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.
Arizona Fall League Rosters Set
The Arizona Fall League, often called the minor leagues’ “finishing school”, is scheduled to start play on Monday, October 3 and concluding on November 10, followed by two rounds of one-and-done playoff game the following two days. The rosters for the six-team league were announced on Friday. The Braves heading to Arizona will be playing for the Scottsdale Scorpions this season, joined by contingents from the Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Angels, and San Francisco Giants.
The Braves contingent is lead by Mississippi outfielder Justyn-Henry Malloy, who with the graduation of Michael Harris and the upcoming graduation of Vaughn Grissom will likely be considered by most prospect watchers to be Atlanta’s top position-player prospect. Joining him will be shortstop Cal Conley, who finished the 2022 season with Rome.
On the pitching side, Atlanta will send former Rule 5 draftee Allan Winans, who is coming off a good stretch with Mississippi after missing over half the season with injury. Also making up for lost time are right-hander Jose Montilla and lefty Alex Segal, both of whom impressed when they were finally able to return to action. Montilla pitched to a 2.35 ERA in 12 games, including 2 spot starts. Segal got into 9 games and posted a 0.79 ERA in 11.1 innings. Right-hander Austin Smith completes the contingent after leading Rome in appearances out of the bullpen with 45, throwing 48.2 inning with a 4.62 ERA and striking out 61 batters.
Also heading to Arizona will be Gwinnett Stripers manager Matt Tuiasosopo, who will manage the Scorpions.
Weekly Round-Up
AUGUSTA:
No games, but congratulations to Augusta for leading all single-A minor leagues in attendance and breaking their single season attendance record set in 2019.
ROME:
Rome fell to the Bowling Green Hot Rods in the best-of-three South Atlantic League South championship, winning Tuesday’s match-up in Rome but dropping both games on the road Thursday and Friday. Bowling Green will go on to face the winners of the North championship, the Aberdeen IronBirds.
Game 1 was a pitching duel for most of the night, with Bowling Green right-hander Logan Workman taking a no-hitter through 5 innings. Rome wouldn’t get their first hit of the night until the 7th, a bunt single by infielder Keshawn Ogans. Meanwhile, Rome starter Royber Salinas would strike out the first eight batters he retired, eventually racking up 2 more but only able to get through 4.1 innings as he battled grip and control issues in the first that would run up his pitch count. Salinas would allow 3 hits and 1 run.
Bowling Green made that one run stand up until the bottom of the 8th. After Brandol Mezquita and Jacob Pearson walks, Geraldo Quintero singled them home to take a 2-1 lead. Bowling Green would tie the game in the top of the 9th off reliever Grant Holmes, but Rome walked it off in the bottom of the 10th when Hot Rod second baseman threw high and wide of first base on a Cal Conley grounder, allowing extra inning runner Mezquita to scamper home.
In Game 2, the Hot Rods struck quickly against Rome starter Luis De Avila, the Braves steadiest pitcher in the second half of the season. De Avila would leave the contest after only 2 innings having allowed 4 runs. By the time it was over, Bowling Green had an easy 10-1 win, with Jacob Pearson‘s solo homer accounting for Rome’s only run.
Game 3 was similarly lopsided as the Hot Rods scored 2 runs off starter and 2022 2nd-round pick Blake Burkhalter, making his Rome debut. Bowling Green would essentially ice the game in the 4th when they loaded the bases against right-hander Trey Riley, then DH Dillon Paulson hit a grand slam off left-hander Jake McSteen. Like Game 2, Rome would only put one run on the board thanks to a solo homer, this time by Brandol Mezquita.
That said, it was strong season for Rome and manager Kanekoa Texeira and his staff who had to respond to near constant turnover of the line-up and starting rotation as the year progressed.
MISSISSIPPI:
The Mississippi Braves wrapped up their season at home this week against the Montgomery Biscuits. The M-Braves ended up with a series split that revolved around their offense: twenty-eight hits over their three wins and a total of six hits over their three losses. Mississippi wraps up their season with a 62-74 overall record and 33-34 in the second half.
The M-Braves received tremendous starting pitching this week as they allowed just five earned runs over 30.2 innings (1.47 ERA). Allan Winans started off the week with seven shutout innings on Tuesday, striking out ten and allowing just four baserunners to earn OFR Pitcher of the Week honors. Dylan Dodd followed that up on Wednesday with one-run ball over five innings with strikeouts while Tanner Gordon gave up two runs over five innings on Thursday with seven K’s. Alan Rangel gave up one run and three hits over 5.2 innings on Friday and Nolan Kingham gave up just one earned run in five innings on Saturday. Hayden Deal even got in on the act as the opener in Sunday’s bullpen game with three scoreless innings.
