Happy Labor Day, and 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.
Weekly Round-Up
AUGUSTA:
Augusta hosted the Salem Red Sox for the first time and split the six-game series with them, the final homestand of 2022. They will go on the road to Kannapolis this week to wrap up the schedule. They will need to win at least one game in that series to clinch their first winning regular season record as a Braves affiliate.
The GreenJackets overcame a rough start by Jorge Bautista (6.1 IP, 4 H, 6 R, 4 BB, 4 SO) in the series opener by pounding out 13 hits, including home runs by EJ Exposito and Kadon Morton while relievers Rob Griswold and Juan Mateo shut down Salem for the final 3 innings to secure an 11-6 victory. Augusta dropped Game 2 by a 6-4 score despite a solid 3.2 inning start from Landon Harper (3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO).
The Jackets dropped the next two games by a combined score of 27-8. After a good first start for Augusta, 2022 first-rounder Owen Murphy was roughed up in his second on Friday, only retiring one batter and giving up 5 runs on 2 hits and 3 walks before getting to his 30-pitch limit. Augusta scored three runs in that game, all on solo home runs by Francisco Floyd, Stephen Paolini, and Kadon Morton.
Atlanta’s other first-rounder JR Ritchie also faced some adversity in his start on Saturday, giving up 2 runs on 2 hits and 3 walks in 2 innings, but superb relief work from Peyton Williams (4 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 SO) allowed the Jackets to come back for a 6-2 win, lead by DH Justin Janus’s first pro home run, a 3-run job in the 7th. Augusta put a bow on the home portion of their regular season schedule with a 9-6 win on Sunday behind a strong performance from Cedric De Granadpre (3.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 SO). Outfielder Ethan Workinger went 3-for-4 in that game with 4 RBI and hit .429/.500/.786 with 3 runs, 2 doubles, a homer, 6 RBI, and a stolen base for the whole series to earn the OFR Position Player of the Week.
ROME:
Trying to secure the best second-half record in the South Atlantic League South Division and a playoff berth, Rome stumbled in their final home series against Greenville this week, winning only one of five games with Sunday’s planned series finale rained out. Rome still has a 2.5 game lead in the standings as Bowling Green also stumbled this week, allowing Ashville to tie them for second place. Rome will travel to Hickory to conclude their schedule and hopefully secure a playoff spot and the right to face off against first-half winner Bowling Green in the first round starting on September 13.
Rome’s sole win of the week came courtesy of a stellar performance from left-hander Luis De Avila, who started Tuesday’s match up and put up 6 innings of 1-hit, shutout ball, striking out 10 to earn the OFR Pitcher of the Week award. Rome also got solid performances from Royber Salinas (5 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 9 SO) and Dylan Spain (4.2 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 7 SO).
Offensively it was somewhat a different story as the Braves were mostly punchless against Drive pitching. Infielder Beau Philip went 4-for-14 on the week while hitting the only Rome home run. Newcomers Brandol Mezquita (6-for-17) and Keshawn Ogans (3-for-10) also held their own.
MISSISSIPPI:
The Mississippi Braves returned home this week from a short road trip to Birmingham to take on the Tennessee Smokies. After dropping the first three games of the series and scoring a total of four runs, the M-Braves broke out in scoring nine runs in a Friday night victory before being rained out on Saturday and dropping the rain-shortened finale on Sunday. Mississippi’s record now stands at 28-27 for the second half, six games back of Montgomery with just twelve games remaining. The M-Braves now head to Biloxi for their final road trip of the season.
The M-Braves received strong starting pitching efforts this week from Dylan Dodd and Tanner Gordon. Dodd, who gave up just one earned run over six innings in his Wednesday start, now has a 3.22 ERA in seven Double-A starts. Gordon, who gave up one run in five innings of work, has a 2.90 ERA over his last six starts for Mississippi. Alan Rangel gave up three earned runs over five innings in his Friday start.
