Monday Farm Report, 6/10/2024

Welcome to the Braves Farm Report! Every Monday we take a look back at the previous week in the Braves minor league system, recapping the week’s action, spotlighting top performers, analyzing rosters and transactions, and sometimes answering questions or doing deep dives into Braves prospects.

Weekly Round-Up

COMPLEX LEAGUES:

AUGUSTA:

ROME:

MISSISSIPPI:

The Mississippi Braves started off the week well on the road against the Pensacola Blue Wahoos with victories on Tuesday and Wednesday but dropped the final four games of the series by a total of five runs. The M-Braves (25-32) now return home for a series against the Rocket City Trash Pandas.

Starting pitching was okay for the M-Braves this week as they kept the team in every game. David Fletcher received the bookend starts with a great start on Tuesday (6 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 K) and a decent start on Sunday (5.1 IP, 7 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 0 K) in which he tossed five scoreless frames before getting tagged in the sixth inning. Ian Mejia muddled through his Wednesday start with two runs given up over 4.2 innings, but he allowed nine baserunners and threw 96 pitches. Luis De Avila had a second straight solid start on Friday with two runs allowed over six innings.

Domingo Gonzalez led the Mississippi bullpen with 2.1 scoreless innings over two outing with just one hit allowed and six strikeouts while recording a save. Trey Riley had two one-inning scoreless outings while Landon Harper tossed two scoreless innings in his lone appearance during the week.

Catcher Drake Baldwin had a huge week for the M-Braves as he went 7-for-25 with a double, home run, six runs scored, and eleven RBI (.280/.357/.440). First baseman Bryson Horne came off an awful week to go 9-for-18 with his first home run of the season and two RBI (.500/.550/.667). Outfielder Brandon Parker continued his recent upswing in going 6-for-14 with a double, two home runs, and two RBI (.429/.529/.929). Shortstop Nacho Alvarez returned after missing six games and went 2-for-10 with four walks and three runs scored.

GWINNETT:

The Gwinnett Stripers concluded their two-week North Carolina road trip this week with a series against the Durham Bulls. Outside of a mid-series explosion that saw the Stripers score a combined 27 runs in wins on Thursday and Friday, the offense scored just eleven runs in losing the remaining four games to drop the series. Gwinnett now brings a 29-34 record home to take on the Nashville Sounds.

Gwinnett received strong starts on Wednesday from Allan Winans (6 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 8 K) and Friday from Bryce Elder (6 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 9 K) as well as a couple of decent starts from Grant Holmes on Tuesday (5 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 6 K) and Darius Vines on Thursday (4 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 3 K). However, Taylor Widener gave up four earned runs in three innings on Saturday and Dylan Dodd lasted just 2.1 innings on Sunday while giving up six runs on eight hits.

In the Gwinnett bullpen, Parker Dunshee had a three-inning save on Friday while Jackson Stephens tossed three scoreless innings over two outings and Ben Bowden compiled 2.2 scoreless frames over two outings. Brooks Wilson had a solid week as he pitched 3.2 perfect innings over two appearances with four strikeouts. Ken Giles was roughed up this week as he gave up runs in both of his appearances (1.1 IP, 3 ER).

Gwinnett’s offense averaged over six runs a game during the week but that was primarily due to the 27 runs they scored on Thursday and Friday. Andrew Velazquez led the way this week in going 11-for-26 four doubles, two home runs, seven runs scored, and six RBI (.423/.483/.808). Outfielder Ramon Laureano had a big week as well with four multi-hit games and seven RBI (.379/.400/.724). Infielder Alejo Lopez only played in four games but made the most of his playing time with a 7-for-15 week with four doubles, a home run, and four RBI (.467/.500/.933). However, outfielders Forrest Wall (.150/.320/.150) and Eli White (.136/.200/.273) had rough weeks.

POSITION PLAYER of the WEEK:

PITCHER of the WEEK:

Transaction Round-Up

• 6/3/2024: IF Tim Bowden II signed to a minor league free agent contract and assigned to A+ Rome; SS Angel Nieblas assigned to FCL Braves from A+ Rome

Bowden was drafted out of Georgia Tech in 2022 by the Houston Astros and made it up to high-A Asheville last season before he was released in spring training. He had been working with the Florence Y’Alls of the independent Frontier League when the Braves came calling. Bowden provides more infield depth for Rome, who is without shortstop Ambioris Tavarez due to a broken hand. Bowden has played at all three infield skill positions.

• 6/4/2024: 3B/OF Brian Anderson signed to a major league free agent contract; LHP Tyler Matzek transferred from the 15-day to the 60-day injured list

The Braves moved to strengthen the bench with another right-handed hitter who can play all four corners (even if you wouldn’t want him to for a long period). Anderson replaces Chadwick Tromp, who was optioned to AAA Gwinnett.

To make room on the 40-man roster, Matzek was transferred, which is not a good sign that he is responding well to treatment for what was termed “left elbow inflammation” when he went on the IL on May 7.

• 6/4/2024: 1B Drew Compton, OF Jace Grady, and RHP Luis Vargas assigned to A+ Rome from A Augusta; OF Jeremy Celedonio activated from the 7-day injured list for A+ Rome and assigned to A Augusta; OF Noah Williams assigned to A Augusta from FCL Braves

Rome, by far the most likely of Atlanta’s affiliated minor leagues to secure a first-half playoff spot, gets some reinforcements at the expense of Augusta. Already offensively challenged, losing Compton and Grady, their two most consistent producers, is a tough blow.

Celedonio has impressive over-the-fence power, but had been on the injured list since getting hurt on Opening Day. He would no doubt like to make his stay in Augusta a quick one. On the other hand, 2022 18th-rounder Williams must be delighted to finally get out of the complexes.

• 6/4/2024: SS Willmer De La Cruz signed to a minor league contract and assigned to the FCL Braves

De La Cruz is a former Rays prospect from the 2019 international signing class who had made it as high as low-A for them but ended up being released in late May.

• 6/7/2024: RHP Jeremy Reyes assigned to A Augusta from FCL Braves; RHP Zack Austin assigned to FCL Braves from A Augusta

After a solid April, the season has really gone downhill for Austin, with his outing on Wednesday in which he walked 5 batters and hit two more in 1.2 innings pitched being the final straw.  He is replaced on the Augusta roster by one of the best arms on the FCL Braves roster, 18-year-old right hander Jeremy Reyes.

• 6/8/2024: RHP Daysbel Hernandez recalled from AAA Gwinnett; RHP Jimmy Herget placed on the 15-day injured list, retroactive to 6/6/2024 (right shoulder inflammation)

Hernandez made an appearance that evening and pitched a scoreless inning in relief.

• 6/9/2024: RHP Hurston Waldrep selected from AAA Gwinnett; RHP Daysbel Hernandez optioned to AAA Gwinnett; OF Ronald Acuña Jr. transferred from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day injured list

Is Waldrep ready for the big leagues? Probably not, but it give you an indication at just how little faith the organization has in the likes of Bryce Elder, Dylan Dodd, Allan Winans, and Darius Vines that they’re content for now allowing Waldrep and Spencer Schwellenbach take their lumps.

• 6/9/2024: RHP Blake Burkhalter activated from the 7-day injured list for A+ Rome; SS Ambioris Tavarez placed on the 7-day injured list

Burkhalter, Atlanta’s 2nd-round pick in the 2022 draft, makes his return from rehab from Tommy John surgery. Tavarez had been injured the prior week when he was hit on the hand with a pitch against Greenville.