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.
Check out the OFR Farm Report tomorrow for more observations and insights.
A Good Week for the 30th-Ranked Farm System
Recently both Fangraphs and ESPN ranked the Atlanta Braves farm system dead last among the 30 major league teams. To be fair, the Braves are ranked last for the best possible reason — they have used their talent to win a World Series. This season they graduated two impact players from the farm system, Michael Harris II and Spencer Strider, who have a very good chance of finishing 1-2 in National League Rookie of the Year voting.
That said, this week was a very good week for the farm. The most notable event was the promotion of infielder Vaughn Grissom to Atlanta from AA Mississippi, and Grissom playing a key roll in the five wins against Boston and Miami that the Braves achieved with Grissom in the line-up. If Grissom continues to hit well it will be difficult for the Braves to send him back to the minors even if veterans Ozzie Albies and Orlando Arcia return to health.
Rookies Kyle Muller and Bryce Elder were called upon to start games in Miami and both responded. Muller allowed two runs in five innings and was in control most of the outing despite pitching with a broken non-throwing hand, memorably covered with a soft cast and a women’s softball glove bought from a sporting good store. Elder reminded everyone why he he was tabbed as the fifth starter earlier in the season, throwing 7 innings and allowing only one run on three hits and getting 6 groundball outs.
On the opposite end of the organizational ladder, top 2022 draft picks Owen Murphy, JR Ritchie, and Blake Burkhalter got their first pro assignments for the FCL Braves. Top collegiate picks like catcher Drake Baldwin and third baseman David McCabe were promoted to Augusta and helped the team win four of six against a Carolina League division leader.
In between, right-hander Darius Vines made his AAA debut on Sunday — after having his planned debut on Friday scratched in case he was needed in Atlanta. Vines has been the the hottest pitcher in the Southern League for the last two months and leaves them as the current strikeout leader with 127 — 18 Ks more than the next highest pitcher, M-Braves teammate Alan Rangel.
Having the 30th-ranked farm system does mean the Braves would be hard-pressed to make the kind of deals we saw at the trade deadline that the Padres made for Juan Soto and Josh Bell, or the Mariners made for Luis Castillo from the Reds. But at least so far, it hasn’t mattered and it could be argued that no farm system (outside perhaps the Baltimore Orioles’) has had a bigger impact this year on their big-league team. -AH
Weekly Round-Up
COMPLEX LEAGUES:
The DSL Braves went 3-4 on the week. The team got a stand-out starting pitching performance from right-hander Yorvi Pirela, pressed into the rotation for a doubleheader. The 17-year-old gave the team 5 shutout innings, allowing only 3 hits and 2 walks and striking out two. Righty Didier Fuentes continued to do good work, allowing one run in 4 innings and striking out 7. His season ERA stands at 1.77 and he has struck out 38 batters in 35.2 innings while walking inly 7.
Top DSL prospect Diego Benitez hit .313/.417/.375 in six games, his best weekly showing so far this season. Infielder Yorfran Nieves has been seeing increased playing time in August and he responded last week by hitting .300/.391/.400 while seeing time at third and first base.
The FCL squad saw most of the college-aged 2022 position player draftees promoted to Augusta and the prep school pitching draftees start to trickle onto the roster. While all that was happening around him, 5th-rounder Ignacio Alvarez continued to hit, going 7-for-18 with a triple, homer, 5 walks, and 2 stolen bases. Catcher Harry Owen joined the squad this week and hit a home run in his first professional at-bat.
First-rounders Owen Murphy and JR Ritchie got their first taste of pro baseball. Murphy tossed two innings of shutout ball on Friday while Ritchie matched that the following day. Right-handers Cedric De Grandpre, Landon Harper, and William Silva all successfully debuted as well, pitching without allowing a run. Rolando Guitierrez had his longest start since coming over from the DSL, giving up 6 hits and 1 run in 4.1 innings. The 20-year-old Dominican has a 1.64 ERA in 38.1 innings between the two complex teams.
AUGUSTA:
Augusta concluded their northern road trip at Carolina League North Division leader Fredericksburg this week and won four of the six games, evening their season record at 20-20, now 4.5 games back of first place Charleston, though still in fifth place in the division. Augusta will host Charleston this week for seven games with a scheduled Thursday doubleheader to make up for a July 10 rainout in which the RiverDogs will be the “home” team.
Augusta featured a new-look offense with six new position players, all 2022 draft selections, added to the roster. They made a statement on Tuesday, beating the Nationals 13-11 and scoring 43 runs over the course of the week. Infielders Keyshawn Ogans and E.J. Exposito got off to particularly good starts, hitting .429 and .368. Third baseman David McCabe went .316/.364/.421 and drove in 6 runs on the week. Not to be outdone, incumbent outfielder Kadon Morton hit a homer and was on base at a .478 clip, shortstop Francisco Floyd hit .385/.500/.462 in four games, and catcher Adam Zebrowksi and outfielder Stephen Paolini each socked two dingers.
