Monday Farm Report, 8/5/2024

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:

The Greenjackets were swept at home by the Down East Ducks, including three consecutive shutouts over the weekend. Augusta is 9-25 for the second half and 11 games out of first with 31 games remaining on the schedule.

The most interesting thing this week was the surge of 2024 draftees and undrafted free agents that arrived for Sunday. Of those, outfielders Pat Clohisy and Titus Dumitru made good first impressions. Clohisy went 2-for-4 while Dumitru got his first pro hit, first pro stolen base, and first pro outfield assist — gunning out a runner at the plate — all taken care of. Infielder Willmer De La Cruz made his Augusta debut this week as well and went 4-for-12 with a double.

Starting pitching was largely flat this week. Right-hander Adam Maier made his first start in five weeks, allowing 1 run in 3 innings; Maier would be promoted to high-A Rome the following day. JR Ritchie allowed 2 runs on 5 hits, striking out 7 in 4.2 innings.

ROME:

Rain and poor field conditions wrecked the planned six-game series at home against Bowling Green with the teams idle for three days after Rome’s Tuesday loss. Rome swept a Saturday doubleheader before dropping the finale on Sunday, splitting the series 2-2. The Emperors travel to Greensboro this week for six against the Grasshoppers.

Rome managed only 6 runs in the 4 games played. Right-hander Blake Burkhalter got two of them in his start in game 1 of the doubleheader but only needed one. In his best pro outing to date, the 2022 2nd-rounder tossed a 7-inning, 5-hit shutout, striking out 5 while walking none and picking off a runner for good measure. Lefty Mitch Farris started the game 2, tossing 3 innings before giving way to relievers Cory Wall, newcomer LJ McDonough, and Jared Johnson to complete the 2-1 win. Right-hander Jhancarlos Lara went 5.2 innings in Tuesday’s match-up, allowing 2 runs (1 earned) and striking out 9 in what ended up as a 7-2 loss.

Reserve first baseman Justin Janas hit a two-run homer in the game 2 win to account for all of Rome’s runs in that game. Catcher Adam Zebrowski went 4-for-10 with a double, but otherwise it was a frustrating week for Emperor hitters.

MISSISSIPPI:

The Mississippi Braves had a rough week in their home series against the Tennessee Smokies as the pitching gave up nearly eight runs a game while the offense scored just three runs a game while being shut out twice. After dropping five out of six, the M-Braves continue their homestand on Tuesday with a series against the Pensacola Blue Wahoos.

Mississippi’s starting pitching struggled this week as they totaled just 23 innings over the six games. Ian Mejia got the bookend starts this week and gave up seven earned runs in 8.2 innings. David Fletcher had his worst start this far on Wednesday as he gave up ten runs in just 2.2 innings while Luis De Avila had his worst start in many weeks as he gave up six runs in just 3.2 innings with five walks. Lucas Braun had the best start of the week as he gave up three runs in five innings on Thursday although he was likely fortunate as he allowed eleven baserunners. Drue Hackenberg’s start on Friday did not last long as he gave up six runs in just three innings on Friday.

Landon Harper was once again a highlight of the bullpen as he had two more scoreless outings totaling 3.1 innings and now has a 25.1 inning scoreless streak. Rolddy Munoz had two two-inning scoreless outings while Jared Hughes and Jorge Juan each had two scoreless outings totaling three innings. Trey Riley had two scoreless outings covering 2.2 innings despite giving up three hits and six walks.

Catcher Tyler Tolve had Mississippi’s lone home run of the week as he was 3-for-10 in three games with three RBI although he also a passed ball and committed three errors. Outfielder Justin Dean was 8-for-24 with two doubles and a stolen base (.333/.360/.417). David McCabe made his season debut after elbow surgery and went 1-for-10 in three games with six strikeouts and two walks.

GWINNETT:

The Gwinnett Stripers played a home series against the Nashville Sounds this week and split the series during an up-and-down week. The 51-57 Stripers now take to the road to face the Memphis Redbirds.

