4/21 MINORS FINAL THURSDAY

[rico43]

THURSDAY MINOR LEAGUE GAMES

CLASS AAA

Charlotte 2, Gwinnett 1 (10)
Error and passed ball led to only Charlotte runs

SP: De La Cruz 3.1 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K
Texeira 2.2 IP, 2 H, 0 ER(1R), 0 BB, 3 K
Burwawa 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K
Ramirez 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R0 0 BB, 3 K
LP: Cunniff (1-1) 1.2 0 H, 0 ER(1R), 2 BB, 0 K

Ruiz 2-4 (.377)
Bonifacio 1-4, SB

CLASS AA

Mississippi 4, Chattanooga 2

WP: Barker (1-0) 6 IP, 6 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 5 K
Roney 1.1 IP, 2 IP, 1 ER(2R), 1 BB, 3 K
Marksberry (Save, 2) 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K

Lipka 1-3, 3B, 3 RBI
Albies 1-4, RBI
Camargo 2-3 2B, R

ADVANCED CLASS A

Myrtle Beach 6, Carolina 5
Blown save; 3 runs allowed in bottom of 9th

SP: Clark 5 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 3 K
LP: Quinana (0-2) 3.1 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 2 K

Swanson 2-4, 2B, HR (1st), 3 RBI
Curcio 1-5, 2B, R
Davidson 0-3, 2 BB, K (.175)

CLASS A

Rome 14, Asheville 1

WP: Sanchez (1-1) 6 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, WP
Belicek 2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
Jones 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K

Morales 2-4, 2 R, HR (1st, slam), 5 RBI, SF (.352)
Acuna 1-3, 3 R, HR (1st), 2 RBI
Riley 2-5, HR (2nd), RBI, 2 K
Salazar 2-4, 3 R, 2 RBI
Herbert 1-4, R, 2 RBI

[bravesfanMatt]

Hopefully Riley has gotten his head out of his ass.. he is 2-2 with a single and a bomb.. Rome up 2 -0 early..

[Braves1976]

Hopefully Riley has gotten his head out of his ass.. he is 2-2 with a single and a bomb.. Rome up 2 -0 early..

I think it was a good move putting Morales clean-up behind him. Good to see Sanchez have a good game too.

[Braves1976]

Brandon Barker having another good game for Mississippi so far through 3 innings. 4 K's and no runs allowed so far.

[bravesfanMatt]

I think it was a good move putting Morales clean-up behind him. Good to see Sanchez have a good game too.

good point..

[CJ9]

Acuna opposite field two-run homer.

[nsacpi]

Acuna opposite field two-run homer.our best position prospect after Albies

[msstate7]

our best position prospect after Albies

So you think Albies is the future SS?

[bravesfanMatt]

not sure.. but Swanson just hit an inside the parker for 3 RBIs.. giving Carolina a 5-3 lead late..



Bases juiced for Riley 1 out.. Rome way out in front 10 to 1...I will update..

Riley lines out to 2B.. 2 out and Moralse just hit a Grand Slam.. Rome blowing it out now..

[nsacpi]

So you think Albies is the future SS?

Yeah. He might be the best prospect in all of baseball.

[bravesfanMatt]

Yeah. He might be the best prospect in all of baseball.

right on cue.. Ozzie singles in a run to give Miss. a 1-0 lead..

[msstate7]

Ruiz 2-3... Now hitting .385

[CJ9]

Jonathan Morales' first homer of the season is a grand slam. Without as many premium arms on the mound as usual tonight, the bats are certainly making noise tonight.

[bravesfanMatt]

Jonathan Morales' first homer of the season is a grand slam. Without as many premium arms on the mound as usual tonight, the bats are certainly making noise tonight.

yes, and they are the high profile bats at that.. However, the pitching has been lights out tonight..go figure.

[Braves1976]

Can you imagine how great defensively we could've been with Albies at second, Simmons at short and Swanson at third along with Inciarte in the OF? Just a thought.

[UNCBlue012]

Jeez. This system man. We say it almost every night, but wow.

