Outfield Fly Rule

Monday Braves Farm Report, 4/10/2023

April 10, 2023 Andy Harris & Matt Chrietzberg Minor Leagues 0

Mississippi centerfielder Cody Milligan collects one of his three doubles in an 11-3 win over Biloxi at home. (Tate Nations/MiLB.com)

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.

M-Braves Roster Review

The Mississippi Braves began their season on Friday with a lot of familiar faces manning positions.

Infielders: 

Mississippi starts the season with a glut of infielders, but three will likely be in the line-up most nights: Cal Conley, Luke Waddell, and Drew Lugbauer. Conley is a slash-and-run shortstop who parlayed a strong second half in Rome last year into a strong performance in the Arizona Fall League and a spring training invitation. Waddell returns to Mississippi and is a strong contact hitter who missed most of 2022 with injuries. The two will man the middle infield spots, both splitting time between second and shortstop.

Lugbauer is the Mississippi Braves franchise leader in home runs and begins his third season with the team. He’ll play first or act as the designated hitter most nights. Hudson Potts will split time between first, third, and DH; he’s a former first-rounder of the San Diego Padres and joined the Braves as a minor league free agent. On the flipside, Cade Bunnell was the Braves last ever 40th-round pick in 2019, but he has made himself a useful utility infielder with power and on-base skills.

New to Mississippi is former Braves 2nd-rounder Beau Philip, who brings a strong glove to all of the infield positions. Last season for Rome he also showed some power to go along with his speed, though making consistent contact remains an illusive skill. Finally Mitchell Tolman will receive work all over the infield; he’s a minor league veteran with considerable time at the AAA level and would be the most likely call up to Gwinnett if one of their infielders is needed in Atlanta.

Outfielders:

Milligan is the most interesting name here a season after remaking his batting approach, turning himself into a dynamic lead-off hitter. Milligan split time last year between the outfield and second base, and while that seems like it will continue in 2023, expect Milligan to spend more time in the outfield. Flanking him in right field most nights will likely be Landon Stephens, a power hitter who can take a walk but is looking to make consistent contact at the AA level.

That arrangement may change when Jesse Franklin V returns from the injured list. The 2020 3rd-rounder missed most of the 2022 season after having TJS, but when healthy is a top power prospect and a strong defender.

Left field looks to be a rotation between 2022 Rome stalwarts Jacob Pearson and Drew Campbell. Campbell is a former University of Louisville standout who has been stymied by a variety of injuries since was drafted by the Braves in 2019. Pearson is a former Angels 3rd-rounder who was selected by the Braves in the Rule 5 draft three years ago and joins Mississippi for the third time round. Both players can man any of the three outfield spots. Andrew Moritz is a good contact hitter that will back up the corners.

Catchers:

Valdes had a breakout season in 2022 with Rome and Mississippi and provides a solid bat and good leadership skills. He’ll split time early on with Clementina, a power hitter who plays catcher and who re-upped with the Braves as a minor league free agent. Tyler Tolve started the year on the injured list, but when healthy is the best fundamental catcher of the group. Tolve showed out well as a spring training invitee.

Starting Pitchers:

After years of parading some of the Braves top pitching prospects through its rotation, Mississippi’s 2023 group is relatively unaccomplished, but with some potential upside. Roddery Munoz arrives with a good fastball/slider combo, a strong showing in the spring, and a shiny 40-man roster spot. Rangel returns for his third stint in Mississippi after a disappointing run in 2022 where his results didn’t match his stuff.

Tanner Gordon returns after a mid-season promotion in 2022 that saw him struggle in his first exposure to AA. Left-hander Luis De Avila gets a promotion after being named the high-A organizational pitcher of the year; De Avila is a former Royals prospect who pitches with above average command and likes to make the defense work behind him.

Daniel Martinez is a former Oakland farmhand signed this offseason as a minor league free agent. Used primarily as a reliever in the A-ball level, the Braves will initially see what he can bring to the rotation.

Relief Pitchers:

The Mississippi bullpen could be quietly one of the better units on the team this year, combining some returning members with some of 2022 Rome’s pitchers that was a big part of that team making the South Atlantic League playoffs.

Hayden Deal returns for his third season of anchoring Mississippi’s middle innings, and he can also start in a pinch. He is joined by returnees Coleman Huntley III, Kyle Wilcox, and Victor Vodnik, all three high-strikeout pitchers. Vodnik returns to Mississippi after finishing last year with Gwinnett and is likely one of the first call-ups back to Gwinnett when needed.

Arriving from Rome are Barger, McSteen, Riley, and Segal. Barger and McSteen are multi-inning relievers, with Barger showing some upside that belays a relatively pedestrian showing in Rome last season. Trey Riley has long tantalized with a high-90s fastball and an impressive slider, but control issues have held him back. Left-hander Segal made his way back last season from a UCL tear and had an impressive run in Rome and was a last-minute choice to go to the Arizona Fall League.