The starting pitching did not give much length this week as pitch counts and poor performance led to Zach Logue’s Thursday start being the only one of the week to exceed five innings (6 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 2 K). Dylan Dodd gave up three runs over four innings on Wednesday, but Ian Anderson had his strongest Gwinnett start thus far as he gave up two runs over five innings while throwing 84 pitches although he allowed seven baserunners. Hurston Waldrep’s Saturday start did not go well as poor command led to him getting tagged for four runs in just 2.2 innings and 63 pitches with three walks. AJ Smith-Shawver finished up the week on Sunday with 4.1 innings of two-run baseball with six strikeouts and 79 pitches.

Gwinnett’s bullpen performed well with Ken Giles leading the way with three one-run scoreless outings and a save. Hayden Harris and and Domingo Gonzalez each had two scoreless outings while Tommy Doyle and Brooks Wilson each provided a two-inning scoreless outing during the week.

For the position players, outfielder Luis Liberato only played in four games but went 4-for-11 with two home runs and six RBI, including a grand slam, while catcher Chadwick Tromp was 5-for-15 with a home run and three RBI. Catcher Drake Baldwin was 6-for-21 with two doubles, a home run, and three RBI (.286/.286/.524), Shortstop Nacho Alvarez was optioned from Atlanta and took up where he left off in going 3-for-13 in four games with five walks, a HBP, two doubles, a stolen base, and two RBI (.231/.474/.385).

POSITION PLAYER of the WEEK:

PITCHER of the WEEK:

Transaction Round-Up

• 7/28/2024: C/1B Javier Valdes released by AA Mississippi

Valdes was a 21st-round pick in the 2019 draft, the last draft to actually have a 21st round. He exceeded expectations as he steadily rose through the organization post-COVID, showing a good command of the strike zone and a steadying presence behind the dish. Unfortunately Valdes suffered a shoulder injury last season with Mississippi, and it essentially ended his chances at being a catcher going forward. As a reserve first baseman and DH, Valdes only hit .191/.253/.321 in 91 plate appearances.

• 7/29/2024: Traded LHP Tyler Matzek and 3B Sabin Ceballos to the San Francisco Giants for OF Jorge Soler and RHP Luke Jackson

The only major league trade at the deadline this year for Atlanta saw two familiar faces return to the organization, one World Series hero go the other way, and 2023 3rd-rounder Sabin Ceballos leave the organization.

Ceballos demonstrated good strike zone judgement in his short time with the Braves, mostly with A+ Rome this season. The expected over-the-fence power never materialized despite the organization trying to work him through a swing change. Ceballos now finds himself playing for the high-A Eugene Emeralds in a place he’s familiar with having played for the University of Oregon.

• 7/29/2024: RHP Darius Vines recalled from AAA Gwinnett; RHP Jimmy Hegret optioned to AAA Gwinnett

With Grant Holmes and Bryce Elder making starts early last week, the Braves recalled Vines to provide some length in the bullpen. Vines would surrender 2 runs in an inning of work, and that seems likely the last we’ll see of Vines in the majors this year as he was designated for assignment the next day to make room on the 26-man roster for Elder and the 40-man roster for Luke Jackson.

• 7/30/2024: RHP Bryce Elder recalled from AAA Gwinnett; RHP Darius Vines designated for assignment; RHP Hurston Waldrep activated from the 15-day injured list and optioned to AAA Gwinnett

We saw essentially the best version of Elder on Tuesday as he used his slider to generate strikeouts to complement his groundball-inducing sinker.

• 7/30/2024: 3B David McCabe assigned to AA Mississippi from A+ Rome and activated from the 60-day injured list

Coming into this season as the organization’s top power prospect, 2022 4th-rounder McCabe instead tore his UCL ligament during off-season workouts before spring training and has missed most of the season. He will likely be limited to DH duties for the M-Braves the rest of the way.