I'm excited about Acuna. I didn't know a lot a couple months ago, but I sure as heck do now.

And Swanson, he's a boss.

[Braves1976]

Jonathan Morales' first homer of the season is a grand slam. Without as many premium arms on the mound as usual tonight, the bats are certainly making noise tonight.

Morales is one of my favorites in Rome, I like him a lot.

[msstate7]

Where are the holes in our farm? 1b? Catcher? Corner OF?

[dak]

Dansby inside the park 3-run HR. Position prospects just going nuts tonight.

[Braves1976]

Brandon Barker, Georgia boy, is through six tonight with 5 K's and no runs allowed. He's been solid for Mississippi too so far this season.

[msstate7]

Brandon Barker, Georgia boy, is through six tonight with 5 K's and no runs allowed. He's been solid for Mississippi too so far this season.

Is he thought of a future mlb guy?

[CJ9]

Where are the holes in our farm? 1b? Catcher? Corner OF?

I think that's about it. And 1B obviously isn't a huge concern for the next 5 or so years.

[UNCBlue012]

Sanchez had a really good game too! 6 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 5 K.

[Braves1976]

Is he thought of a future mlb guy?

He's been more under-the-radar so far, nothing flashy numbers wise but just steady and moving on up and continuing to have success along the way. Barker has had a more consistent change-up than in the past and has added like 5 mph on his fastball since being drafted so that's helped. If he keeps pitching like he has tonight he'll get some attention soon.

[jpx7]

I think that's about it. And 1B obviously isn't a huge concern for the next 5 or so years.

On the other hand, I think corner OF is—for the time being—a pretty huge concern.

[bravesfanMatt]

Where are the holes in our farm? 1b? Catcher? Corner OF?

Catcher could be Herbert and Moralse..

Corner outfield could be Acuna or Bradley Keller..

I think we might have some holes at pitching though!?!

[Braves1976]

Astudillo is 1-3 tonight with no walks or K's as usual, hitting .302 this season so far. Homie might not K till the cows come home unless they decide to come home soon, then maybe never. :)

[bravesfanMatt]

Astudillo is 1-3 tonight with no walks or K's as usual, hitting .302 this season so far. Homie might not K till the cows come home unless they decide to come home soon, then maybe never. :)

won't say he is our catcher of our future.. but he did throw behind a guy and picked him off at first tonight too... no stolen base attempts.

[Braves1976]

Morales sure liked batting clean-up, they put him clean-up and boom 5 RBI's including a grand slam. That's what I call taking to batting clean-up in style!

[smootness]

Yeah. He might be the best prospect in all of baseball.

Uh...

I mean, I like Albies, but man.

[smootness]

Where are the holes in our farm? 1b? Catcher? Corner OF?

I would say catcher and corner OF, though we have some potentially intriguing prospects at both spots. I think we're ok at 1B because we can always shift a guy over. What we lack overall in the system is power, so 1B and corner OF are always going to look weak if that's the case.

[Hudson2]

Lewis could go a long way to bring power and filling a need in the outfield.

[KB21]

Lewis could go a long way to bring power and filling a need in the outfield.

I agree. He is a guy that could be ready to make the jump to replace Nick Markakis when his contract is up.

[yeezus]

our best position prospect after Albies

Better than Swanson?

[Russ2dollas]

Catcher could be Herbert and Moralse..

Corner outfield could be Acuna or Bradley Keller..

I think we might have some holes at pitching though!?!

No love for Peterson? I think he has a shot to be a good corner OF. Nothing suggests 3+ WAR seasons though...

[nsacpi]

Can you imagine how great defensively we could've been with Albies at second, Simmons at short and Swanson at third along with Inciarte in the OF? Just a thought.

And Heyward in right.

It is likely that that kind of defense would make a staff of league average starters look like a staff of aces.

[nsacpi]

Better than Swanson?

Three year age difference and one year difference in level of play. The Braves are the ones who decided which one should go to AA and which one should go to High A.

Albies in AA: .357/.419/.464 Youngest player in league by a wide margin.

