Welcome to the final Braves Farm Report of the 2023 season! Thank you to all our readers, we hope to see you all again next year.
Arizona Fall League Rosters Set
The Arizona Fall League is sometimes called Baseball’s Finishing School, a place where near-big league prospects play against top-notch competition and get specialized coaching. The make-up of the contingent sent by major league clubs gives insight into who the front offices believe have a chance to make it to the majors within the next few seasons. Since the disrupted 2020 season, the AFL schedule has been moved up to start October 2, which means players that playoff teams want to have on stand-by in case they are needed as injury replacements have to be held back. This happened in 2019 when then-Braves catching prospect Shea Langeliers, initially announced as part of Atlanta AFL contingent, was pulled back at the last minute. This year Baseball America mentioned that right-hander Darius Vines would be part of Atlanta’s group, but when the rosters were officially announced on Thursday he was not included, likely because he’s being held in reserve for potential postseason duty.
All of the Braves players will play for the Salt River Rafters, joining prospects from the Arizona Diamondbacks, Colorado Rockies, Detroit Tigers, and Pittsburgh Pirates.
The Braves prospects that are going are:
C Tyler Tolve
IF Keshawn Ogans
3B David McCabe
LHP Dylan Dodd
LHP Jake McSteen
RHP Patrick Halligan
RHP Brooks Wilson
In addition, Rome manager Angel Flores and Augusta head trainer Jesus Aviles will be heading to Arizona to work as coaching and support staff.
Dodd is a rare prospect going to the AFL with some major league experience, but after missing a month this summer with injuries the Braves may simply want him to continue to get innings, as well as work on some of the problems he’s faced as he’s pitched in the highest levels in baseball.
Likewise right-hander Brooks Wilson is looking to pick up more innings as well as he only returned to regular pitching duty one month ago after coming back from a UCL tear suffered in spring 2022.
On the position player side, Rome third baseman David McCabe will likely be a featured player for the group. McCabe hit .276/.386/.450 with 17 home runs between Rome and Augusta this season and is ranked #18 in the system by Baseball America. Infielder Keshawn Ogans will ride a hot second half with Rome to the AFL; he hit .295/.354/.419 with 3 homers since August 1 while playing all three infield skill positions. Ogans is ranked #29 by Baseball America.
Weekly Round-Up
GWINNETT:
The Gwinnett Stripers finished their 2023 campaign at home this week with a series against the Durham Bulls. After a poor showing in the first four games in which they lost all four and were outscored 32-4, the Stripers rebounded to take the final two games to finish their season at 70-78.
The starting rotation had no one that pitched more than 4.1 innings this week but still received some good performances. Allan Winans tossed 4.1 scoreless innings on Tuesday before leaving to his pitch count of around 75. AJ Smith-Shawver opened Friday’s game and tossed two scoreless and hitless innings, striking out four and walking three, before leaving after 42 pitches. Hurston Waldrep made his Triple-A debut on Saturday and pitched well with 4.1 scoreless innings although he navigated some traffic with four hits and three walks. He recorded five strikeouts before leaving after 75 pitches. Jared Shuster wrapped up the season on Sunday with a rough outing in which he gave up three runs (only one earned) with five hits and four walks. Luis De Avila made his Triple-A debut on Thursday and gave up one earned run in 3.2 innings although he gave up four hits, four walks, and hit a batter.
The Gwinnett relievers made more news than the starters this week as several big-league arms began rehab stints, including Collin McHugh, Daysbel Hernandez, and Nick Anderson. McHugh got roughed up for four runs on two hits and two walks in his first outing but rebounded with two scoreless innings later in the week. Anderson did not fare much better as he gave up three runs over 1.1 innings in his first two outings with four hits and two walks. His third outing went better as he gave up just a base hit in an inning of work. Hernandez fared perhaps the best of the three as he gave up one run over three outings covering 2.2 innings. He gave up two hits and three walks for the week with four strikeouts. Brooks Wilson made his way up to Gwinnett this week and had a rough first outing, giving up two runs in one inning courtesy of a hit and four walks. He did pitch a clean inning in his second appearance with a strikeout. Converted infielder Charlie Culberson made two appearances as a reliever this week and gave up a run in 1.2 innings although he recorded three strikeouts without walking anyone. Dylan Dodd finished off a combined shutout on Saturday (with Waldrep and Culberson) with four scoreless innings, allowing just three baserunners while striking out seven.
Braden Shewmake finished off his season with a 6-for-24 week with two doubles, a home run, and two RBI (.250/.280/.458). Rehabbing Ehire Adrianza went 2-for-16 during the week with a double and is now hitting just .143 during his assignment. Vaughn Grissom finished off his strong season by going 7-for-23 with three doubles, two HBP, and two stolen bases (.304/.385/.435) and set a new Gwinnett franchise record for doubles with 36 on the season. Catcher Drake Baldwin was promoted from Mississippi during the week, and he hit his first two Triple-A home runs while going 4-for-12 with two RBI. Outfielder Justin Dean went just 2-for-12 but had two stolen bases as well as the game-winning three-run homer in Sunday’s season finale.
POSITION PLAYER of the WEEK:
PITCHER PLAYER of the WEEK:
Transaction Round-Up
- 9/18/2023: LHP Lucas Luetge selected from AAA Gwinnett; RHP Dereck Rodriguez designated for assignment
- 9/20/2023: RHP Dereck Rodriguez sent outright to AAA Gwinnett
Just keeping a fresh arm until Jesse Chavez returned.
