to Rome if they require an extra arm.
RELIEF PITCHING: RHP Alex Aquino, RHP Alex Camacho, RHP Zach Daniels, RHP Tanner Gordon, RHP Alger Hodgson, RHP Javier Ciriaco, LHP Miguel Jerez, RHP Deyvis Julian, RHP Cameron Kurz, RHP Zach Seipel, RHP Albinson Volquez
As with the starting pitching, the reliever corps will likely see a lot of role changes as the season progresses. Jerez represents the only lefty in the oversized bullpen to start the season, and he is coming off back-to-back GCL organizational pitcher of the year honors. Aquino is a converted infielder with a strong fastball who is looking to hone his control. Gordon is a relatively polished college arm who could be a starting candidate. Camacho, Daniels, and Seipel are 2018 draft holdovers; of the three Daniels is the most polished and could be in Rome, Camacho has the biggest arm and potential upside, and Seipel is somewhere in between, looking to improve his command.
Hodgson is another live arm who missed all of the 2018 season with injury; the Nicaragian signee is still only 20 however. Javier Ciriaco is a relatively older player, not signing with Atlanta until he was 20, but shows good command. Julian also missed all of 2018 with injury, and as an older player entering his 4th season with the organization is looking to show health and consistency.
Finally there is Kurz, one of the more interesting pure relief prospects drafted in 2018 but slowed by an injury. Kurz could prove to be a closing candidate and if he shows his arm is sound could move up the organization quickly.
Life On the Farm
DSL BRAVES:
The Braves went 2-4 on the week to drop their record to 8-11 on the season.
Yerangel Medina started the week hot, going 4-for-9 with a home run but had to leave the game early on Wednesday and has not made an appearance since. Osiris Sierra continued his run of good performances, throwing 4 hitless innings this week against the A’s.
DANVILLE:
The D-Braves started their schedule with a 3-2 week with some explosive offensive performances.
Bryce Ball started his pro career with a bang, hitting .526/.526/.947 over the five games with 2 home runs. Second baseman Cody Milligan only had one homer, but it was more dramatic, walking of the Braves in the first game of the season. Ray Hernandez hit a grand slam against Princeton in a 12-10 slugfest.
The best pitching of the week came on Friday, when Walner Polanco, Alger Hodgson, Javier Ciriaco, and Alex Camacho combined on a 4-hitter to beat Johnson City 2-1.
ROME:
Rome got some reinforcements to start the second half of the season, getting catcher Ricardo Rodriguez and centerfielder Justin Dean back from the IL and 1st-rounders Shae Langeliers and Braden Shewmake getting their first pro assignments with the team. The team went 1-2 over the weekend.
While Langeliers didn’t have his first hit until Saturday, he made it a memorable one, launching a two-run homer in the 1st inning over the Jumbotron in Rome. His second hit in the same game was an RBI single and he drew 3 walks in his 8 plate appearances. Shewmake hasn’t made quite the same impression, but he’s gone 3-for-11 and made good contact most of his at-bats.
Starting pitching was a little rough this week, with the best performance Thursday’s outing by right-hander Jose Olague. Olague only faced five over the minimum until the 8th when the wheels fell off and Hagerstown scored three runs to win 3-1.
Right-hander Victor Vodnik will take a spot in the Rome rotation starting Monday.
In the SAL All-Star game, second baseman Greg Cullen went 0-1 with 2 walks and played all 9 frames. Catcher Logan Brown, who was promoted to Florida after the game, went hitless in his one plate appearance. Right-hander Jose Montilla got four outs without allowing a hit and was credited with a Hold.
A better look at that @Langeliers23 home run over the scoreboard.#ChopOn pic.twitter.com/aFMq3TMcDx
— Rome Braves (@TheRomeBraves) June 22, 2019
FLORIDA:
The Fire Frogs resumed play this week after the Florida State League All-Star break and picked up where they left off, going 2-4 on the week. That said, right-hander Nolan Kingham did provide a highlight, pitching his third 9-inning complete game shut-out of the season, allowing only 5 baserunners (3 hits, 1 walk, 1 HBP) and striking out 7. Kingham leads all of minor league baseball in shut-outs and complete games and has now pitched three of Florida’s four franchise complete game shut-outs, all thrown since May 1.
