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.
Weekly Round-Up
FCL BRAVES:
The team had a productive and successful week as they went 4-0 with only one weather postponement. Braves pitching was top-notch this week, only allowing 5 runs to the opposing team in those 4 games.
The highlight of the week was a 2-hit shutout thrown against the Rays on Friday. Former third baseman Darling Florentino continued his transition to the mound with 3 hitless innings to start that game. Of the five runs allowed by Braves pitching all week, only 2 were earned. Right-hander Dylan Spain was particularly impressive, throwing 4 innings over two appearances, allowing one hit and throwing 100% strikes.
Shortstop Anderson De Los Santos got his first professional hit this week with an RBI single on Friday. Outfielder Tyler Collins continued to get on base early in his pro career, collecting 3 hits in 8 plate appearances and stealing two bases. Augusta outfielder Drew Campbell, on the injured list for most of the season, was sent to North Port on a rehab assignment and appeared in the game on Saturday.
AUGUSTA:
The hapless 26-58 Kannapolis Cannonballers came to town last week and remained hapless. The GreenJackets recorded their first series sweep of the season and just their fourth winning series, improving their record to 40-50. The schedule turns much harder now as they travel to Zebulon, NC to face the Central division-leading Carolina Mudcats.
Augusta got several notable pitching performances this week, and it started on Tuesday with right-hander Tanner Gordon going 7 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 10 SO, catapulting himself back up to high-A Rome in the process. This created a spot in the rotation for right-hander Ryan Cusick, the 1st-round 2021 pick out of Wake Forest, to join the team. He responded with an impressive debut, allowing only 1 hit in three scoreless innings while striking out 7 on Thursday. In between, Rainery Rodriguez had a strong 7 IP, 3 R, 0 BB, 7 SO start as well. On Friday, 12th-round pick Andrew Hoffman looked good in his second start, allowing one run in 3 innings while striking out 7.
The pièce de résistance of the week however was the start by 19-year-old right-hander Joey Estes on Saturday. Estes threw the first complete game of the season by any pitcher in the organization, striking out a career high 14 batters while allowing just 4 hits and 2 runs and walking none, the lone scoring play a third-inning two-run home run. Estes threw a career-high 106 pitches; manager Michael Saunders seemed ready to pull Estes after he allowed a two-out single in the 9th inning, but Estes persuaded his manager to let him finish. Saunders was rewarded after Estes induced the next batter to fly out.
The bullpen had an exceptionally good week, lead by right-hander Rolddy Muñoz, who threw 5 shutout innings over two outings, including an impressive 3-inning hold on Sunday in relief of starter Chad Bryant. Ben Thompson, James Acuna, Alec Barger, Benjamin Dum, and Lisandro Santos each contributed two scoreless innings apiece.
Estes was backed in his start by home runs from Bryson Horne and Landon Stephens as the power bats that were stymied by Charleston the week before came back to life. Stephens had two homers for the week, and Vaughn Grissom roared back with a .435/.519/.609 week that included two doubles, a triple, and a stolen base. Tyler Tolve, the 2021 17th-rounder out of Kennesaw State, went 6-for-14 with his first professional home run. Infielders Cade Bunnell and Cal Conley and outfielder Willie Carter also homered.
ROME:
The Romans marched into Hickory, NC under heavy cloud cover, and the two had to tussle with three separate postponements, including the final game on Sunday which will have to be made up in September. Rome went 3-2 in the shortened and soggy week. Rome’s record is now 40-49.
Other than an 0-11 shutout on Friday night, Rome had one of their better offensive weeks in awhile. Jesse Franklin shook off a couple of tough weeks to bounce back with a .375/.444/.813 effort with 2 home runs. Infielder Riley Delgado returned to the team and went 5-for-14, while Michael Harris went 5-for-13 with 2 walks. Infielder Brett Langhorne, pressed into being the primary first baseman with the trade of Bryce Ball and an injury to Kevin Josephina, responded by going 5-for-15 with a double, homer, and 4 RBI.
Infielder Beau Philip has had a tough 2021 season production-wise, but he seems to have turned a corner in August. Philip had his best week of the season, going 6-for-16 with a homer and a double with 2 stolen bases. Philip has been pushed to play more third base with the addition of 2021 draftee Luke Waddell to the roster, and he’s shown he has the arm and range for the position, giving more evidence that he could handle a future utility role if he can build upon this resurgent offensive production.
Left-hander Jared Shuster pitched two games this week, throwing 4 innings on Tuesday and allowing 2 runs and then throwing 3 innings, allowing only 1 run on 2 hits on Sunday. Right-hander Jake McSteen has been Rome’s most consistent starter this month, and he provided 7 innings in his start, allowing only 3 hits and 2 runs while striking out a career-high 9 batters. Right-hander Darius Vines battled his stuff in his start, but provided a solid 6 innings, allowing 2 runs.
