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.
Also be sure to check out the OFR Farm Report Podcast where we discuss these events and give opinions and commentary.
Minor League Baseball: The Return
Last week was special for us as we were able to return to the ballpark for the first time since… well, we all know what happened in the world. In a blessed week, Andy managed to get to three games, seeing Gwinnett on the 16th before returning to his “home park” in Rome for the home opener on Tuesday and the back on Saturday. Matt was able to take in the Mississippi double-header on Thursday.
With the mask mandate and seating restrictions lifted in Georgia a few weeks ago, the look around the stands at Gwinnett and Rome was remarkably “normal”. There were still masks to be found, especially on the concourse and in line at the concessions, but not so much in the stands. What wasn’t normal was the lines at the concessions and the number of booths that weren’t open as both teams struggled with staffing in a quickly-changing environment where both teams were expecting only hosting 25% capacity just a few weeks ago. Mississippi didn’t seem to show those same difficulties, perhaps because of the state lifting crowd-size restrictions earlier. In all cases, fans should bring some patience as well as their sunblock and scorebooks to the ballyard for awhile.
In any case, it was really good to be back at the ballpark.
AUGUSTA:
Augusta split a home series with Fayetteville, bringing their overall record to 8-10 going into this week’s match-up against the Columbia Fireflies.
Spencer Strider, the 2020 4th-round pick, made his second start of the season and managed to be even more impressive than his 3-inning, no-hit, 7-strikeout performance in his debut by going two more outs, striking out 10 of the 13 batters he faced, and still not allowing a hit. In addition to the high-90s heater spotted high in the zone with explosive movement, Strider also showed off a nice sharp slider. Lefty Joey Estes also responded well to increasing his pitch count up to 70 by going 5 efficient innings, allowing only 3 hits and striking out 8 to earn Pitcher of the Week. Alec Barger and Darius Vines also contributed good starts, but the GreenJackets bullpen had a tough week overall. Righthander Estarlin Rodriguez was the exception, throwing 4 scoreless innings in two outings. Team defense was also fairly sloppy this week, contributing to 9 unearned runs on Fayetteville’s ledger.
On the offensive side, nominal reserve Braulio Vasquez responded to increased playing time by having his best week as a pro, seeing time at third and first base and hitting .308/.571/.692 with a home run and 8(!) stolen bases, bringing his stolen base total to 13 in only 15 games played, already setting a personal best. Outfielder Drew Campbell came off a brief stint on the 7-day injured list going 9-for-28 with two doubles, two triples, and a homer to give him a tidy 1.125 slugging in his 3 games played, though he is still dealing with some discomfort with a leg injury. Willie Carter only hit .211 on the week but walked 8 times to help him to a .444 OBP as well as homering and knocking in 5. Vaughn Grissom was limited to 3 games played, all over the weekend, and he hit .250/.400/.250.
ROME:
Rome completed the first for six scheduled series against the Bowling Green Hot Rods, splitting the series against Tampa Bay’s high-A squad in their first home series of the season. The split leaves Rome two games behind Bowling Green in the standings.
Right-hander Bryce Elder started the week out with his best start of the season to date, allowing only one run and striking out 7 and earning the win in an efficient 6.1 inning, 75 pitch effort. Righty Ricky DeVito navigated 4.1 tricky but scoreless innings in his start, pitching around 5 singles and a walk thanks to 6 strikeouts. Alan Rangel also turned in a solid starting effort, going 4 innings and only allowing 1 run.
After a tough outing the previous week against Greensboro, Trey Riley returned to the effectiveness that marked his work earlier in the year, throwing 3 scoreless innings of relief on Thursday and striking out 6 of the 10 batters he faced. Riley is now leading Rome with a 72% strike rate, a big turnaround from his first full pro season in 2019. Also reliably throwing strikes are right-handers Kasey Kalich and Coleman Huntley and lefty Gabriel Noguera, none of whom have allowed an earned run on the season, and Indigo Diaz who has only allowed one.
