Monday Braves Farm Report, 6/19/2023

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. Happy Juneteenth, America’s true independence day.

Check out the OFR Farm Report for more observations and insights.

Weekly Round-Up

COMPLEX LEAGUES:

The DSL Braves picked up their first win of the season on Thursday, but are still 1-9 to start the season despite some stand-out offensive performances. C/1B Josnaider Orellana went 7-for-13 on the week in four games with a double, knocking in 3 runs. Top DSL prospect Luis Guanipa went 4-for-14 with a double and his third home run of the young season but had to come out of the game on Friday after being hit by a pitch and he did not play on Saturday.

The FCL Braves picked up two wins last week and ran their record to 4-6 on the young season. Outfielder Douglas Glod had an outstanding week, going 7-for-13 with a homer. He was only upstaged by 1B/3B Jose Dilone who had two triples and two homers and may be showing now in his third season in the FCL he’s ready for a spot in Augusta. Ten-year major league veteran Jesus Aguilar signed with the Braves and is getting up to speed with the FCL squad; he went 4-for-11 with 2 doubles in 3 games. Roddery Munoz popped down to this level after sitting in the bullpen for a short while in Atlanta without getting into a game; he pitched a scoreless inning.

AUGUSTA:

The Greenjackets hosted the Carolina Mudcats last week, splitting the six game series. First place Myrtle Beach contined their hot streak however and has begun pulling away in the Carolina League South Division, and are now 8 games ahead of 4th-place Augusta, who will now travel north to take on the Delmarva ShoreBirds.

Right-hander Jorge Bautista got the series off to a strong start on Tuesday, going a season-high 7 inning and allowing only 1 run in a 4-3 win. Spencer Schwellenbach followed with a 6-inning effort, throwing a season-high 76 pitches and allowing 2 runs while striking out 6 and walking none to headline a 6-5 win. The rest of the starting pitching was lackluster. Owen Murphy again had a mixed performance, ending up allowing 4 runs in 5 innings and walking 4 batters. Murphy had allowed a .327/.429/.712 batting line in his last four starts, which includes 5 home runs in that span.

This week saw the return of shortstop Ambioris Tavarez to the line-up and the lead-off spot, and while he only went 4-for-21 on the week he did get on base at a .370 clip and stole 3 bases. That said, his old bugaboo doesn’t seem to have gone away either as he also struck out 10 times in the six game series. Prior lead-off hitter Ethan Workinger was dropped to the 3-spot in the order and kept hitting, going .478/.556/.957 for the week with 2 doubles, 3 homers, and knocking in 12 runs, earning our OFR Position Player of the Week honors. After a 16-game hitting streak earlier in the season, Workinger is now working on a 7-gamer. After scuffling the previous month, outfielder Jeremy Celedonio found his power stroke against the Mudcats, swatting 4 round-trippers among his 6 hits on the week. First baseman Justin Janas was Steady-Eddie once again, going 8-for-21.

ROME:

The Braves dropped four of their six games in the first part of their northern road strip at Hudson Valley. Rome falls to 29-34 on the season and now visit the Jersey Shore BlueClaws of the Phillies organization.

Hudson Valley has had the best pitching in the SAL this year and they showed it off against Rome, only allowing the Braves 14 runs in the 6 game series. Shortstop Ignacio Alvarez was consistently on-base, going 7-for-25 with 3 walks and a hit-by-pitch but only scored twice. Centerfielder Kevin Kilpatrick had a double, a home run, and stole two bases on the week, but also struck out 10 times. Outfielder Brandol Mezquita returned to the line-up after missing the last three weeks while on the injured list, playing one game on Thursday and getting a triple, but also grounding into three double plays.

Among the starting pitchers, Ian Mejia‘s 5.1 inning outing on Friday was the longest and he allowed 2 runs (1 earned). Right-hander Daniel Martinez allowed his first runs since May 17, allowing 4 (3 earned) in 5 innings and taking his first loss since an early-season spot start for AA Mississippi back on April 15. The most impressive Rome pitching performance was from a piggyback appearance from Rolddy Munoz, a 5-inning, 1-hit, 0-walk, 5-strikeout runs that finished off a strong 4-inning start by Tyler Owens (2 H, 0 BB, 4 SO) as the two righties spun a combined 3-hit, 1-0 shutout.