The bullpen was roughed up a good bit this week, but right-hander Matt Hartman pitched 2 hitless and scoreless innings in relief of McSteen.
MISSISSIPPI:
The Mississippi Braves returned home to face the last-place Biloxi Shuckers with an opportunity to extend their lead in the South Division. Unlike the last time they faced this situation several weeks ago in which they were swept, the M-Braves took five out of six this week and now hold a 2 ½ game division lead over Montgomery with no other teams being within eight games of first place with thirty games remaining. The M-Braves this week face a big test as they visit Montgomery with an opportunity to essentially put away the division if they dominate the series.
M-Braves starting pitching was spectacular this week, highlighted by Victor Vodnik’s five innings of no-hit baseball on Friday night where he struck out nine and walked just one. Following close behind was Alan Rangel, who threw six shutout innings of two-hit baseball and struck out ten in just his second Double-A start. Bryce Elder once again made opposing hitters look silly with six shutout innings where he allowed just three hits while striking out nine. Spencer Strider got roughed up in his first inning of work and left relatively early after giving up four runs in four innings while Freddy Tarnok had mixed results in his two starts this week (5.1 IP, 2 ER and 4 IP, 4 ER).
The Mississippi bullpen continued its tremendous support, led by Indigo Diaz, who pitched just 1.1 innings this week but was perfect in raising his scoreless innings streak for Mississippi up to eleven. Odalvi Javier and Daysbel Hernandez each had a two scoreless-inning appearance this week while Brandon White and Sean McLaughlin each had two scoreless outings. Brooks Wilson lost a group effort no-hitter in the ninth inning on Friday night as he gave up a home run but quickly bounced back with a perfect inning with three strikeouts on Saturday to lower his season ERA to 1.96.
The M-Braves leader in RBI this week was from an unexpected source: outfielder Jacob Pearson drove in seven runs in only three games by going 4-for-8 with a home run. Infielder Wendell Rijo continued to provide solid support with three doubles, a home run, and three RBI (.381/.409/.667). Drew Lugbauer hit two home runs during his first game of the week but then went 1-for-15 for the rest of the week with two three-strikeout games. Shortstop Braden Shewmake was just 5-for-19 during the week but he had three doubles and a home run. Third baseman CJ Alexander had similar results with a 4-for-15 week with a triple and two home runs. Outfielder Justin Dean provided little help from the leadoff spot with a 1-for-19 week although he struck out just once.
GWINNETT:
The Gwinnett Stripers hosted first-place Durham this week with a chance to make up significant ground in the division. They were partially successful, taking four out of six games to bring the Stripers to within 7 ½ games of first place. Gwinnett will now hit the road to face old friend Ender Inciarte and the Louisville Bats next week.
Gwinnett starting pitching had similar results to last week in that Jose Rodriguez had a second consecutive scoreless start, this time going 5.2 innings and giving up just three hits and a walk. Kyle Wright also had a decent start, giving up just two earned runs over five innings. Huascar Ynoa and Ian Anderson continued their rehab stints: Ynoa tossed four scoreless innings before the wheels came off in the fifth (4.2 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 4 BB, 7 K, 83 pitches) while Anderson produced nothing but threes (3 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 3 K) on 64 pitches. Ynoa was deemed ready to return to the big-league club and will start for Atlanta in Miami on Tuesday while Anderson will likely need one or two more rehab starts. Nolan Kingham and Jasseel De La Cruz’s struggles continued as Kingham gave up six runs in five innings, raising his Triple-A ERA to 10.13, while De La Cruz failed to retire a batter, allowing three runs before being removed due to injury.
With A.J. Minter and Jacob Webb being called back up to Atlanta, the Stripers bullpen took on a significantly different look this week. Yoan Lopez, Victor Arano, and Sean Newcomb each recorded saves this week while Dylan Lee had three scoreless outings, lowering his season ERA to 1.77. Thomas Burrows had 3.1 scoreless and hitless innings over two appearances, striking out six and walking four. Tanner Roark tossed three scoreless innings over two outings, lowering his season ERA to 2.65.
The Gwinnett offense wasn’t as prolific as in past weeks, producing just 22 runs over six games. Outfielder Cristian Pache had a tremendous week, going 7-for-17 with two doubles, a home run, a stolen base, and six RBI (.412/.444/.706). Fellow outfielder Drew Waters only played in four games and was 3-for-12 with a stolen base. Infielder Ryan Goins was 5-for-14 with two home runs and four RBI while Johan Camargo was 7-for-20 with a double and triple. Rehabbing outfielder Eddie Rosario was just 1-for-17 with two RBI.