Domingo Gonzalez was Atlanta’s sole selection in this off-season’s Rule 5 draft, taken from the Pittsburgh Pirates organization. Gonzalez has experience starting and relieving and made a good impression this spring. Montilla is looking to complete a return from a myriad of injuries, including a torn UCL that erased his 2021 season. A starter for Danville in 2018 and a reliever for Rome in 2019, he could see time in both roles in 2023 depending on the needs of the team. Returning in June of last year, Montilla held batters to a .202/.270/.315 batting line as he worked his way back up the organizational ladder.

Weekly Round-Up

AUGUSTA:

The Greenjackets had a rousing extra-innings win on Thursday to open their 2023 schedule, then had to sit idle in Columbia, South Carolina as rain washed away the rest of the series. Augusta will have their home opener on Tuesday against the Down East Ducks (weather permitting) to start a six-game series.

Thursday’s game was the pro debut of Braves 2021 2nd-rounder Spencer Schwellenbach, returning to the mound after rehabbing from TJS. Throwing only fastballs, Schwellenbach looked strong but rusty, walking two but keeping the Fireflies off the board for 1.2 innings (42 pitches). Righties Nolan Martinez and Landon Harper followed in long relief and each had a tough time, Martinez giving up 4 runs (3 earned) in 3.1 innings while Harper have up 3 earned in 3 innings. Elison Joseph came on in the 9th and pitched into the 10th, giving up an unearned run in the final frame to make it too interesting before closing the door on the win.

Outfielder Jeremy Celedonio, making his full-season debut, got the scoring started with a solo home run in the 2nd inning. He would also walk twice and score twice. Also making his full-season debut, leadoff man Tyler Collins would get on base three times in his first three plate appearances and steal two bases. Shortstop Ambioris Tavarez, also making — yep, you guessed it — his full-season debut went 2-for-6 with a stolen base and an RBI, but also struck out four times and was caught stealing once. Tavarez also made a throwing error, one of four miscues by the Greenjackets defense.

In the 6th inning, outfielder Ethan Workinger homered and second baseman E.J. Exposito hit a two-run double to put the Jackets back on top 7-4. The Fireflies tied it 7-7 in the 8th to force extras, but Exposito and Tavarez each had RBI singles to put the game out of reach.

ROME:

The R-Braves beat the Greenville Drive in the first two games of their season and home opening series before the same stormfront that washed out Augusta knocked out the final game of the 3-game set. The Braves will now hit the road, going to the rival Bowling Green Hot Rods.

After giving up a 1st-inning run, righty Ian Mejia settled down and pitched 5 strong innings, only allowing 3 hits and 1 run while walking 2 and striking out 3. Rolddy Munoz followed and threw an impressive 3 innings of scoreless relief, with Tyler Owens getting the 1-inning save with a scoreless 9th. Game 2 was a wilder affair as Braves pitching held the Drive to only 2 hits but walked 10.

Starter J.J. Niekro had a difficult 1st inning on Friday night but rallied after left fielder Kadon Morton gunned down Drive second baseman Chase Meidroth at the plate on what looked to be a routine sacrifice fly to end a bases-loaded threat with a double play. Niekro settled down in the second inning, only allowing a Nick Decker home run to lead off the 3rd inning. Hunter Riggins, Miguel Pena, Joe Harvey, and Estarlin Rodriguez followed and allowed only 1 run on no hits 5.1 innings, the run coming on a Riggins wild pitch. Rodriguez pitched a hitless 8th and 9th to get the save.

Third baseman Keshawn Ogans went 2-for-6 with a double on the series, scoring two, walking twice, and knocking in two. Shortstop Ignacio Alvarez Jr. went 2-for-8 and knocked in 4 in the two games. The Braves stole five bases in the two games, two for Kevin Kilpatrick and one each for Stephen Paolini, Morton, and Alvarez.

MISSISSIPPI:

The Mississippi Braves opened their 2023 season on Friday in an abbreviated three-game series against the Biloxi Shuckers. The M-Braves had a big 11-6 win in the middle of the series on Saturday but that was sandwiched by being shut out in the other two games of the series. The M-Braves now hit the road to face their most distant opponent in the Southern League, the Chattanooga Lookouts.

The M-Braves endured rough starts from Roddery Munoz on opening night (4 IP, 3 H, 3 R/ER, 4 BB, 3 K) and Daniel Martinez (3 IP, 5 H, 3 R/ER, 2 BB, 5 K) on Sunday but got a great outing from Tanner Gordon on Saturday as he tossed five shutout innings, allowing just four baserunners over five innings of work.

Among the relievers, Victor Vodnik and Kyle Wilcox have already each tallied two scoreless appearances in the first three games. Alec Barger, Hayden Deal, Jake McSteen, and Alex Segal all had scoreless outings during the first weekend. Unfortunately, Trey Riley was not among that group as he gave up three runs while recording just one out on Saturday as he walked four batters and threw two wild pitches.

