With minor league baseball (FINALLY!) getting underway this week, we thought we’d take some time to pull together some facts for fans that may want to try one of the Braves minor league affiliates, especially with the new low-A team in Augusta, Georgia. First up to bat is the AAA Gwinnett Stripers
AAA Gwinnett Stripers
Over the last 25 years or so, AAA minor league baseball has morphed into mostly being an extended bench for the major league squads with rosters mostly filled with reliable replacement-level veterans that can be brought up to fill in gaps without requiring development time. The Braves over the years have not been an exception to this development, with most top prospects getting shortened stints at the AAA level before ascending to the majors. In some cases, AAA is skipped altogether: Andruw Jones, Brian McCann, and Dansby Swanson are some examples of this.
The 2021 Gwinnett Stripers are not likely to be an exception, especially in the current environment where teams will have to be conscious of COVID protocols. As such, the Gwinnett position players in particular will be a strong mix of major league veterans. The Gwinnett Opening Day rotation however will likely be an embarrassment of riches of high-level young talent, and that combination of experience and youth give the Stripers a great shot at winning this season.
Stadium
Address: Coolray Field, 2500 Buford Dr, Lawrenceville, GA 30043
Located about 35 miles northeast of Truist Park in the suburbs between Buford and Lawrenceville, CoolRay Field is a 12-year old, 10,427-seat capacity ballpark about half a mile off I-85.
CoolRay has the amenities that are expected from a modern minor league ballpark, including seats with cupholders, luxury suites, picnic areas, and a full-service restaurant, though the later will have capacity restrictions this season. The Stripers upgraded their video board for the 2020 season.
Unfortunately, there is one huge problem with the ballpark, and it has nothing to do with the stadium itself. Traffic getting to the stadium is absolutely brutal, especially on weeknights when the team will play most of their games, both on I-85 itself and the GA 20 stretch from I-85 to the stadium. This is not helped by the limited access points into the stadium parking, points that are shared by a condominium complex at the facility, which is more of a problem after games when everyone leaves at once. If you live or work in the immediate area you can plan accordingly; if you are coming from farther away, your best bet is to come on the weekends. Of course, this may be mitigated early in the season due to limited seating availability for COVID concerns.
Food
Due to COVID-19 concerns, concessions at CoolRay Park will be “streamlined”. This likely means the more exotic items that had in previous years graced the menus of ballparks will be at least temporarily sidelined.
The biggest loss here is that “The Knucksie”, a split corn muffin piled with pulled pork, onions, slaw, pickles, and sauce, will not be available from Niekro’s, CoolRay’s in-stadium sports bar.
This season the team will offer a “Thirsty Thursday” promotion, where 12 oz. domestic bears will be available for $2 on… well, Thursdays.
Tickets
Ticket prices increase with each level of the minor leagues, and Gwinnett is no exception. The Home Plate Club area is $30 a pop ($33 on game day), though food service is included if the ticket is bought prior to game day. Dugout seats run to $20, field boxes $17, $15 for down the lines after the bags, and lawn $8. Obviously a bargain compared to major league prices, but if you live in the greater Atlanta area and don’t have a preference in your minor league level, Rome is going to be the better bargain.
Adjacent area parking is $5.
The Area
The immediate area around CoolRay Field is mostly residential, with condominiums around the park itself and neighborhoods just beyond. However, just two miles north on the other side of I-85 lies the Mall of Georgia and its maze of satellite shopping strips and restaurants. The largest retail concentration in the state, the area has more than enough to kill time window shopping or dining at pretty much any desired level from fast food to 5-star establishments.
If somehow that isn’t enough shopping, there’s also the large Sugarloaf Mills shopping complex about 16 miles south on I-85.
If you are looking for something a little quieter, the Chateau Elan Winery is about 13 miles north on I-85, where tours of the winery and tastings are available for the wine aficionado, or those that would like to pretend to be. Attached to the winery is a full resort for those with expensive tastes and the wallet to indulge them.
For fans looking for recreation, the popular Lake Lanier is only 18 miles north of the ballpark on GA 20. There is boating, water skiing, parks, and hiking and other outdoor activities all summer long.
Coaching Staff
Former Atlanta Braves and Gwinnett Striper Matt Tuiasosopo takes the reins of the club, just four seasons from playing with the team. Tuiasosopo made his managerial debut with Rome in 2019.
Pitching coach Mike Maroth with be in his sixth year in the organization and his third role after serving as a minor league pitching coordinator for the front office in 2016 and ’17, then joining the Florida Fire Frogs as pitching coach in 2018. Maroth is mostly remembered as a player for his years with the Detroit Tigers, and he served as pitching coach for the Alternate Training Site in 2020.
Carlos Mendez will serve in his first year as Gwinnett’s pitching, though he has been in the organization for 14 seasons serving as hitting coach at literally every level in the organization. He was the hitting coach at the Alternate Training Site in 2020.
Wigberto “Wiggy” Nevarez will serve as bench coach, his first assignment with Gwinnett. A former 20th-round draft pick by Atlanta, Nevarez had a 4-year minor league career before staying with the Braves organization as a minor league coach, first with the Gulf Coast Braves, then joining the Rome staff in 2019.
The Players
Like most AAA teams, the Stipers roster will largely be made of major league veterans that form the primary reserve base for the major league club. This should include outfielders Abraham Almonte and Phil Ervin, infielders Sean Kazmar Jr. and Ryan Goins, and pitchers such as Carl Edwards Jr. and former Brave Jesse Chavez.
The big exception here will be outfielder Drew Waters, who will rejoin Gwinnett after reaching AAA at the end of 2019.
There will be some notable pitching prospects expected to start the season with the Stripers. Left-handers Kyle Muller and Tucker Davidson and right-hander Jasseel De La Cruz will likely form the core of the Gwinnett rotation along with young veterans Bryse Wilson and Kyle Wright when they are not needed in Atlanta.
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