In the bullpen, Justin Yeager had four strikeouts and a save in two one-inning scoreless appearances. Indigo Diaz had another one-inning scoreless outing, stretching his scoreless outings streak to five. Diaz has a 1.50 ERA in his last seventeen outings since July 2nd. Jasseel De La Cruz had two relief outings for Mississippi this week and gave up four runs on six hits over two innings.
Cody Milligan returned to action after a brief absence and went 5-for-9 with four walks and an outfield assist over three games. Catcher Javier Valdes was just 2-for-12 but had seven walks and scored three times. Infielder Cade Bunnell was 3-for-12 with six walks and a double while Justyn-Henry Malloy was 4-for-16 with six walks, a double, and three runs scored. 1B Drew Lugbauer went just 1-for-19 for the week with eleven strikeouts and three walks while OF-DH Landon Stephens was 0-for-7 with seven strikeouts and an HBP.
GWINNETT:
The Gwinnett Stripers returned home this week for a series against the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp. In a relatively low-scoring series, the Stripers dropped four out of the five games with the exception being Mike Soroka’s start on Friday that was delayed by rain and completed on Saturday. Gwinnett’s record is now 61-67, 17.5 games out of first place. The Stripers now undergo a long road trip to Buffalo to face the Bisons.
The starting pitching was quite good this week with only Darius Vines allowing as many as three earned runs (over 4.2 innings on Saturday) during any start for the week. Jared Shuster gave up four runs, but only two earned, over five innings on Tuesday while Kyle Muller gave up just two earned runs over seven innings and an efficient 95 pitches on Wednesday. On Thursday, Ian Anderson gave up three runs (two earned) over 5.2 innings and 101 pitches. Mike Soroka pitched spectacularly on Friday, giving up just one hit and striking out five in four innings before being forced to leave due to a rain delay. Soroka was hoping to go 90 pitches but only managed to get to 61 before being forced to exit. Vines showed some rust during his first start in nearly three weeks as he left after 80 pitches.
In the bullpen, Connor Johnstone had a tremendous outing in tossing three scoreless innings in relief of Mike Soroka once play resumed on Saturday. Roel Ramirez struck out four over two innings during his lone appearance for the week while Seth Elledge and Victor Vodnik had matching solid relief efforts (1.1 IP, 0 R, 3 K).
The Gwinnett offense was once again led by Hernan Perez, who was 7-for-19 with two doubles, a home run, five RBI, and a stolen base (.368/.429/.632). OF-DH Alex Dickerson was 5-for-15 this week with all of his hits going for extra bases (three doubles, two home runs) with five RBI during a .333/.333/.933 week. 1B Tyler White was 4-for-11 with a home run, three RBI, and four walks. Ozzie Albies and Orlando Arcia both began rehab assignments with Gwinnett this week: Albies was 2-for-7 with and RBI in two games while Arcia was 1-for-8 over two games.
POSITION PLAYER of the WEEK:
PITCHER of the WEEK:
Transaction Round-Up
- 8/28/2022: IF Ryan Goins outrighted to AAA Gwinnett
Goins sticks in the system after getting five days to hang with the big league club in the rust belt.
- 8/30/2022: RHP Jesse Chavez claimed off waivers from the Los Angeles Angels
When word went out last week that the Angels were releasing Chavez, the immediate assumption from pretty much everyone was that he would return for a fourth stint with Atlanta. And he has.
- 8/30/2022: CF Jake Marisnick signed to a minor league contract, assigned to AAA Gwinnett
Marisnick is a slick-fielding centerfielder with speed who had spent the season with the Pirates, but most fans would likely remember him as a member of the 2014-19 Houston Astros. It would not be shocking to see Marisnick on a post-season roster in a Terrance Gore-type bench role.