• 7/30/2024: SS Willmer De La Cruz assigned to A Augusta from FCL Braves; IF Leiker Figueroa assigned to FCL Braves from A Augusta

The Braves will take a longer look at 21-year-old De La Cruz, who was picked up as a minor league free agent after having been cut loose by the Rays organization. De La Cruz can play all three infield skill spots. Figueroa got an extended look in Augusta but only hit .165/.227/.209 in nearly 200 plate appearances while also making 17 errors.

• 7/31/2024: OF Jorge Soler and RHP Luke Jackson activated for MLB Atlanta; RHP Bryce Elder and IF Nacho Alvarez Jr. optioned to AAA Gwinnett

Travel delays meant that Soler and Jackson couldn’t join the Braves until Wednesday. Alvarez’s one week in the majors didn’t go as planned, at least with the bat. Het picked up only 3 hits, all singles, and didn’t really demonstrate the patience and strike zone judgement he’s been known for the minors. On a positive note, he did hit the ball hard but had below average luck on balls in play. The 21-year-old will be back in the majors before too long.

• 7/31/2024: OF Geraldo Quintero placed on the 7-day injured list for AA Mississippi; OF Bryson Worrell assigned to AA Mississippi from A+ Rome

Bad luck for Quintero, who has been an on-base machine for Mississippi since mid-April. The well-travelled Worrell will fill in the spot for now.

• 8/1/2024: RHPs LJ McDonough and Adam Maier assigned to A+ Rome from A Augusta

Maier had missed seven weeks before he started for Augusta on Thursday. After the game he was assigned to Rome where presumably he will join the rotation. McDonough has been one of Augusta’s steadier bullpen arms.

• 8/2/2024: RHP Darius Vines outrighted to AA Mississippi; RHP Anthony Vizcaya released by AA Mississippi

Vines went unclaimed on the waiver wire and will help out in Mississippi for now given that Gwinnett has 7 starters rotating through at the moment including the rehabbing Huascar Ynoa.

• 8/3/2024: C Nick Clarno assigned to AA Mississippi from A+ Rome and placed on the developmental list; C Jacob Godman assigned to A+ Rome from A Augusta; C Jose Marcano activated from the developmental list for A Augusta

Catcher shuffling. Godman has caught the Augusta staff all summer long and likely was moved up to Rome to help transition those pitchers to the next level.

• 8/4/2024: LHP Max Fried activated from the 15-day injured list; LHP Dylan Lee optioned to AAA Gwinnett

Pity Dylan Lee, one of the most effective left-handed relievers in baseball right now but shuffled to triple-A by virtue of being the only reliever on the roster with options.

• 8/4/2024: RHP Giomar Diaz and IF Joe Olsavsky assigned to A+ Rome from A Augusta; RHP William Silva placed on the 7-day injured list for A+ Rome; RHP Tyree Thompson released by A+ Rome

Diaz has shown potentially high-leverage stuff but also bouts of control problems.

• 8/4/2024: IFs Mason Guerra and Colby Jones; OFs Titus Dumitru and Patrick Clohisy; Cs Austin Machado and Mac Guscette; RHPs Rayven Antonio, Jacob Shafer, and Owen Hackman; and LHPs Jacob Gomez and Jacob Kroeger assigned to A Augusta
• 8/4/2024: C Jose Marcano assigned to A+ Rome from A Augusta; IF Luis Sanchez assigned to FCL Braves from A Augusta; OF Noah William and LHP Rolando Gutierrez released by A Augusta

The first wave of 2024 draftees and undrafted free agents make their way to low-A to get a taste of the minor leagues out of the complexes. Mixed in with the group is 2023 DSL Braves All-Star reliever Rayven Antonio. Interestingly it looks like the organization will take a look at Guerra at third base after he played primarily first base in college. Augusta will also now juggle Clohisy and Dumitru in the outfield mix along with Luis Guanipa, Junior Garcia, Kade Kern, and the currently IL’d Isaiah Drake.