POSITION PLAYER of the WEEK:
PITCHER of the WEEK:
Transaction Round-Up
- 8/10/2021: LHP A.J. Minter recalled from AAA Gwinnett; RHP Shane Greene designated for assignment
Minter had been literally unhittable in 7 appearances since being demoted. Greene had not made an appearance for Atlanta since July 30; in the month of July he had given up 5 walks and 4 home runs in 10 appearances. Greene was given his outright release on Saturday.
- 8/10/2021: LHP Corbin Clouse assigned to AA Mississippi from FLC Braves; RHP Matt Withrow placed on developmental list for AA Mississippi
Clouse has been in the organization since 2016 and had to have shoulder surgery in 2019. He had been on an unofficial rehab assignment since mid-July, appearing in five games.
Withrow has been excellent in 20 appearances for Mississippi this season, but had been scored upon in three of his last four appearances. This seems like a chance for him to rest the arm for a short while.
- 8/10/2021: IF Riley Unroe activated from 7-day IL for AA Mississippi; IF Riley Delgado and C Carlos Martinez assigned to A+ Rome from AA Mississippi
The return to health of Riley Unroe meant a return to Rome for Delgado. With Logan Brown hurt, Martinez goes to Rome as catcher reinforcement.
- 8/11/2021: C Travis d’Arnaud activated from the 60-day IL for Atlanta; C Kevan Smith designated for assignment
The catching position for Atlanta had been among the least productive in baseball since d’Arnaud and the now-traded Alex Jackson were injured in the same game on May 1. In his final rehab game with Gwinnett on August 8, d’Arnaud had a game-winning walk-off hit against Charlotte.
Smith elected free agency rather than an assignment to AAA Gwinnett.
- 8/11/2021: RHP Tanner Gordon assigned to A+ Rome from A Augusta; RHP Ryan Cusick assigned to A Augusta
The Braves 1st-round pick went straight to low-A Augusta and had an impressive debut. After an initial Rome assignment, Gordon had found success in the Augusta rotation. He returns to Rome after 11 starts with the Jackets, pitching to a 3.43 ERA and striking out 65 in 57.2 innings.
- 8/12/2021: 2B Jason Kipnis activated from the 7-day IL for AAA Gwinnett
The two-time All-Star for Cleveland has batted .266/.365/.461 for Gwinnett in 148 PAs, which hasn’t been enough to see him get major league action over the likes of Pablo Sandoval or Abraham Almonte.
- 8/13/2021: LHP Kyle Muller optioned to AAA Gwinnett; RHP Jacob Webb recalled from AAA Gwinnett in 148 PAs,
In a five-start stint with Atlanta, Muller had allowed a .204/.310/.245 batting line against in his first three starts, then a .269/.394/.462 line in his last two. Muller will get his chances, but first he will go back down to Gwinnett to see about finding his fastball command. Nevertheless, it has been a successful first major league stint for the big lefty. Huascar Ynoa is expected to return to the rotation in Muller’s spot on Tuesday.
Since a disastrous 10th-inning against the Pirates on May 21, Webb has pitched 24.1 innings over 23 appearances (3 with Atlanta), allowed only 5 earned runs (1.93 ERA) and striking out 29 against only 7 walks.
- 8/13/2021: IF Kevin Josephina placed on 60-day IL for A+ Rome
One of the “glue” players for the team, Josephina had made appearances at first, third, and DH for Rome in 2021. Josephina has been in the Braves organization since signing as a 16-year-old out of Curacao in 2014.
- 8/13/2021: RHP Jared Johnson assigned to FCL Braves from A Augusta
The 2019 14th-rounder has had mixed success since coming up to Augusta in mid-June. The stuff is there, but lack of command is making it too hittable. He will try to try to improve in a lower-pressure environment.
- 8/13/2021: C Liam McGill assigned to FCL Braves
The 2021 9th-rounder joins a cacophony of catchers on the FCL Braves roster.
- 8/15/2021: 1B Griffin Benson released from FCL Braves
Benson was the 23rd-round pick in 2016 and had last played with low-A Rome in 2019, hitting .208/.318/.392 with 13 home runs. He had been on the developmental list all season and had not gotten an official plate appearance all season.
Your Moment of Zen
JOEY ESTES. COMPLETE GAME. #CatchTheBuzz x #ForTheA pic.twitter.com/iC9Udd23Pk
— Augusta GreenJackets (@GreenJackets) August 15, 2021
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