Runs were hard to come by this week with the R-Braves only scoring 1 run in two contests and 2 runs in another. Outfielder Michael Harris III lead the offense with a .421/.400/.579 batting line with three doubles, but left-fielder Andrew Mortiz was right behind him with a .412/.444/.471 line. First baseman Bryce Ball and reserve catcher Rusber Estrada contributed home runs.
MISSISSIPPI:
Mississippi returned home this week to start an extended homestand with a series versus Chattanooga. Despite only scoring sixteen runs over the six games, the M-Braves earned a series split versus the Lookouts.
Outfielder Justin Dean continued to find ways to get on base from the leadoff spot. Despite just going just 4-for-18 on the week, his OBP was .391, he stole two bases, and had an outfield assist. Infielder Riley Unroe returned from Gwinnett and proceeded to have a 7-for-16 week. Catcher Shea Langeliers was only 1-for-13 but also had three walks and an HBP as well as throwing out basestealers at almost a 50% clip. Shortstop Braden Shewmake was just 2-for-15 but the two hits were for extra bases. 3B CJ Alexander was just 2-for-13 but he contributed another home run. No one had a rougher week than outfielder Trey Harris, though, as he was just 2-for-22 on the week.
There were several notable starting pitching efforts during the week. Nolan Kingham had a seven-inning, three-run effort, Odalvi Javier gave up just one run in his four-inning outing, and Victor Vodnik gave up just one run on 6.2 innings of work where he allowed just four hits and one walk while striking out six. Former second-round pick AJ Puckett, in his first Double-A start, gave up two runs in 2.2 innings while walking three, hitting three batters and throwing a wild pitch.
There were several standouts among the relief corps this week as Brandon White notched two saves with three scoreless innings of work, Brooks Wilson had two more scoreless outings and now has 8.2 scoreless innings this season with thirteen strikeouts and a WHIP of 0.92, and Troy Bacon also had two scoreless appearances and now has 9.1 scoreless innings this season with no walks and a WHIP of 0.43. Recently added LHP Chris Nunn had a couple of rough outings (2 IP, 3 H, 5 R, 5 BB, 2 K).
GWINNETT:
After getting off to a torrid 9-3 start to begin the season, the Gwinnett Stripers were sent reeling by getting swept in a six-game series at Nashville. Five of the six losses were by one run and the other was only by two runs. The Stripers only scored sixteen runs for the week with eight of those being in game one of the series.
Tucker Davidson was once again the standout among starting pitchers this week as he followed up his solid Tuesday start in Atlanta with a great one on Sunday as he allowed just a first inning home run to Keston Hiura and a walk in six innings of work although he was tagged with the loss since the Stripers were shutout on one hit. Jasseel De La Cruz continued to build back up as a starter with a four-shutout inning effort this week where he gave up just one hit and no walks while striking out five. Kyle Wright (4.2 IP, 7 H, 5 ER, 2 BB, 4 K) and Kyle Muller (4.1 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 4 BB, 5 K, 3 WP) continued to struggle in the early part of the season while Connor Johnstone continued to make a solid contribution in his hybrid role with a one-inning scoreless relief outing and a nice start where he gave up two runs in five innings.
There were several solid relief contributors for the Stripers this week as arms continued to rotate between Gwinnett and Atlanta. Chasen Bradford had another multi-inning scoreless outing and now sports a 1.23 ERA in five appearances, Jay Flaa had a perfect one-inning appearance before being called up to Atlanta, Jesse Chavez had two hitless one-inning outings, Tanner Roark tossed 1.2 shutout innings in his first appearance as a Striper, Thomas Burrows struck out six and gave up just one run in a three-inning effort, Trevor Kelley had two scoreless outings, Jesse Biddle struck out two with no walks in a scoreless inning, and Shane Greene struck out the side while giving up one hit in his first inning while working his way toward the big club. Less fortunate were Daysbel Hernandez (2.1 IP, 4 H, 4 ER), Mitch Horacek (2.1 IP, 2 H, 2 ER), and Victor Arano (1 IP, 3 H, 2 ER).