Otherwise the starting pitching was largely forgettable this week, with even the stalwart Hayden Deal struggling in allowing 10 hits over 5.2 innings, though he managed to keep the damage to only 3 earned runs; this was the first outing all season that Deal allowed more than 2 earned. Sean McLaughlin pitched well out of the bullpen this week, scattering 5 hits over two scoreless outings, and the team got a boost from the return of right-hander Troy Bacon, who hurled 2.2 scoreless innings.
It’s news when Trey Harris hits under .300 for a week, but he more than made up for it by launching three home runs on three consecutive days, ending the week hitting .261/.346/.696. Shortstop Riley Delgado picked up right where he left off at the break, hitting .423/.464/.538 this week with 11 hits in 6 games, including 3 doubles. The Frogs also got a lift from the just-promoted outfielder Andrew Moritz who went 5-for-12 in his high-A debut. First baseman Drew Lugbauer also showed signs of life this week, launching two homers in a week that also saw him hit .300/.333/.650.
In addition to Moritz, the Fire Frogs were boosted this week with the promotions of catcher Logan Brown and infielder Derian Cruz. Brown will take over primary catching duties from the injured Rusber Estrada, who had been holding down the fort since the promotion of William Contreras two weeks ago. Cruz finally gets a shot at high-A after years of frustration in Rome; the 20-year-old should compete for playing time at third and perhaps the outfield.
On a sadder note, the organization bid farewell to outfielder Izzy Wilson, who was released in the midst of this roster crunch.
MISSISSIPPI:
The Mississippi Braves played an abbreviated four-game schedule this week due to the Southern League All-Star break Monday-Wednesday. They went 1-3 in those four games and didn’t score more than two runs in any of the losses. Jasseel De La Cruz had the best outing among the starting pitchers this week, pitching seven innings of one-run ball on Friday with nine strikeouts although he walked five. Joey Wentz, Kyle Muller and Ian Anderson all had rough starts in that none went beyond six innings, and all allowed at least four runs. The relievers fared better as Claudio Custodio gave up just one run in two appearances covering four innings, Jason Hursh had two scoreless one-inning appearances and Thomas Burrows pitched a scoreless frame. Reliever Jeremy Walker had two scoreless one-inning outings including one on Thursday in which he inherited a bases-loaded, none-out situation from Josh Graham and proceeded to strike out the side and earn the save. Graham had two rough appearances on the week, giving up four hits, three walks and four runs in just an inning of work.
Among the hitters, Drew Waters continued his dominance of the Southern League in extending his hitting streak to 16 games and on-base streak to 28 games. Cristian Pache played in just two games due to off days but was 5-for-8 in those games with a two-double, five-RBI game on Thursday. Among other M-Braves having good weeks, outfielder Tyler Neslony was 7-for-12, catcher William Contreras was 5-for-14 and SS/CF Ray-Patrick Didder was 4-for-11 with a .364/.462/.455 line. Outfielder Greyson Jenista continued his struggles in adjusting to Southern League pitching in going just 2-for-11 with five strikeouts.
GWINNETT:
The Gwinnett Stripers alternated wins and losses during the week in going 3-3 although they scored at least five runs in five of six games. Infielder Jack Lopez continued his offensive hot streak with twelve hits en route to a .600/.667/.750 week. Outfielder Travis Demeritte continued to thrash International League pitching to the tune of a .353/.522/.522 week. Catcher Jonathan Morales continued to surprise after his promotion from Mississippi with a 6-for-14 week and a home run. Several Stripers, however, had rough weeks. Outfielder Adam Duvall was just 1-for-17 with six strikeouts, infielder Sean Kazmar was 4-for-21, catcher Alex Jackson was 1-for-11 with four strikeouts while Pedro Florimon was 2-for-17 and Andres Blanco was 3-for-19.