MISSISSIPPI:

The Mississippi Braves paid a visit to Florida this week to take on the first-place Pensacola Blue Wahoos. After dropping the first two games of the series, the M-Braves took the final four games to win the series and climb out of the basement of the Southern League South Division. The M-Braves now bring a .500 record for the season (31-31) home to take on the team with the worst record in the Southern League, the Birmingham Barons.

Starting pitching started off poorly this week as Tanner Gordon made his first start since being sent down from Gwinnett and was pummeled for nine runs and ten hits in just four innings of work. Alan Rangel followed that up the next night with four runs over five innings. After that, the M-Braves received four straight quality starts to finish up the week. Scott Blewitt and Luis De Avila gave matching 6 IP, 3 ER performances on Thursday and Friday while Domingo Robles gave up just one earned run over six innings on Saturday. Tanner Gordon finished up the week in a big way by giving up just one hit over six scoreless innings.

In the bullpen, the rehabbing Daysbel Hernandez kept on rolling with 2.1 scoreless innings over two appearances with a save. Hernandez now has eight scoreless innings over seven appearances and could be in line for being bumped up to Gwinnett soon. Victor Vodnik continues to perform well with 3.2 scoreless innings over two outings with Sunday’s game being a standout where, although he walked two, he struck out the other five batters he faced in earning a save. Trey Riley and Domingo Gonzalez each struck out the side in their only one-inning appearances during the week.

As is customary during road trips to Pensacola, offense was plentiful and abundant as the M-Braves scored 47 runs over the six games, averaging almost eight runs a game. Shortstop Luke Waddell had four multi-hit games to start the week as he went 12-for-24 with two doubles, three home runs, three stolen bases, five walks, a hit by pitch, and nine RBI (.500/.600/.958). Infielder Cade Bunnell had a tremendous week as well as he went 8-for-23 with a double, two home runs (including a grand slam off of rehabbing MLB veteran Johnny Cueto), and eight RBI (.348/.400/.652). Outfielder Andrew Moritz was 6-for-13 with a double and five runs scored, outfielder Jesse Franklin was 6-for-22 with a triple, two home runs, and four RBI (.273/.360/.636), and another outfielder, Drew Campbell, was 7-for-26 with two doubles, three home runs, and six RBI (.269/.296/.692). 1B-OF Landon Stephens started off the week slowly but finished the series with home runs in three straight games along with seven RBI (.250/.333/.667). 1B-DH Drew Lugbauer got a double in his lone plate appearance for the week but was removed from the game at the point due to injury and placed on the injured list.

GWINNETT:

The Gwinnett Stripers hit the road this week to face the Nashville Sounds. Unfortunately, due to a lack of offense (only sixteen runs scored over six games) and starting pitching (only one starter went more than four innings), the Stripers were swept and now bring a 29-40 record home to face the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp.

Due to Dylan Dodd getting a start in an Atlanta doubleheader game against Detroit on Wednesday and an injury to Jesse Chavez that put Allan Winans in limbo, Gwinnett ran four bullpen games this week, planned or not. Michael Soroka was a highlight on Friday as he gave up just one earned run in six innings of work. Soroka pitched well until his final inning where he gave up a single and three walks to open the inning before retiring the final three hitters, two by strikeout, to keep his outing from getting out of hand. Kolby Allard made his return this week with a rehab start from an injured oblique that kept him out since March. He went four innings in his first start on Sunday and gave up just one hit and one walk while striking out three on just 45 pitches.

In the bullpen, Yacksel Rios made news because it was his worst week of the season thus far. Rios gave up a game-winning two-run home run on Thursday, recovered to toss a scoreless inning on Saturday, then gave up a game-winning, three-run walk-off home run on Sunday before it was announced that he was traded to Oakland. Roel Ramirez made his return to Gwinnett this week and had two one-inning scoreless appearances while Joe Harvey pitched 3.1 scoreless innings over two appearances.