Outfielder Drew Waters had a tremendous start to his week and although he had just one hit in his final four games, he still contributed a .333/.407/.625 line for the week with a double, two home runs, two steals, and an assist. Shortstop Orlando Arcia began to slow down from his terrific start with a 4-for-20 week although he struck out just twice over the six games. Catcher Jonathan Lucroy, who was pushed further down the depth chart with the Braves’ acquisition of Kevan Smith, was just 2-for-17 for the week with a home run while Alex Jackson returned on a rehab assignment and went 0-for-5 with four strikeouts.
POSITION PLAYER of the WEEK:
PITCHER of the WEEK:
Transaction Round-Up
4/28/2021: LHP Chris Nunn signed to a minor league contract
We knew thanks to Nunn’s social media that he had returned to the Braves, but the date of the signing was unannounced until this week. Nunn had a spring training invite with Atlanta in 2020, but chose free agency rather than an assignment at the Alternate Training Site after the shutdown.
5/8/2021: LHP Jake McSteen signed to a minor league contract
McSteen’s only pro experience was playing indy ball with the Joliet Slammers last season. Working with Tread Athletics online pitching academy helped him refine his stuff after four years with the University of Nebraska. McSteen must have impressed in extended spring training, because the 25-year-old was promoted to high-A Rome this week.
5/16/2021: C Jonathan Lucroy signed to a minor league contract
Likewise, reports of Lucroy’s signing broke last week, though there wasn’t an official announcement.
5/17/2021: LHP Tucker Davidson, IF Johan Camargo, RHP Edgar Santana recalled from AAA Gwinnett to Atlanta; RHP Huascar Ynoa placed on the 10-day injured list (broken hand), OF Ender Inciarte placed on the paternity list, LHP Jesse Biddle designated for assignment
Ynoa had solidly staked his claim to an Atlanta rotation spot before, as one OFR Facebook commenter said, “he failed Bull Durham 101″. Every setback of course is another man’s opportunity in this game and with Bryse Wilson having pitched on Sunday, Tucker Davidson got the first opportunity to try out of the open spot.
5/18/2021: RHP Chad Bryant placed on 7-day injured list; RHP Miguel Pena assigned to A Augusta from extended spring training
Bryant had started two games for the Greenjackets but had only pitched a total of 4.1 innings before hitting the shelf. Pena is a 22-year-old who last threw for the GCL Braves to the tune of a 1.88 ERA in nine appearances.
5/18/2021: RHP AJ Puckett assigned to AA Mississippi from A+ Rome; LHP Mitch Stallings assigned to A+ Rome from AA Mississippi
Puckett was acquired in the minor league Rule 5 draft this offseason from the White Sox after Puckett missed essentially three seasons between rehabbing from a UCL tear, a late decision to have surgery for the tear, and then the pandemic. A former 2nd-round draft pick, Puckett was making a case for a AA assignment before everything went sideways for him. Puckett just needs to show his was healthy and knock of some rust.
Getting assigned to AA after only 19 innings in A-ball was always going to be a challenge for Stallings, so the demotion here shouldn’t be too much of a surprise. Stallings has a chance to step in to the Rome rotation and build up some confidence.
5/18/2021: LHP Chris Nunn and RHP Emmanuel Ramirez assigned to AA Mississippi; RHPs Matt Hartman and Kurt Hoekstra placed on Developmental List
Ramirez was signed as a minor league free agent early in the offseason, while Nunn was signed only a few weeks ago. Both will get their first shots at AA. Nunn last threw at AA for the Tulsa Drillers in 2019, pitching to a 1.33 ERA in 14 relief appearances. Ramirez was in the same league, but pitching for the Amarillo Sod Poodles to a 4.15 ERA in 17 appearances, including 12 starts.
Both Hoekstra and Hartman have live arms and good stuff, but suffered from lack of control in the early going. Hartman had walked 8 in 5.2 innings over 3 relief appearances, while Hoekstra walked 9 in 6 innings. They will both try to get right working with pitching coach Dan Meyer.