Gwinnett starting pitchers provided a mixed bag this week as only Bryse Wilson (6 IP, 0 R, 7 K) and Kolby Allard (6 IP, 3 R, 9 K) had quality starts. Allard has just a 2.77 ERA in his last four starts covering 26 innings with 25 strikeouts and just nine walks. Patrick Weigel, Kyle Wright and Huascar Ynoa all had four-inning starts for the week with Ynoa having the most success with just two solo home runs allowed to go with eight strikeouts on 82 pitches. Relievers had an awful time at Gwinnett during this time with Wes Parsons being scored on in two of his three outings (5 IP, 3 ER), Dan Winkler had two rough outings (1.2 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 4 BB, 3 K) and Chad Sobotka had a terrible game with four runs given up in just one inning of work on two hit batsmen and two hits, including a home run. The bright spots for the bullpen this week belonged to the well-traveled Jonathan Aro, who had three scoreless innings over two outings while earning wins in both. Sean Newcomb had a great two scoreless innings of work on Saturday night in a rehab appearance while on the concussion list, striking out five.
POSITION PLAYER of the WEEK:
PITCHER of the WEEK:
Transaction Round-Up
6/16/2019: IF Cody Birdsong and 1B Bryce Bell assigned to Rk Danville.
6/17/2019: RHP Justin Yeager, SS Beau Philip, OF Brandon Parker, C Javier Valdes assigned to Rk Danville
Newly signed draft picks given their first assignments.’
6/16/2019: 2B Cade Bunnell assigned to GCL Braves
6/17/2019: RHP Chad Bryant, RHP Ricky DeVito, RHP Greg Leban, LHP Andy Samuelson, RHP Darius Vines, RHP Peyton Williams assigned to GCL Braves
A preview of the new signees for the GCL Braves starting their schedule on Monday.
6/18/2019: OF Connor Blair signed, assigned to Rk Danville
6/19/2019: C Javier Valdes assigned to GCL Braves from Rk Danville
Coming in a little later, Blair joined the D-Braves. Valdes was moved back to the GCL Braves to make room, which makes since because with Valdes there were 5 catchers on the Danville roster.
6/20/2019: C Shae Langeliers, SS Braden Shewmake assigned to A Rome.
6/20/2019: OF Justin Dean, C Ricardo Rodriguez activated from 7-day IL for A Rome
6/20/2019: RHP Victor Cavalieri promoted to A Rome from GCL Braves
6/20/2019: 1B/C Hagen Owenby placed on 7-day IL for A Rome
Rome’s roster gets reinforcements for the second half.
6/20/2019: OF Andrew Moritz, 3B Derian Cruz, C Logan Brown promoted to A+ Florida from A Rome
6/20/2019: RHP Troy Bacon promoted to A+ Florida from Rk Danville
6/20/2019: C Rusber Estrada placed on 7-day IL for A+ Florida
6/20/2019: OF Izzy Wilson released from A+ Florida
Fallout from the Rome roster moves. Brown was a deserving promotion, and gets to be the featured catcher with Florida, in between Contreras in Mississippi and Langeliers in Rome. Estrada got plenty of looks, but has not hit at all in his first full-season; advanced-A was an ambitious assignment for him, but necessary given the relative thinness of the catching position early on.
Moritz and Cruz’s promotions were more about making room for Dean and Shewmake, though both showed flashes this year.
Bacon had gone through a tough stretch with Florida earlier, but returns now to hopefully re-establish himself as one of the Braves top relief prospects.
All this was to the detriment of 21-year-old outfield Izzy Wilson, who is discussed more in the mailbag section below.
6/20/2019: RHP Bradley Roney promoted to AA Mississippi from A+ Florida
6/20/2019: RHP Andres Santiago placed on 7-day IL for AA Mississippi
Roney hadn’t given up an earned run in 8 appearances since returning from an 18-month injured stint. Roney returns to Mississippi, where he pitched parts of the 2016 and 2017 seasons.