- 9/19/2023: RHP Jesse Chavez activated from the 60-day injured list; LHP Lucas Luetge designated for assignment
Luetge pitched two scoreless innings in Monday’s 7-1 loss to the Phillies. Luetge will be entering his age 37 season in 2024, likely looking for a minor league deal with a team that will give him a look in spring training.
Perhaps he can use Chavez as inspiration. At age 37 Chavez revitalized his career with Atlanta, pitching to a 2.14 ERA in 30 appearances and getting a World Series ring in the process. This happened one season after struggling with Texas (18 appearances, 6.88 ERA).
- 9/19/2023: RHP Brooks Wilson assigned to AAA Gwinnett from AA Mississippi
In 8.1 innings over six appearances with Mississippi since coming off the injured list, Wilson has allowed only 1 hit (a solo homer) and struck out 11 batters against 2 walks. Wilson looked to be on track for a major league call-up at some point in 2022 before a torn UCL suffered that spring ended his season before it could begin.
- 9/21/2023: LHP Luis De Avila assigned to AAA Gwinnett from AA Mississippi
The Braves shuffled several Mississippi players up to Gwinnett for the final series of the season. De Avila was Mississippi’s best starting pitcher and will be a minor league free agent this offseason unless the Braves re-up with him or place him on the 40-man roster.
- 9/22/2023: RHP Darius Vines recalled from AAA Gwinnett; LHP Max Fried placed on the 15-day injured list (left index finger blister)
Fried has had to deal with blisters all of his professional career and he and the Braves trainers do a good job keeping the issue to a manageable problem. After his 6-inning, 3-hit performance on Thursday, Fried was put on the shelf, but notably will still be eligible for the postseason roster and to pitch Game 1 of the NLDS which seems like a likely scenario.
Vines pitched in long relief on Friday and was a little shaky, but there is definitely a path for him making the postseason bullpen.
- 9/22/2023: C Drake Baldwin assigned to AAA Gwinnett from AA Mississippi; C Joe Hudson placed on the 7-day injured list for AAA Gwinnett; C Dominic Miroglio activated from the developmental list for AAA Gwinnett; LHP Luis De Avila placed on the developmental list for AAA Gwinnett
It seems likely Baldwin was already on his way to Gwinnett before Hudson’s injury. After going .321/.390/.396 in 59 PAs in Mississippi, it is not surprising that the Braves challenged him with a AAA assignment.
- 9/23/2023: RHP Hurston Waldrep assigned to AAA Gwinnett; RHP Brooks Wilson placed on the developmental list for AAA Gwinnett
In perhaps the least surprising promotion for Waldrep this season, the Braves decided to get him in one last start. More surprising is the news on Sunday that it will likely be Waldrep’s last stop of 2023.
- 9/24/2023: RHP Allan Winans recalled from AAA Gwinnett; RHP Charlie Morton placed on the 15-day injured list (right index finger inflammation); LHP Domingo Robles assigned to AAA Gwinnett from AA Mississippi
While worry about Fried may be overblown, the Braves did get a real injury blow when Morton was forced out of Friday’s game after one inning when he felt something go wrong in his index finger. An MRI confirmed a sprain, and it will keep him, at a minimum, off the NLDS roster.
Winans pitched a solid game against the Nationals on Sunday. If Morton can’t pitch at all in the postseason, it is not beyond the realm of possibility that Winans could be tapped as a 4th starter.
Mailbag Q&A
Thanks to readers from the Outfield Fly Rule Facebook group for questions this week! Join us to talk Braves baseball all year ’round.
Q: What are the chances Noah Williams or Tyler Collins make it past A-ball?
What does the future look like for Adam Shoemaker?
When and where will Cole Phillips pitch next? Could it be any kind of winter ball? – A. Bowers
A: Taking Tyler Collins first, I think there’s a good shot he’ll eventually make it to AA. While slowed by injures in 2022, he did have a full season at low-A Augusta in 2023 and while the hitting production wasn’t good (.201/.289/.255 in 344 plate appearances), he did demonstrate that he still has two stand-out tools with his speed and his defense. He will turn 21 during spring training, so he’s still got time to develop.
The same is true for Noah Williams, who won’t turn 20 until April, though his path to AA is less certain. He had surprisingly poor production in the FCL this season (.165/.304/.198) in a reasonable amount of playing time. His placement next year will be likely be determined by what coaches see out of him next spring. If he makes it to Augusta and gets regular looks then hopefully we’ll see more from him.
Left-hander Adam Shoemaker is another young player who had a disappointing 2023 in Augusta. The Ontario native pitched to a 6.06 ERA in 22 appearances over 68.1 innings, including 14 starts. Shoemaker had trouble with walks (52) and home runs (9). I still like his stuff and I suspect he will return to Augusta. I’d like to see him stick in the rotation where I think he’s best suited, but there will be a lot of competition from the 2023 draft class. His future will depend on finding better command and figuring out how to make his low-90s fastball play up.
Right-hander Cole Phillips didn’t make his pro debut this season as most people expected, but I would be very surprised to see him pitch in organized ball this winter. I just don’t see the Braves allowing him to throw competitively in an environment outside their control. I would next expect to see him pitch this spring and make his pro debut in April with Augusta.
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