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
COMPLEX LEAGUES:
The DSL Braves went 2-3 on the week to drop their record to 15-13 on the season, squarely in the middle of the standings. Outfielder Douglas Glod emerged in his second week of play with a 4-for-11 performance that included his first pro homer. Right-hander Didier Fuentes continued his dominance, throwing 4 scoreless innings in his start while only allowing 1 hit, 1 walk, and striking out 6. In six starts this season, Fuentes has only allowed 3 earned runs and a .133/.217/.187 line against.
The story of the FCL Braves continues to be the work put in by players on rehab assignment, with the most-watched being right-hander Kirby Yates. The former Padres closer threw a scoreless inning on Saturday in his first game action since August 2020. Also on the mend are Jasseel De La Cruz (2 appearances, 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 4 SO) and Allan Winans (2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 SO) from the Stripers.
The FCL Braves got some solid offensive performances this week from outfielders Jair Casanova (8-for-20) and Luis Jose (4-for-12) while catcher Antonio Barranca hit a home run to provide the difference in a 2-1 win over the Red Sox that was the Braves only win on the week.
AUGUSTA:
After a rough start to the second half Augusta played a spirted series this week at home against the Fredericksburg Nationals, winning four of six games. Augusta is 7-13 on the half, their good week raising them out of the cellar and they will head to Columbia for a 3-game series after the All-Star break.
The rotation lost ace J.J. Niekro to promotion but didn’t miss a stride as the starters only gave up only 5 runs on the week. Right-hander Rainiery Rodriguez had bookend starts and pitched well, allowing 3 hits and no runs in 6 innings on Tuesday and following that up with a short 3-inning outing, giving up 2 hits and 1 run on Sunday. Teenager AJ Smith-Shawver tossed 6 strong innings in his start, allowing two runs on two hits and striking out 8 for his first professional Quality Start. Lefty Samuel Strickland threw 5 shutout innings in his start and has pithed to a 2.31 ERA in 4 starts and 2 relief appearances since coming off the injured list in early June.
Right-hander Ronaldo Alesandro continued his recent good work out of the Augusta ‘pen, tossing 3 scoreless innings across two appearances.
The offense scored 29 runs against the Fred-Nats, lead by OFR Position Player of the Week Kadon Morton, who has taken advantage of increased playing time in the absence of outfielder Brandol Mezquita. Morton went 8-for-17 with 3 doubles, a triple, and a three-run bomb in the first game of a doubleheader on Friday that put Augusta up 8-1. Infielders Braulio Vasquez and Geraldo Quintero were on the bases all week long, with Quintero going 10-for-23 and Vasquez 7-for-18 with a home run. Infielder Caleb Durbin launched two homers on the week, and part-time player Eliezel Stevens went 3-for-5 with a walk, a double, and a home run. Since Stevens’s promotion from the FCL, he has hit .526/.550/.789 over 20 plate appearances.
ROME:
Rome continued their blistering July, winning their series against arch-rival Bowling Green four games to two. Rome was able to expand their lead in the South Atlantic League South Division to 3.5 games over the Hot Rods going into the break despite losing four top contributors to promotion.
J.J. Niekro arrived from Augusta to help stem the loss of rotation stalwarts Andrew Hoffmann and Dylan Dodd. Niekro made a good first impression, throwing 6 innings on Tuesday and allowing only 1 run to win his high-A debut. Lefty Luis De Avila was even better on Thursday, shutting out Bowling Green for 6.1 innings while striking out 4. Right-hander Roddery Munoz got through 6 innings on Friday, allowing 3 earned runs on two homers but striking out 8 to otherwise limit the damage as the offense came through for a 10-5 win. Right-hander Landon Leach was the second pitcher to come up from Augusta but he fared less well in his start on Sunday, only getting through 5 outs thanks to giving up a grand slam in the second inning. Reliever Jake McSteen made an emergency start on Saturday and threw 4.1 shutout innings to help Rome to a 5-3 win.
Right-handers Austin Smith and Dylan Spain had two scoreless appearances apiece.
The top of the Rome line-up had a big overhaul with offensive stars Vaughn Grissom and Justyn-Henry Malloy joining Cody Milligan in Mississippi. In their place shortstop Cal Conley was promoted from Augusta and installed in the two-spot while first baseman Bryson Horne and infielder Jordan Cowan (technically on rehab assignment from AA Mississippi) rotated at three. For at least one week it worked, especially as Conley had a strong high-A debut, going 9-for-27 with two doubles, a homer, and a stolen base. Rome also got good performances from part-time outfielders Willie Carter (3-for-7, double, two homers) and Christian Robinson (6-for-14, three doubles, homer). Infielder Beau Philip also had a strong week, going 5-for-19 with 3 walks and a HBP, good for a .391 OBP and 5 runs scored along with two homers. Since mid-June, Philip has a .383 OBP and has settled into the role of primary third baseman.