Swanson in High A: .333/.406/.474

I like Swanson, but I don't think there is much doubt which one is the better prospect.

[msstate7]

And Heyward in right.

It is likely that that kind of defense would make a staff of league average starters look like a staff of aces.

We've been blessed with the best defender in rf, SS, and cf over the years. Do we have any elite defenders on the farm now?

[msstate7]

Three year age difference and one year difference in level of play. The Braves are the ones who decided which one should go to AA and which one should go to High A.

Albies in AA: .357/.419/.464 Youngest player in league by a wide margin.

Swanson in High A: .333/.406/.474

I like Swanson, but I don't think there is much doubt which one is the better prospect.

Could it be that albies has many more professional ab's than Swanson?

[bravesfanMatt]

And Heyward in right.

It is likely that that kind of defense would make a staff of league average starters look like a staff of aces.

we wouldn't have Swanson if we still had Heywood.. I think that is why he left him out.

[nsacpi]

Could it be that albies has many more professional ab's than Swanson?

Swanson played for a very good college program in a very competitive college league. It is not quite as good for a player's development as being in the pros but it is not far behind. But Albies is three years younger. Think about that. This is not a knock on Swanson.

[nsacpi]

we wouldn't have Swanson if we still had Heywood.. I think that is why he left him out.


Then Castro/Peterson at second. That's as good defensively.

[yeezus]

Three year age difference and one year difference in level of play. The Braves are the ones who decided which one should go to AA and which one should go to High A.

Albies in AA: .357/.419/.464 Youngest player in league by a wide margin.

Swanson in High A: .333/.406/.474

I like Swanson, but I don't think there is much doubt which one is the better prospect.

Oh, I meant Acuna vs Swanson.
I agree on Albies > Swanson.

[KB21]

Rio Ruiz is showing very good defense at 3B and his bat has really popped so far this year. I think Ruiz could be in play to be the 3B in 2017. I don't think he gets brought up this year unless it is late just to get a few at bats. I think they leave him in AAA for the whole year.

The reinforcements are on the way. Rio at 3B along with Ozzie and Dansby at SS/2B in some order. That's three above average defensive players who can hit.

[nsacpi]

Oh, I meant Acuna vs Swanson.
I agree on Albies > Swanson.

oh ok. Acuna vs Swanson is very speculative on my part.

[yeezus]

Rio Ruiz is showing very good defense at 3B and his bat has really popped so far this year. I think Ruiz could be in play to be the 3B in 2017. I don't think he gets brought up this year unless it is late just to get a few at bats. I think they leave him in AAA for the whole year.

The reinforcements are on the way. Rio at 3B along with Ozzie and Dansby at SS/2B in some order. That's three above average defensive players who can hit.

I could actually see Ruiz being brought up if he continues to easily handle AAA. However, I think the FO will be looking for his K rate to come down a good bit moving forward.

[smootness]

Three year age difference and one year difference in level of play. The Braves are the ones who decided which one should go to AA and which one should go to High A.

Albies in AA: .357/.419/.464 Youngest player in league by a wide margin.

Swanson in High A: .333/.406/.474

I like Swanson, but I don't think there is much doubt which one is the better prospect.

Considering essentially every prospect-ranking service has Swanson ahead of Albies, I think there is some doubt.

I don't really care who people have ahead of the other or which one ultimately is better because they're both going to be really good and that's awesome for the Braves. But to say Albies is the best prospect in baseball, to me, is a bit of an overstatement, and it just comes down to ultimate ceiling.

Albies has about as high a floor for a 19-year-old kid as I've ever seen...but I don't think his ceiling is as high as some other prospects, including possibly Swanson. If everything goes right, he's going to hit .320+ with a good OBP, really good defense, and really good baserunning. That is a great baseball player. But I think if everything goes right for Swanson, he's going to hit .320+ with a good OBP, really good defense, really good baserunning...and some power. That's the only real difference I see, and it may not ultimately matter.