- 8/30/2022: RHP Rolddy Munoz assigned to A+ Rome from A Augusta; RHP Landon Leach assigned to A Augusta from A+ Rome Developemental List; RHP Malcolm Van Buren assigned to A Augusta from A+ Rome
Munoz, the twin brother of Mississippi starter Roddery Munoz, began the season in high-A Rome with his brother but was roughed up and sent back down to Augusta before the end of April. He returns in place of Van Buren, who has been shaky for Rome in August.
Leach returns to the Augusta rotation where he has been the most successful in 2022.
- 8/31/2022: C Harry Owen assigned to A Augusta from FCL Braves
- 9/4/2022: C Victor De Hoyos placed on the Developmental List
Owen joins Drake Baldwin and Antonio Barranca in the Augusta catching mix.
- 9/1/2022: Activated RHP Jesse Chavez; transferred RHP Darren O’Day to the 60-day injured list; activated RHP Mike Soroka from the 60-day injured list and optioned him to AAA Gwinnett
News of O’Day having a toe injury came down around the same time as the Braves claiming Chavez. I’m not claiming one had anything to do with the other, I’m just casually referencing both things in the same sentence for no reason at all.
Now that Soroka is officially off the IL, there’s no longer a rehab assignment clock on him. He could be eligible to return to Atlanta by September 10, or sooner if he’s an injury replacement.
- 9/1/2022: C Dawson Dimon assigned to FCL Braves from AAA Gwinnett
Dimon was the emergency third catcher behind Ryan Casteel and Hendrick Clementina in Gwinnett. With Chadwick Tromp back with Gwinnett on rehab assignment, Dimon returns to the shelf. Given that since July 4 he had received 4 plate appearances over 2 games, it’s really just the same shelf but in a different spot.
- 9/3/2022: IF Keshawn Ogans assigned to A+ Rome from A Augusta; C Nick Clarno assigned to FCL Braves from A+ Augusta
Ogans, Atlanta’s 20th-round pick this year, hit .286/.364/.351 in 18 games with Augusta. With a glut of middle infielders looking for playing time with the Greenjackets, Ogans gets the bump up to help Rome for their playoff run.
- 9/3/2022: Recalled RHP Bryce Elder; optioned RHP Jay Jackson to AAA Gwinnett
Fifth starter Jake Odorizzi has arm fatigue, so they recalled Elder, who’s previous start in the majors was also against Miami and he held them to 3 hits and 1 run in 7 innings.
- 9/4/2022: RHP Jackson Stephens activated from the 7-day injured list (concussion) for Atlanta; RHP Bryce Elder optioned to AAA Gwinnett; RHP Connor Johnstone placed on the Development List for for AAA Gwinnett
Elder was once again brilliant against Miami, this time pitching 6 scoreless innings. He gives way to Stephens, who returns quickly from what looked like a nasty line-drive to the noggin.
- 9/4/2022: OF Kadon Morton assigned to A+ Rome from A Augusta; OF Drew Campbell placed on 7-day injured list
It’s been a slow burn for Morton, Atlanta’s 19th-round pick out of Seguin High School in 2019. Long in athletic skill and short on baseball experience, Morton had really started putting things together the second half of the season for Augusta, hitting .268/.371/.484 with 10 home runs over the last 90 days. He fills in for Campbell, a steady performer for Rome who had not played since Wednesday.
- 9/4/2022: OF Noah Williams assigned to A Augusta from FCL Braves
Williams, a 2022 18th-round pick from Redondo Union High School in California, is the next man up for Augusta as Morton moves up to Rome.
Your Moment of Zen
"𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝘁𝗿𝗮-𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲 𝗽𝗶𝘇𝘇𝗮 𝗯𝗼𝘅𝗲𝘀."
The minor leagues are testing grounds for potential new MLB rules.
Players and coaches with the @GoStripers, @mbraves and @TheRomeBraves offer their insight on the current experiments.#ATLProspectWeek pic.twitter.com/22rlCuo7NC
— Bally Sports South (@BallySportsSO) September 4, 2022
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