The Gwinnett offense provided little support this week, scoring exactly three runs in their first four games, four on Saturday, and being shut out on Sunday. IF-DH Joe Dunand drove in five of Gwinnett’s sixteen runs for the week when he went 6-for-23 with two doubles and two home runs (.261/.320/.609). Outfielder Forrest Wall was finally caught stealing this week, twice in fact, as he went just 4-for-25 with a double, two triples, and two stolen bases (.160/.276/.360). Shortstop Vaughn Grissom was 6-for-22 with a double, triple, two stolen bases, and three RBI (.273/.304/.409) while Braden Shewmake continued his struggles with a 4-for-20 week with two doubles and two stolen bases (.200/.333/.300).

POSITION PLAYER of the WEEK:

PITCHER of the WEEK:

Transaction Round-Up

• 6/12/2023: RHP Coleman Huntley III released by AA Mississippi
• 6/13/2023: RHP Ty Tice assigned to AA Mississippi from AAA Gwinnett; RHP Roel Ramirez assigned to AAA Gwinnett from A+ Rome

Huntley was signed as a 27-year-old undrafted minor league free agent in 2020 after he temporarily quit baseball after college. He was pitching in his second season at AA Mississippi as a 30-year-old and having a solid year out of the bullpen (18 appearances, 25 innings, 31 strikeouts, 2.88 ERA) at the time of his release. I have no insight into this move other than sometimes if a player and a team don’t see a path to advancement they may mutually decide to part ways to allow the player the opportunity of testing the waters in another organization that may have such a path.

Ramirez goes back to Gwinnett after an unofficial rehab stint with Rome and Tice drops down a level to backfill Huntley.

• 6/13/2023: RHP Brooks Wilson sent on rehab assignment to A+ Rome from AAA Gwinnett

Wilson had a terrific season in the bullpen for AA Mississippi in 2021 and was added to the 40-man roster before the 2022 season. After a solid spring training he was optioned back to Gwinnett, and then tore his UCL before Opening Day. Wilson is 27 years old and has a sterling 2.22 minor league ERA.

• 6/13/2023: 3B Hudson Potts and SS Ambioris Tavarez activated for A Augusta; SS Alexander Then assigned to FCL Braves from A Augusta
• 6/14/2023: 3B Hudson Potts assigned to AA Mississippi; 1B Drew Lugbauer placed on the 7-day injured list for AA Mississippi

Tavarez was Augusta’s Opening Day shortstop but had been sent back to the FCL in late may to work on his swing after producing a 43% strikeout rate. Potts was unproductive with AA Mississippi and was pushed out when Luke Waddell returned to the M-Braves after spending time in Gwinnett filling in for the promoted Vaughn Grissom and Braden Shewmake.

Potts did start on 6/13 for Augusta but was yoinked back up the Mississippi to fill in for the injured Slugbauer.

• 6/13/2023: 1B Jesus Aguilar signed to a minor league contract and assigned to FCL Braves

A familiar face from across the diamond, Aguilar played with the Miami Marlins from 2020-22. Aguilar hit .254/.317/.431 with 45 home runs as Miami’s primary first baseman, and Oakland was hoping to get something close to that kind of production when they signed him to a 1-year, $3 million free agent contract this offseason. They didn’t get it, and Aguilar was designated for assignment on May 29 in favor of Ryan Noda.

In short, this is a no-risk move to see if the soon-t0-be 33 year old Aguilar has any juice left. In the last couple of seasons the Braves have had some success in tweaking the swings of veteran players that are willing to put in the work in the minor leagues, with Adam Duvall and Orlando Arcia the shiniest examples. If it works, Aguilar could be a decent insurance policy in case of injury to Matt Olson or be a DH option should Ozuna likewise get hurt or turn back into a pumpkin.

• 6/14/2023: LHP Dylan Dodd recalled from AAA Gwinnett to serve as the 27th man in a doubleheader against the Detroit Tigers
• 6/16/2023: LHP Dylan Dodd returned to AAA Gwinnett

The Braves opted to insert Dodd into the rotation for the doubleheader rather than use scheduled starter AJ Smith-Shawver and force another roster move the following series. The Braves won the game and the series, but Dodd once again did not “wow” in a 4-inning, 6-hit, 5-run performance where he walked 3, allowed 3 home runs and struck out 2. Dodd now has a 7.40 ERA in 5 big league starts and a 7.07 ERA in 8 minor league starts for Gwinnett this season. This has been a tough stretch for a player who looked in spring training to be ready to be the “next man up” for the rotation. Hopefully Dodd can have a good steady run in Gwinnett to get back to basics and restore some of his prospect shine.