MISSISSIPPI:
The Mississippi Braves showed off a new-look roster this week after the trade of long-time third baseman C.J. Alexander, the promotions of pitchers Freddy Tarnok and Tyler Ferguson to Triple-A Gwinnett, and the additions of Dylan Dodd, Lisandro Santos, Vaughn Grissom, and Justyn-Henry Malloy from High-A Rome. The new additions did not disappoint as they swept the Rocket City Trash Pandas in their first-ever visit to Trustmark Park. The M-Braves have now won six games in a row and nine of their last ten games. Mississippi’s record is now 14-4 in the second half, and they will visit second-place Montgomery on Friday after the break with a chance to extend their division lead.
Tanner Gordon gave up three runs in four innings during his start on Friday…and those were the only runs given up by a Mississippi starting pitcher this week. The M-Braves starters gave up just those three runs over 33 innings for a 0.82 ERA and a 0.73 WHIP. OFR Pitcher of the Week Jared Shuster led off the week with a dominant start, allowing just two hits and striking out twelve with no walks in seven innings of work. Hayden Deal followed up on Thursday during a spot start with four scoreless innings. On Friday, Darius Vines finished strong during his six shutout innings where he allowed just four baserunners. Alan Rangel scattered five baserunners over six scoreless innings on Saturday while Dylan Dodd, in his first Double-A start, finished the week strong with six scoreless innings of one-hit baseball on Sunday.
In the bullpen, Odalvi Javier had three more scoreless appearances with a win and a save and now has not given up an earned run in his last seventeen outings dating back to May 30th. Indigo Diaz had three scoreless outings covering 3.2 innings and newcomer Lisandro Santos tossed three scoreless innings over two outings with four strikeouts and no walks.
Shortstop Vaughn Grissom had as good a week as one could possibly imagine after his promotion from High-A Rome, he had three three-hit games during a 12-for-26 week with a triple, home run, three stolen bases, and five RBI (.462/.500/.654). Fellow newcomer Justyn-Henry Malloy’s were not as gaudy, but he had his moments including a three-run walk-off home run on Friday night (.250/.333/.417). First baseman Drew Lugbauer was 7-for-25 with two home runs (.280/.308/.560). Third baseman Yariel Gonzalez had two three-hit games in his .450/.542/.500 week. Outfielder Trey Harris had a solid week as he went 6-for-13 with two doubles and three RBI.
GWINNETT:
The Gwinnett Stripers concluded their two-series homestand against Durham this week, splitting the series in several low-scoring affairs. Once they return on Friday after the All-Star break, the 44-46 Stripers will visit Memphis for a short weekend series.
Among the primary starting pitchers for Gwinnett, only Huascar Ynoa had a rough week as he gave up six runs and two home runs over six innings. Freddy Tarnok’s first Triple-A start went very well as he gave up just one run on two hits and a walk over six innings. Bryce Elder had perhaps his best start of the season as he tossed seven shutout innings on an efficient 81 pitches. Kyle Muller once again had a solid start as he allowed just two runs over six innings with seven strikeouts and, once again, no walks. Tucker Davidson had a decent start on Saturday, giving up two runs over five innings, although on an inefficient 98 pitches.
Gwinnett’s bullpen got a tremendous week from Michael Tonkin, who threw three perfect one-inning outings with a save. Tyler Ferguson, in his first week at Triple-A after being called up from Mississippi, had two scoreless one-inning efforts. Silvino Bracho, Jay Jackson, Roel Ramirez, and Seth Elledge all had multiple scoreless outings.
The Gwinnett offense did not have a great week in their first series after the trade of Drew Waters to Kansas City. The Stripers scored just fourteen runs in six games while being shut out twice. 1B-DH Mike Ford had a solid week as he went 6-for-17 with four doubles and five walks (.353/.500/.588). Outfielder Greyson Jenista was 4-for-13 with two doubles and a home run while Hernan Perez had three multi-hit efforts in his four games during a 7-for-15 week. Shortstop Braden Shewmake played two games at second base during the week but was just 1-for-18 with a double although he also had a walk and three stolen bases.
POSITION PLAYER of the WEEK:
PITCHER of the WEEK:
Transaction Round-Up
- 7/10/2022: San Diego Padres traded 2B Robinson Canó to Atlanta for cash considerations
- 7/11/2022: Atlanta selects the contact of 2B Robinson Canó and activated outfielder Adam Duvall from the paternity list; 1B Mike Ford optioned to AAA Gwinnett and IF Phil Gosselin is designated for assignment
Canó is a borderline Hall-of-Famer (though with two PED suspensions on his record that will likely keep him on the outside). He was released from his contact by the Mets after 12 games despite being owed nearly $71 million left on his deal. He had been hitting .333/.375/.479 for AAA El Paso in the San Diego system when the Braves came calling. They will see if he has enough left in his left-handed bat to carry the larger part of a 2nd base platoon with Orlando Arcia until Ozzie Albies returns, reportedly as soon as late August.