[50PoundHead]

Rio Ruiz is showing very good defense at 3B and his bat has really popped so far this year. I think Ruiz could be in play to be the 3B in 2017. I don't think he gets brought up this year unless it is late just to get a few at bats. I think they leave him in AAA for the whole year.

The reinforcements are on the way. Rio at 3B along with Ozzie and Dansby at SS/2B in some order. That's three above average defensive players who can hit.

If Garcia continues to do his stellar Pele imitation at 3B and Ruiz continues to hit in Gwinnett, I can envision a scenario where Ruiz would be here sooner as opposed to later.

[nsacpi]

Considering essentially every prospect-ranking service has Swanson ahead of Albies, I think there is some doubt.

I don't really care who people have ahead of the other or which one ultimately is better because they're both going to be really good and that's awesome for the Braves. But to say Albies is the best prospect in baseball, to me, is a bit of an overstatement, and it just comes down to ultimate ceiling.

Albies has about as high a floor for a 19-year-old kid as I've ever seen...but I don't think his ceiling is as high as some other prospects, including possibly Swanson. If everything goes right, he's going to hit .320+ with a good OBP, really good defense, and really good baserunning. That is a great baseball player. But I think if everything goes right for Swanson, he's going to hit .320+ with a good OBP, really good defense, really good baserunning...and some power. That's the only real difference I see, and it may not ultimately matter.

I strongly suspect that the Braves intended for Swanson to be ahead of Albies before spring training. They got a good look at the two side by side, in games and practices, every day in February and March and made a decision to send Albies to AA and Swanson to High A.

We should consider for a minute how accelerated Albies is. He skipped the DSL, sailed though the GCL and Apply League at 17, skipped High A and is killing it in AA at 19. Andruw is the only prospect I can think of who has followed a similar path, and even he started his age 19 year in High A. Of course, Andruw finished that season playing in the World Series, which won't happen with Albies.

[50PoundHead]

Is he thought of a future mlb guy?

I think of guys like Williams Perez when I try to project Barker. Although their stat profiles are different, they are both guys who have flown below the radar but performed well as they moved up the minor league line. This is only Barker's third professional season, so he's really put it in gear, even for a mid-round college draftee. Can't argue with what he's done thus far this season and he may move up to AAA as other guys are shuffled around provided he continues to perform well. GO/AO ratio is of some concern.

On Albies v. Swanson, aluminum may have something to do with the placement decision.

[clvclv]

So you think Albies is the future SS?

I do.

[clvclv]

We've been blessed with the best defender in rf, SS, and cf over the years. Do we have any elite defenders on the farm now?

Whichever of Albies or Swanson winds up at 2B will certainly be elite when the decision is made. I asked J. J. Cooper when he was discussing BA's positional rankings if they'd have been #2 on the 2B list ahead of Peraza and he said yes and it really wouldn't even be that close.

[Millwood1Hitter]

For those of you fools that are drooling over Albies, remember it wasn't too long ago Peraza was appointed the chosen one and was going to lead this team at the top of the order and at shortstop, and where is he now?

Best prospect in baseball? Really, some of you believe that? The guy has no power. Andruw Jones was a top propsect in the game, same can be said of Kris Bryant, or Bryce Harper, or Chipper Jones....but for someone that is a cross between Jesse Garcia and Elvis Andrus, that's not top prospect elite status. And that means nothing, at one time Wilson Betemit was one of the elite, and he was nothing more than a solid role player with a few good seasons at the MLB level. Marte was a top prospect in our system, and dumped a steaming pile of poo on the diamond once he hit the bigs.

[smootness]

I strongly suspect that the Braves intended for Swanson to be ahead of Albies before spring training. They got a good look at the two side by side, in games and practices, every day in February and March and made a decision to send Albies to AA and Swanson to High A.

We should consider for a minute how accelerated Albies is. He skipped the DSL, sailed though the GCL and Apply League at 17, skipped High A and is killing it in AA at 19. Andruw is the only prospect I can think of who has followed a similar path, and even he started his age 19 year in High A. Of course, Andruw finished that season playing in the World Series, which won't happen with Albies.