Jason Creasy had a standout week in the bullpen with three scoreless outings and a save while Justin Yeager had two scoreless innings and a save.
Recently added catcher Arden Pabst had a standout week behind the plate as he was 7-for-22 with two doubles, two home runs, and six RBI (.318/.318/.682), earning OFR Position Player of the Week. Drew Lugbauer wrapped up his season in nice fashion in going 6-for-19 with a double, home run, and three RBI (.316/.350/.526). Riley Delgado wrapped up his season with a 19-game on-base streak (5-for-16). Outfielder Justyn-Henry Malloy had a rough week to close out his season as he had just one hit in eighteen at-bats with seven strikeouts and six walks (.055/.292/.055).
GWINNETT:
The Gwinnett Stripers began their last full-series homestand of the season against the Durham Bulls. After winning the first two games of the series with Ozzie Albies in their lineup, they dropped the remaining four games once he departed. The Stripers are now 65-74 on the season and now begin their final road trip of the season, a six-game set against the Memphis Redbirds.
The starting pitching was mostly decent to good this week with Bryce Elder (6 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 6 K) and Darius Vines (6 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 6 K) putting up nearly identical starts. Jared Shuster had a relatively short start after being used the previous week in long relief but was still effective over his 62 pitches (4 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K). Kyle Muller’s start was just ok as he gave up four runs over five innings while giving up five hits. Unfortunately, Mike Soroka gave up six runs over five innings during his 80-pitch start along with three home runs.
In the bullpen, Darren Young was a standout with three scoreless appearances with four strikeouts in two innings. Seth Elledge had two scoreless outings with five strikeouts in two innings. Victor Vodnik appeared in three games and gave up one run over three innings with three strikeouts. Odalvi Javier had two scoreless outings and has not been scored upon in four Triple-A innings overall.
In the bullpen, Michael Tonkin registered saves in both Gwinnett victories during the week and tossed two scoreless innings. Jared Shuster pitched in long relief this week and gave up three runs during a four-inning outing in which he gave up a home run.
Ozzie Albies had two very good games early in the week before being activated by Atlanta. He had a five-hit game on Tuesday including a walk-off ninth-inning home run and a two-home run game on Wednesday with a triple and two RBI. Greyson Jenista did not have a great week overall (4-for-19, 11 strikeouts) but did have a two-home run game and two outfield assists. Infielder Rylan Bannon was 6-for-19 with a double and two stolen bases before being called up on Sunday to replace the injured Ozzie Albies.
POSITION PLAYER of the WEEK:
Arden Pabst (Credit: milb.com)
PITCHER of the WEEK:
Allan Winans (Credit: milb.com)
Transaction Round-Up
- 9/13/2022: RHP Blake Burkhalter assigned to A+ Rome from A Augusta; RHP Jose Montilla assigned to FCL Braves from A+ Rome
While it was unclear at the time of the transaction, it’s now evident that Montilla was sent to prepare for the Arizona Fall League. Burkhalter made his Rome debut in Game 3 of the SAL South playoffs.
- C Arden Pabst activated from Mississippi Development List; C Logan Brown assigned to FCL Braves from AA Mississippi
I am guessing that Brown is heading to Florida to catch the pitchers working out before the AFL.
- 9/16/2022: 2B Ozzie Albies activated from the 60-day injured list for Atlanta; IF Ehire Adrianza placed on the 10-day injured list (strained quad); RHP Jay Jackson designated for assignment
Albies is one of the heart-and-soul players of the team. What will be interesting to see through the end of the season is how the team will deploy him, Vaughn Grissom, and everyone else in the line-up.
- 9/16/2022: RHP William Woods recalled from AAA Gwinnett; RHP Kirby Yates placed on the 15-day injured list, retroactive to September 13 (right elbow inflammation)
Kirby was a last-minute scratch before the game Friday after he felt discomfort in his surgically repaired elbow while throwing before the game. With Jay Jackson designated for assignment earlier in the day, Woods was recalled as the only fresh arm on the 40-man roster that could get the call.
Your Moment of Zen
🚨🚨🚨 OZZIE WALKS IT OFF!!! 🚨🚨🚨
His fifth hit of the game is a homer to dead center that sends us home with a victory! pic.twitter.com/4wdzrPkGi4
— Gwinnett Stripers (@GoStripers) September 14, 2022
Leave a Reply