• 6/14/2023: OF Brandol Mezquita activated from the 7-day injured list for A+ Rome

It’s been a terrible first half for Mezquita, expected to be a mainstay in one of the outfield corners for Rome this season. Instead he saw his playing time start to erode as he hit .171/.243/.286 before hitting the IL. Mezquita is a high-contact and speed player and a plus defender when everything is going right.

• 6/15/2023: RHP Ben Heller recalled from AAA Gwinnett; RHP Jesse Chavez placed on the 15-day injured list (left chin contusion)

It looked bad when Chavez was hit on a comebacker from Miguel Cabrera and crumpled to the ground then couldn’t leave the field under his own power. Fortunately nothing was broken. Heller gets his first opportunity with Atlanta and his first major league appearances since September 2020 after dealing with stress fracture in his elbow in spring training 2021. In his first opportunity Heller struck out 5 of the 6 Rockies he faced Friday night, and he followed that up on Sunday with a three-strikeout inning.

• 6/15/2023: LHP Hayden Harris assigned to AA Mississippi from A+ Rome; RHP Jose Montilla assigned to A+ Rome from AA Mississippi

Harris climbs another rung of the ladder just a five weeks after moving up from August to Rome. Surface stats don’t tell the whole story on Harris, who has an unsightly 5.92 ERA on the season between the two levels, but he has been excellent in striking out batters and preventing walks, two things that the Braves seem to focused on in their relief corps.

Montilla struggled as a spot starter for Mississippi this year and he returns to Rome where he has had most of his minor league career success to get back on track. The 5-year minor league vet has a 2.35 career high-A ERA.

• 6/16/2023: RHP Kyle Wilcox assigned to AAA Gwinnett from AA Mississippi; RHP Domingo Gonzalez activated from the developmental list; RHP Trey Riley placed on the developmental list

Wilcox gets his second crack at Gwinnett after the numbers game pushed him back down to Mississippi four weeks ago. In his return to Pearl he only allowed 1 earned run in 9.1 innings over 9 appearances, allowing a .129/.243/.194 line against him. Gonzalez returns to the Mississippi bullpen where he had not allowed an earned run since April. Riley gets a breather on the developmental list; his last outing was a good one, striking out all three batters he faced on Thursday, but overall in June he had allowed 6 runs in 5 innings.

• 6/18/2023: C Chadwick Tromp recalled from AAA Gwinnett; IF Charlie Culberson designated for assignment

Atlanta starting catcher Sean Murphy experienced some hamstring discomfort and came out of the game Saturday afternoon. The Braves apparently believe what was diagnosed as inflammation won’t be serious enough to warrant an IL stint — at least not before re-evaluating the injury after Monday’s off-day — and recalled Tromp to fill in as back-up to Travis d’Arnaud temporarily. It’s a gamble since designating Culberson left the team without a back-up infielder on Sunday, though Culberson had been on the roster for 30 days and had not gotten into a game. Assuming he clears waivers, Culberson could refuse an outright assignment and become a free agent, but we suspect he’ll choose to still be in the organization.

• 6/18/2023:RHP Yacksel Rios traded to the Oakland A’s for cash considerations

Rios had been fairly brilliant for Gwinnett and there was strong speculation that he may be looked at in the Atlanta bullpen. There were some obstacles to this however, including an ill-timed injury stint in late May and early June and the fact that if added to the 40-man roster and recalled to Atlanta, he was out of options and would not have been able to be sent back down without having to go through waivers first. According to AJC beat writer Justin Toscano, Rios had a clause in his minor league contract stating that the Braves had until 6/19 to either promote him or trade him. It should be noted that Rios has been less sharp since coming off the IL, allowing 5 runs in 4.2 innings, including allowing a walk-off homer on Sunday to Nashville on what turned out to be his last pitch as a Striper.

Your Moment of Zen

HISTORY! The GreenJackets become the first Low-A team to score 4 runs on 4 hits, all solo home runs!

It's the seventh time in the HISTORY OF BASEBALL that a team has had a 4 hit game with all 4 hits being homers…and we match our single-game franchise record with the 4 bombs! pic.twitter.com/iPcHdHnDBX

— Augusta GreenJackets (@GreenJackets) June 14, 2023