Outfielder Cody Milligan led the offense as he hit safely in all three games and went 5-for-12 with three doubles, two walks, and three RBI. Shortstop Cal Conley was just 2-for-11 but had a walk, two doubles, a stolen base, and scored two runs. Infielder Luke Waddell was 2-for-6 with three walks, a stolen base, and two RBI. The returning Drew Lugbauer continued his Slugbauer ways in going 2-for-7 with a home run, two walks, and four strikeouts.

GWINNETT:

The Gwinnett Stripers opened their first full week of the 2023 season on the road against the Norfolk Tides. After winning the opener on Tuesday 6-1, the Stripers dropped the remaining four games (with a rainout mixed in), being outscored 34-8 including a 21-2 shellacking on Saturday. The 2-6 Stripers now head home for a series against the Memphis Redbirds.

Gwinnett’s starting pitching was a mix of guys who are building back up (Kyle Wright/Mike Soroka) and spot starters (Allan Winans/Domingo Robles/Nolan Kingham) due to upheaval in the big-league rotation. Soroka pitched well during his start, giving up just one run (a home run by Ryan O’Hearn) over 3.2 innings until he reached his 60-pitch limit. He struck out three and did not walk anyone. Wright’s start was more of an adventure but there were some good signs: he threw 84 pitches over six innings and although he gave up five runs, four were on a Ryan O’Hearn grand slam in the third inning and Wright went on to retire the final eight hitters he faced. Last-minute starter Domingo Robles, who was called up from Mississippi, scattered seven hits and one run over the four innings of his start while Nolan Kingham gave up three runs over two innings of the ill-fated 21-2 defeat. Allan Winans had a standout four-inning relief outing on Tuesday where he was perfect with seven strikeouts and followed that up with a Sunday start where he gave up four runs over 5.2 innings of work.

Several Gwinnett relievers stood out this week including the Winans outing mentioned above. Matt Swarmer tossed 3.2 hitless, scoreless innings over two appearances while Brian Moran and Yacksel Rios put up identical scoreless one-inning outings where each struck out two and walked one. Recently-added Richard Lovelady gave up one run over three innings of work. Jon Olczak had an outing to forget during the 21-2 defeat as he gave up seven runs (five earned) on four hits, two walks, and an HBP without retiring a batter.

Shortstop Vaughn Grissom hit safely in all of the five games he played in this week (.381/.435/.429) and has now gone 33 plate appearances this season without recording a strikeout. 2B Braden Shewmake was 3-for-14 over the three games he appeared in with three strikeouts. OF Eli White was 1-for-9 with a home run and six strikeouts before being called up to Atlanta to replace the injured Michael Harris II. OF Magneuris Sierra had two multi-hit games during a 5-for-16 week with two stolen bases.

POSITION PLAYER of the WEEK:

Gwinnett shortstop Vaughn Grissom. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

PITCHER of the WEEK:

Mississippi RHP Tanner Gordon. (MiLB.com)

Transaction Round-Up

Shuster’s less-than-overwhelming start against the Nationals had him back to Gwinnett, but it would turn out to be temporary. Luplow no doubt was not expecting to start the season in AAA and it would not surprise me if he requested to be let go. The Blue Jays would quickly claimed him.

  • 4/6/2023: Placed RHP Collin McHugh on the 15-day injured list; recalled LHP Jared Shuster from AAA Gwinnett

While none of the injuries so far have seemed particularly serious, they are starting to mount and cut into the team depth. McHugh is a loss for the bullpen. The injury did however allow Shuster to return to Atlanta and make a start against the Padres.

  • 4/7/2023: Placed OF Michael Harris II on the 10-day injured, list; recalled OF Eli White from AAA Gwinnett

This doesn’t make things better.

  • 4/8/2023: Selected the contract of LHP Danny Young, optioned LHP Jared Shuster to AAA Gwinnett; designated RHP Seth Elledge for assignment

Shuster wasn’t any more impressive in his next start, though the Padres certainly are a more formidable opponent. Elledge was added to the 40-man roster over the offseason after a strong 2022 season in Gwinnett, but wasn’t particularly impressive in Grapefruit League action and now is off the 40-man without having pitched a regular season game for Atlanta.

  • 4/8/2023: C Travis d’Arnaud placed on the 7-day concussion list, C Chadwick Tromp recalled from AAA Gwinnett; C/1B Ryan Casteel activated by AAA Gwinnett

It didn’t sound like d’Arnaud would need more than the 7 days, but concussions can be tricky and d’Arnaud has a long concussion history so hopefully the Braves will be cautious. Casteel was a surprise inclusion on the Gwinnett developmental list after getting a long look in spring training with the major leaguers. The 31-year old slugger is entering his third season in the organization.

Your Moment of Zen

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