The Jackets needed the bats because the starting pitching was shaky. Rainery Rodriguez had by far his worst week at this level, getting in two starts and getting hammered in both. On Tuesday he allowed 8 runs (7 earned) on 10 hits in four innings. Sunday was even worse, leaving the game after 8 batters and only getting two outs while allowing 6 runs on 6 hits. Lefty Samuel Strickland allowed 4 runs in 5 innings on Friday, getting the win thanks to the offense getting 5 runs early on route to a 7-4 Augusta victory. Newcomer Ian Mejia had an impressive albeit abbreviated start on Thursday, pitching 2.1 no-hit innings.
ROME:
Rome took care of business in Asheville last week, winning four of six on the road and expanding their division lead to 3.5 games over second-place Bowling Green. The 29-13 R-Braves will come home this week to face Greensboro with right-hander Mike Soroka reportedly set to begin a long-anticipated rehab assignment with the club.
The new-look Rome offense — now without Landon Stephens and Javier Valdes after promotions to AA Mississippi — continued to do well. Newcomer Geraldo Quintero hit .278/.480/.444 on the week while playing second and third. Catcher Tyler Tolve caught four of the five games and served as the DH on Sunday and he responded with a .364/.440/.864 week, swatting 3 home runs and 2 doubles to earn the OFR Position Player of the Week award. Shortstop Cal Conley didn’t have an extra base hit this week but was on base at a .375 clip and scored 7 runs and stole 2 bases. Outfielder Drew Campbell slugged two home runs this week. Newcomer Brandon Parker however only hit .191/.182/.286 in his first exposure to the level, though he did knock in 5 runs on the week.
Rome has somewhat of a makeshift rotation at the moment and it was a little leaky this week. Recent bullpen members Jose Montilla (3.2 IP, 6 H, 2 R), Dylan Spain (3.1 IP, 7 H, 4 R), and Jake McSteen (0.2 IP, 5 H, 6 R) were pressed into starting duty. Some ragged defensive play behind him sabotaged lefty Luis De Avila as he couldn’t get out of the fifth on Tuesday, giving up 5 runs (2 earned). Righty J.J. Niekro scattered 11 hits and gave up 5 runs (4 earned) on Friday in 6.1 innings but was backed by 9 runs for a win. Even the normally shut-down Rome bullpen was hit hard this week, with only right-handers Austin Smith (2 appearances, 3 innings, 2 hits, 0 runs) the only reliever with multiple outings without allowing a run.
MISSISSIPPI:
The Mississippi Braves had some excitement in their road series against the Tennessee Smokies this week: first, number one prospect Vaughn Grissom got called up to Atlanta following Tuesday’s game and then the M-Braves overcame an early 12-3 deficit to win 16-14 on Friday night, which turned out to be the highest overall scoring game in their history. The rest of the series, however, went rather poorly as they lost four of six games to fall five games back of Montgomery in the Southern League South Division. The M-Braves now return home to face the Pensacola Blue Wahoos this week.
The M-Braves received three very solid starts from their rotation this week: Tanner Gordon, who has had a rather rough go of it in Double-A so far, gave up three runs over seven innings on Wednesday on just 75 pitches, earning the coveted OFR Pitcher of the Week award. Alan Rangel and Dylan Dodd had matching one run in five inning-efforts where each allowed just four baserunners. Roddery Munoz’s first Double-A start started off ok, he gave up a solo home run in the first inning but retired the other three batters. In the second inning, however, the wheels came off and then some. Three walks, two singles, three errors, a grand slam, and no retired batters later, Munoz left with the following line: 1 IP, 4 H, 9 R, 7 ER, 3 BB, 2 K, 2 HR.
In the bullpen, Jake Higginbotham had three scoreless one-inning outings while Kyle Wilcox, Jason Creasy, Justin Yeager, Justin Maese, and the rehabbing Jasseel De La Cruz each recorded two such efforts.
2B/OF Cody Milligan had a huge week from the leadoff spot as he had four multi-hit games during an 11-for-26 week with four doubles (.423/.483/.577). Catcher Javier Valdes impressed in his first week after being promoted from Rome with a 7-for-19 week with a double, two home runs, and eight RBI (.368/.478/.737). 1B-RF Landon Stephens did not make much contact in his first week at Double-A but when he did, he made it count (4-for-22, 3 HR, 4 RBI, 10 K). Outfielder Justyn-Henry Malloy had just four hits in 28 plate appearances but two were doubles and one was for a home run to go along with eight walks (.200/.429/.450). 1B/DH Drew Lugbauer was just 3-for-18 but he had two doubles and a home run during a .167/.375/.444 week to take over the Southern League home run lead.