5/18/2021: IF Riley Unroe assigned to AA Mississippi from AAA Gwinnett; OF Jefrey Ramos placed on Development List
Unroe had only gotten 14 at-bats with Gwinnett playing behind the likes of veterans Orlando Arcia, Johan Camargo, Yolmer Sanchez, and Sean Kazmar. Unroe will try to light a spark in what has been a surprisingly quiet Mississippi offense.
Ramos was only hitting .103/.133/.103 in 29 at-bats with Mississippi while sharing left field with Tyler Neslony and Jacob Pearson. None of the trio have hit particularly well to start the season.
5/18/2021: C Jonathan Lucroy assigned to AAA Gwinnett
Lucroy looked to be on the quick path to Atlanta, but the trade for Kevan Smith from the Tampa Bay Rays complicates the picture.
5/19/2021: LHP Tucker Davidson optioned to AAA Gwinnett; LHP Jesse Biddle outrighted to AAA Gwinnett
Davidson made a good impression in his second major league start, and should be in the queue for another appearance if the need arises. Biddle has struggles since his rookie year with Atlanta in 2018, and he’ll work to get back on track with Gwinnett.
5/19/2021: RHP Alger Hodgson placed on 7-day injured list; OF Drew Campbell activated from 7-day injured list for A Augusta.
Campbell was red hot at the plate when he went on the IL, and he came back hot as well, though once had to leave a game with continued problems with a leg injury.
5/20/2021: IF Johan Camargo optioned to AAA Gwinnett; C Jeff Mathis outrighted to AAA Gwinnett
Camargo was sent down when Ender Inciarte was activated from the paternity list for Atlanta. Mathis will back up Lucroy in a suddenly veteran-laded Stripers catching corps… and that’s not even county Alex Jackson, who joined the Stripers on a rehab assignment.
5/22/2021: RHP Jacob Webb optioned to AAA Gwinnett; RHP Shane Green activated for AAA Gwinnett; C Carlos Martinez placed on Development List for AAA Gwinnett
Webb had an awful last two weeks for Atlanta, including hitting Toronto outfielder Kevin Pillar in the face in a grisly scene and allowing the winning run in extra innings against the Pirates. He will try to get his head together with the Stripers. Greene will likely be headed in the opposite direction after he gets three of four appearances under his belt.
Martinez is the loser for now in the Great May Striper Catcher Influx.
5/22/2021: LHP Tanner Lawson placed on the 7-day injured list; LHP Jake McSteen assigned to A+ Rome from extended spring training
Lawson made a start on Tuesday but was not sharp, walking 3 in 2 innings and generally looking uncomfortable.
McSteen made his affiliate ball debut on Sunday, allowing 1 run in 2 innings.
5/23/2021: RHP Tanner Roark assigned to AAA Gwinnett
Roark had signed on May 11, but presumably had to pass through COVID protocols.
5/23/2021: RHP Bryse Wilson optioned to AAA Gwinnett; RHP Jay Flaa recalled to from AAA Gwinnett to Atlanta
Wilson has now only allowed 3 earned runs in the 12.2 innings of his last two major league starts, and looks to be in line to come back up when the Braves will need a fifth starter next week.
Flaa is an extra arm for the meantime.
5/23/2021: Placed IF Riley Delgado on the 7-day injured list; C Mitch Calandra activated from the Developmental List for A+ Rome
Delgado has been Rome’s more-or-less everyday third baseman after spending most of his minor league career at shortstop. One of the more dependable bats in the system, Delgado has been hitting .271/.348/.373 on the season. Kevin Josephina will likely fill in.
Calandra was a 30th-round pick out of Eckerd College in 2019.
Your Moment of Zen
Braves No. 21 prospect, Spencer Strider added 10 strikeouts last night in Low-A!
Raising his season total to 17 K in 22 batters faced (77.2% K rate) pic.twitter.com/y8TbwHeEzg
— Farm To Fame (@FarmToFame_) May 20, 2021
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