6/20/2019: RHP Chad Sobotka activated from 7-day IL for AAA Gwinnett
6/21/2019: RHP Connor Johnstone assigned to AA Mississippi from AAA Gwinnett
Sobotka had been on the IL with continued back issues since June 6, and overall only has 6 outings with Gwinnett since being sent down on April 29.
Johnstone returns to Mississippi after three 2-inning outings with Gwinnett. In 19 games overall, including one start, the gunslinger has a solid 3.89 ERA.
6/22/2019: SS Garrett Saunders signed as non-drafted minor league free agent, assigned to Rk Danville
Saunders just finished his senior season at Central College in Pella, Iowa. In his career there he hit .388/.436/.576 with 8 home runs and owns a slew of school records. The Braves tend to find value with their non-drafted signings, the most prominent recent example being Wes Parsons, who has spent time with Atlanta.
6/22/2019: RHP Trey Riley placed on 7-day IL for A Rome
6/22/2019: RHP William Woods activated from 7-day IL for A Rome
As reported last week on the farm report, Riley was dropped from the Rome rotation after allowing batters to hit .317/.434/.394 against him since the beginning of May. Riley got one relief appearance in, but his lack of control was even more pronounced, walking 5 in only 1 inning against Hagerstown on Friday. Hopefully a period of rest and fine-tuning can get one of the Rome’s top young arms competitive again.
Mailbag Q&A
Q: Why would the Braves release their number 22 prospect Izzy Wilson? What’s the word on that, I haven’t seen any reports on him. – B. Anderson
A: The facts are that as many tools that Izzy has, you’re not going to progress in pro ball if you can’t recognize pitches and adjust accordingly. Combined with a long swing, and he just couldn’t find consistent success. While performance statistics don’t mean all that much in A-ball, a .197/.287/.305 slash line in 294 plate appearances in advanced-A is just what it is. I hate he was released, but there’s just too many good outfielders in the organization to keep trotting him out and hoping something finally connects.
I hope another team picks him up and maybe they can unlock him. But as I start putting together my mid-season top 30 list, I can say that Izzy was on the outside looking in.
Q: Do you think Ian Anderson get promoted to AAA at some point this year? He seems to have made great progress so far. Was just curious on how the team views him and his progress. – D. Smith
A: I do, but it may wait until after the trading deadline. Right now the Braves seems to want to keep the AAA rotation full of players on the 40-man roster than can be called up and optioned without a lot of fuss. The Braves think very highly of Anderson.
Q: What are your thoughts on a 6-man rotation? Maybe a good idea to limit innings for the young-ins? Or do we need Touki in relief instead? – M. Peterson
A: I think the Braves will go with a 6-man rotation for awhile in the dog days, but I don’t think it will be a conventional rotation. Instead, they’ll look to insert a starter to give everyone in the current 5-man rotation and extra day of rest, but not have a specific 6th starter. Instead, I think they’ll use the Gwinnett shuttle to bring up Kyle Wright, Bryse Wilson, Huascar Ynoa, Kolby Allard, or Patrick Weigel, depending on who is scheduled to throw for Gwinnett on that given day. Toussaint could also be a factor in this, but I think he may have to go back Gwinnett and get stretched out.
Q: Do you think Duvall and Ender get packaged in a deal for a reliever or starter along with 1 or 2 prospects? – R. Moore
A: It’s certainly possible, but Inciarte at least would have to show he’s healthy. While everyone was rolling their eyes when the Braves first announced that Inciarte was put on the IL, which allowed the team to promote Austin Riley, from Inciarte’s play on his last start with Atlanta it was clear to anyone who has watched him over the last several years that something was wrong. It turns out that his back was in pretty bad shape. Reports are that he may start a re-hab assignment soon. That will go a long way to assuring potential suitors that Inciarte isn’t damaged goods.
Duvall also had his own back issues not long ago, missing a week in late May. For the month of June, he is only hitting .210/.269/.452 (through Friday), which seems to have cooled a lot of trade talk.
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