GWINNETT:
The Gwinnett Stripers visited Nashville this week for a series against the Sounds. After being rained out on Tuesday and dropping three of the first four games in the series, they Stripers took the final two games of the weekend to salvage a series split. Gwinnett now has a 53-58 record, seventh in the International League West Division, 13 ½ games out of first place. The Stripers now return home to start a series against the Memphis Redbirds.
The highlight for the Gwinnett rotation this week was Freddy Tarnok, who gave up just one run over five innings. In five Triple-A starts, Tarnok now has a 2.03 ERA over 26.2 innings with a 0.94 WHIP. Jared Shuster didn’t have his best stuff during his Wednesday start but muddled through to give up just two runs over 4.2 innings while scattering eight baserunners. Darius Vines had a nice Triple-A debut as he gave up three runs over six innings on Sunday. Huascar Ynoa had a terrible start this week as he only retired two batters during his Thursday start, giving up five runs and three home runs.
Connor Johnstone had a nice week out of the bullpen as he tossed 4.1 scoreless innings spread over two outings. Jacob Webb had three scoreless one-inning outings including a save while Danny Young and Tyler Ferguson had two scoreless one-inning efforts each.
The Gwinnett offense only managed to score 19 runs in their six games and twelve of those were in their two wins to close out the week. Hernan Perez was the only Striper to have more than four hits for the week (6-for-25, 2B, SB). Outfielder Travis Demeritte was just 2-for-18 with twelve strikeouts and is now batting just .207 with a .648 OPS for the season. Catcher Hendrik Clementina was just 1-for-13 in his first week at Triple-A with a home run and three errors.
POSITION PLAYER of the WEEK:
PITCHER of the WEEK:
Transaction Round-Up
- 8/8/2022: Cs Harry Owen and Wiston Cerrato assigned to FCL Braves
Cerrato’s assignment was a paper move as he is out for the season with an injury. Owen is an undrafted free agent with upside and should command a good number of reps for the FCL Braves behind the plate the rest of the season.
- 8/8/2022: OF Connor Blair and 2B Brian Klein released by A Augusta
The same day he was named OFR Position Player of the Week Connor Blair was cut loose by the organization. Harsh. The 2019 15th rounder from the University of Washington had been plagued with injuries during his tenure in the Braves organization. Brian Klein was a minor league free agent signing who filled bench roles for Augusta and Rome over the course of the season but didn’t have a spot once the new draftees were ready for assignment (see below).
- 8/9/2022: Cs Andrew Keck and Drake Baldwin; IFs Keyshawn Ogans, David McCabe, E.J. Exposito, and Justin Janas; and RHP Ian Mejia assigned to A Augusta from FCL Braves
The first group of 2022 draft picks get their full-season assignments. All of them are players with at least two seasons of colligate experience.
- 8/9/2022: C Victor De Hoyos, IF Geraldo Quintero, OF Brandon Parker, and RHP Miguel Pena assigned to A+ Rome from A Augusta
Parker and Quintero were two of the better offensive performers this season for Augusta and move up to both clear space for 2022 draft picks in Augusta and backfill for players who moved up from Rome. De Hoyos is an organizational catcher who is Rome for the same reasons. Miguel Pena has been one of the more dependable arms in Augusta’s bullpen this year. With Rome now trying several relievers in starting rolls, they need arms to fill out the ‘pen.
- 8/9/2022: C Javier Valdes and RHP Roddery Munoz assigned to AA Mississippi from A+ Rome; RHP Nolan Kingham assigned to AA Mississippi from AAA Gwinnett; RHP Coleman Huntley placed on the Developmental List
Valdes and Munoz have played well most of the season but especially over the last six weeks. Kingham was sent to Mississippi to help fill out the rotation, but he didn’t stay long.
Huntley was a bullpen stalwart for Mississippi early in the season but has pitched more sparingly and less effectively in July and August.
- 8/9/2022: C Hendrik Clementina and RHP Darius Vines assigned to AAA Gwinnett from AA Mississippi; SS Braden Shewmake placed on the 7-day injured list for AAA Gwinnett
Vines had pretty much been the hottest pitcher in the minor leagues for the last six weeks and earned the promotion. Clementina backfills for Chadwick Tromp, who was promoted to Atlanta last week to help with the catching load in the wake of Travis d’Arnaud‘s leg injury in New York.
Shewmake was placed on the injured list with a torn posterior cruciate ligament in his left knee as the result of a collision on the field with outfielder Travis Demeritte. He is likely out for the season.