- 7/11/2022: Traded OF Drew Waters (AAA Gwinnett), RHP Andrew Hoffmann, and 3B CJ Alexander (AA Mississippi) to the Kansas City Royals for the 35th pick in the 2022 Rule 4 draft.
As much as the draft pick itself, with which the Braves took prep right-hander J.R. Ritchie, the Braves added $2.2 million to their draft pool, giving them the ninth highest pool in the draft. However the Braves say goodbye to Waters, a talented but frustrating prospect who despite impressive tools had been mired at AAA since August 2019. Also leaving is 2021 12th-rounder Andrew Hoffmann, who impressed this season at high-A Rome before his promotion to AA Mississippi, where he didn’t get to pitch before being traded. Alexander climbed four levels in the organization the year he was drafted in 2018, but has been stuck in Mississippi since 2019 after injuries to his shoulder and wrist.
- 7/11/2022: RHP Landon Leach sent on rehab assignment to FCL Braves
- 7/15/2022: RHP Landon Leach assigned to A+ Rome from A Augusta and activated from the 7-day injured list
Leach has been solid for the Greenjackets as a starter this year, pitching to a 4.04 ERA in 9 starts. He will try to fill innings after the promotions of Andrew Hoffmann and Dylan Dodd to Mississippi (see next entry).
- 7/12/2022: RHP Tyler Ferguson assigned to AAA Gwinnett from AA Mississippi; SS Vaughn Grissom, OF Justyn-Henry Malloy, LHP Dylan Dodd, and LHP Lisandro Santos assigned to AA Mississippi from A+ Rome; IF Cade Bunnell assigned to A+ Rome from AA Mississippi; SS Cal Conley and RHP J.J. Niekro assigned to A+ Rome from A Augusta; 2B Brian Klein assigned to A Augusta from A+ Rome; SS Francisco Floyd assigned to A Augusta from FCL Braves
Mississippi gets an infusion of talent from Rome with two of the best hitters in the South Atlantic League moving up and immediately being slotted into the 2 and 3 spots for the M-Braves. Dylan Dodd essentially backfills the spot of former Rome rotation-mate Andrew Hoffmann, who was traded to Kansas City before even making his AA debut. Santos backfills for Ferguson, arguably the best reliever at Mississippi this year and finally giving the M-Braves a second lefty reliever alongside Jake Higginbotham.
Rome didn’t fare too badly despite the departures, getting their own backfills. Cade Bunnell comes back down after a one-week stint in Mississippi and will likely take over most of the duties at third. Conley will take over at short; the 22-year-old 4th rounder from Texas Tech hit .306/.378/.459 for Augusta since mid-June. Niekro has been Augusta’s best starter this year after beginning the season in the bullpen. As a starter he had a 1.73 ERA with 50 strikeouts against only 8 walks.
Augusta’s new shortstop is Francisco Floyd, who gets his first shot at full-season ball after spending time at the Braves complexes since 2019.
- 7/13/2022: RHP Kenley Jensen activated from the 15-day injured list for Atlanta; RHP Darren O’Day placed on the 15-day injured list (left calf muscle strain)
Jensen’s irregular heartbeat is apparently back under control, and he swaps out with O’Day, who has been the least effective Braves reliever recently (though his 4.15 ERA in 28 games hasn’t been horrible — the Atlanta bullpen is just really, really good).
- 7/14/2022: RHP Brandyn Sittinger released from AAA Gwinnett
The former Tiger and Diamondback farmhand had a 6.26 in 23 appearances with the Stripers, though most of that damage against was done earlier in the season. In his last 10 appearances with Gwinnett, Sittinger had a 1.86 ERA in 9.2 innings.
- 7/15/2022: C Zade Richardson signed to a minor league contract and assigned to A+ Rome
Richardson was a 22nd round pick by St. Louis in the 2019 draft and has played the last two seasons at high-A Peoria where he hit .174/.312/.335 in 419 plate appearances, though he did swat 12 homers last season. He will be the third catcher behind Tyler Tolve and Javier Valdes in Rome.
- 7/16/2022: RHP Kirby Yates sent on rehab assignment to the FCL Braves by Atlanta
Yates was a top-5 relievers in baseball from 2017-2019 before having first flexor tendon issues and then undergoing UCL replacement surgery that ruined his 2020 and 2021 seasons. The Braves will have time to evaluate him to see if he will be able to help before the trade deadline on August 2.
Your Moment of Zen
We have no words to describe this play from Kadon Morton… @ESPNAssignDesk #SCtop10 pic.twitter.com/sy2WYYcWmt
— Augusta GreenJackets (@GreenJackets) July 17, 2022
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