I love Albies, I don't want this to come across as some kind of knock on him. I think he and Swanson both are fantastic prospects.

And what Albies is doing at such a young age is incredibly impressive. But there is still a ceiling for every play, and the lack of size and power will limit his to some degree. Again, this doesn't mean he can't be a great major league player, but it is something to consider. Andruw had it all, while Albies has most of it. I mean, some of this is splitting hairs and I feel stupid for even saying any of it. My point is simply that the fact that Albies is ahead of Swanson despite being 3 years younger is very impressive and a great sign for him...but doesn't necessarily mean he's definitely the better prospect with a higher ceiling.

I just think we're reading too much into the 'jumped Swanson' stuff. Sometimes decisions like that come down simply to each guy individually and what they're likely to take mentally from these decisions. We have no idea what went into it, but regardless, they're both likely going to be really good major leaguers.

[Deester11]

For those of you fools that are drooling over Albies, remember it wasn't too long ago Peraza was appointed the chosen one and was going to lead this team at the top of the order and at shortstop, and where is he now?

Best prospect in baseball? Really, some of you believe that? The guy has no power. Andruw Jones was a top propsect in the game, same can be said of Kris Bryant, or Bryce Harper, or Chipper Jones....but for someone that is a cross between Jesse Garcia and Elvis Andrus, that's not top prospect elite status. And that means nothing, at one time Wilson Betemit was one of the elite, and he was nothing more than a solid role player with a few good seasons at the MLB level. Marte was a top prospect in our system, and dumped a steaming pile of poo on the diamond once he hit the bigs.
Why don't you just crap on our dreams sir?!!!

Prospects fail. Yes. Albies could but he looks really good and to skip levels and Dansby at his age deserves some hype. And yes. I'm a fool. I've followed him since his first AB in Rome and once at the Disney complex. I thought he was the water boy/bat boy. But alas,he's good!

[smootness]

For those of you fools that are drooling over Albies, remember it wasn't too long ago Peraza was appointed the chosen one and was going to lead this team at the top of the order and at shortstop, and where is he now?

Best prospect in baseball? Really, some of you believe that? The guy has no power. Andruw Jones was a top propsect in the game, same can be said of Kris Bryant, or Bryce Harper, or Chipper Jones....but for someone that is a cross between Jesse Garcia and Elvis Andrus, that's not top prospect elite status. And that means nothing, at one time Wilson Betemit was one of the elite, and he was nothing more than a solid role player with a few good seasons at the MLB level. Marte was a top prospect in our system, and dumped a steaming pile of poo on the diamond once he hit the bigs.

Cool, thanks. You've just listed the definition of 'prospect'.

And giant lulz on your Jesse Garcia comment. And Albies has a much better bat than Andrus ever showed. Even if he is Andrus, I'll take close to 20 WAR over Albies' first 4 seasons. Sure.

[nsacpi]

For those of you fools that are drooling over Albies, remember it wasn't too long ago Peraza was appointed the chosen one and was going to lead this team at the top of the order and at shortstop, and where is he now?



I liked Peraza. But there are objective reasons to have a higher opinion of Albies. He excelled in Rome at 18, while Peraza did so a year older. Generally he is playing at a higher level taking age into account. Comparing the Rome numbers, Albies also has an edge in walk rate and ISO (even while being a year younger).

Peraza btw is doing very well as a washed up 22 year old in AAA. Well he hasn't quite turned 22 yet. But he is old. And washed up. And a bust already with three teams.

[Braves1976]

And Heyward in right.

It is likely that that kind of defense would make a staff of league average starters look like a staff of aces.

True, but we'd not have Inciarte nor Swanson if we still had Heyward since we traded Miller for them and Blair after trading Heyward in the deal for Miller. As much as I liked Heyward, I must say Inciarte, Swanson, Blair are worth losing him. However, I am afraid the Braves brass won't value Inciarte as they should. One reason Heyward wasn't locked up IMO is because the Braves don't value defense like that, and same goes for the Simmons trade too.