- 8/9/2022: IFs Jose Dilone and Luis Moreno and OF Ethan Workinger assigned to FCL Braves from A+ Rome
Rome had been undermanned after a series of emergency promotions to Mississippi so Dilone, Moreno, and Workinger were sent to fill in the bench. With the promotions of Parker and Quintero, these three can go back to their appropriate competitive level.
- 8/10/2022: IF Vaughn Grissom contract selected from AA Mississippi by Atlanta and RHP Kirby Yates activated from 60-day injured list; IF Orlando Arcia placed on 10-day injured list; OF Adam Duvall transferred from 10-day injured list to 60-day injured list; 1B Mike Ford activated from 10-day injured list and released; RHP Huascar Ynoa optioned to AAA Gwinnett
Arcia suffered a straining hamstring rounding the bag at first on what would have been a double. That lead to a flurry of transactions, the most significant being the promotion of consensus top Braves prospect Vaughn Grissom from AA Mississippi, the team hoping that lightning strikes twice and Grissom proves as impactful as his friend Michael Harris did when he was promoted from AA. So far, that has definitely been the case.
Kirby Yates also made his long-awaited Braves debut, pitching in the majors for the first time since 2020. To make room on the 40-man roster the Braves moved Duvall, who will not return this season after undergoing wrist surgery, to the 60-day injured list and released Mike Ford.
- 8/10/2022: IF Cade Bunnell assigned to AA Mississippi from A+ Rome
This is the third time Bunnell has filled in at Mississippi, and this time may stick assuming Grissom doesn’t get sent back to the M-Braves.
- 8/10/2022: RHPs William Silva, Adam Maier, and Cole Phillips assigned to FCL Braves; Maier and Phillips placed on the 60-day injured list
More 2022 draftee assignments, though Maier and Phillips are on the mend from pre-draft surgeries and will not pitch this season.
- 8/11/2022: LHP Max Fried placed on the 7-day concussion list (retroactive to 8/8); recalled RHP Jay Jackson
Fried banged his head after falling to the ground on a play against the Mets. He stayed in the game and pitched the next three innings but reportedly experienced concussion symptoms afterwards. Fried and the team are hoping that he will be cleared to pitch in time for the fourth game of the upcoming home series against the Mets.
- 8/12/2022: OF Guillermo Heredia recalled from AAA Gwinnett; IF Ehrie Adrianza placed on the 10-day injured list
Adrianza reportedly test positive for COVID-19. Heredia was still travelling with the team so he was activated when Adrianza became suddenly unavailable. The team went the weekend essentially without a reserve infielder.
- 8/12/2022: RHPs Owen Murphy, Hunter Riggins, and Cedric De Grandpre assigned to FCL Braves
More 2022 draftee assignments, including first rounder Murphy.
- 8/13/2022: LHP Kyle Muller recalled from AAA Gwinnett; RHP Jay Jackson optioned to AAA Gwinnett; RHP Ian Anderson designed the 27th-man for Saturday’s doubleheader
- 8/14/2022: RHP Bryce Elder recalled from AAA Gwinnett; LHP Kyle Muller optioned to AAA Gwinnett; RHP Ian Anderson returned to AAA Gwinnett
Between Fried’s concussion, right-hander Kyle Wright arm soreness, and the Braves’ desire to re-set the rotation for this week’s series against the Mets, Atlanta essentially used their 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th starters against the Marlins. The results: 22 innings, 21 hits, 7 earned runs, 6 walks, and 23 strikeouts with Atlanta winning all four games.
- 8/13/2022: RHPs Nolan Kingham and Odalvi Javier assigned to AAA Gwinnett from AA Mississippi
Kingham started in place of Darius Vines, who was pulled from his planned Gwinnett debut, likely in case he would be needed for Atlanta. He wasn’t needed so Vines pitched Sunday for Gwinnett.
- 8/13/2022: RHPs JR Ritchie, Seth Keller, Landon Harper, and Black Burkhalter assigned to FCL Braves
Another batch of 2022 draftee assignments, this time with first rounder Ritchie and second rounder Burkhalter.
- 8/14/2022: RHP Odalvi Javier assigned to AA Mississippi Braves from AAA Gwinnett Stripers
Javier didn’t get a chance to make his AAA debut sadly. The Braves utilized I-40 between Nashville (where the Stripers were playing) and Seiverville (where the M-Braves were playing) so much that Tennessee has added three months to their 33-year construction project along the highway.
Your Moment of Zen
https://t.co/zTPGlJXmoj pic.twitter.com/dTVmL0PPNQ
— Gwinnett Stripers (@GoStripers) August 10, 2022
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