7/7 THURSDAY MINOR LEAGUE FINAL: Cruz on the fast track; Clark wins 1st!

[rico43]

Derian Cruz: Ready to advance at age 17

Nearly everything farm director Brian Barnes said this month of Kevin Maitan needs to be copied and pasted onto the scouting report for GCL Braves shortstop Derian Cruz. Our big ticket signee last July, he debuted in the GCL and all he has done after 10 games is hit .370 with four doubles, two homers and four stolen bases.

He doesn't even turn 18 until October, so he easily projects as someone who could be on the doorstep of the big leagues before his 20th birthday. He actually has cooled a little; he hit safely in his first seven professional games and was at .406 at that point. The switch-hitting Dominican is a prototype 6-1, 180. The only red flag is that he hasn't drawn a walk yet, but he has a modest seven strikeouts in 10 games.

I already feel I have underrated him in my top 30, but I will wait until the trade deadline to update my board again in order to accommodate the several trades I am sure the Braves will be making.

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Why is Clark still blocking people in Carolina? Weigel should be there, Fried should be there when his blister heals, and Allard and Wentz should be allowed to stretch out in Rome.


THURSDAY'S MINOR LEAGUE RESULTS

CLASS AAA

Gwinnett 15, Charlotte 3

SP: Banuelos 4 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 3 K
Texeira 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
WP: Roney (2-0) 3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 6 K

Rojas 3-6, 2 R, 2B, 2 HR, 5 RBI
Castro 2-4, 3 R, HR (2nd), 2 RBI
Schlehuber 2-4, 2B, 3 R, 3 RBI
Ruiz 2-4, 2B, R, RBI, SF
Lipka 1-4, 2B, R, RBI, SF
Mustelier 2-4, 2B, R, RBI

CLASS AA

Mississippi 3, Montgomery 2

SP: Sims 5.1 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 6 K
WP: Kent (BS, 1-2) 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
Younginer (Save, 9) 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K

Albies 2-3, 2 R, 3B, 2 BB, SB
Swanson 0-1, RBI, 2 BB, SF
Schrader 1-3, HR (9th), RBI


ADVANCED CLASS A

Carolina 5, Salem 2

WP: Clark (1-10) 6 H, 5 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 5 K
Sobotka 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K
McLaughlin (Save, 4) 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB,1 K

Tejeda 1-3, HR (3rd), RBI
Daris 2-3, 2B, 3B, 2 R, 2 RBI
Fernandez 0-0, 2 R, 4 BB
Davidson 0-3, BB, 3 K
Valenzuela 0-2, RBI, 2 BB

CLASS A

Hickory 9, Rome 4

LP: Weigel (5-4) 4 IP, 8 H, 5 ER, 1 BB, 1K
Kennedy 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K
Matos 2 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
Webb 1 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K

Dykstra 2-4, 2B, R, 2 RBI
Ellison 1-5, 2B, RBI
Castro 2-3, R, BB
Riley 1-4, BB

SHORT-SEASON

GCL Braves 8, GCL Tigers 3

SP: Heredia 4.2 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 4 BB, 3 K
WP: Vega (1-1) 2.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K
Greene 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
Schlosser 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K

D. Cruz 3-5, 2B, HR (2nd), 2 R, 4 RBI (.370)
Pache 2-3, 3B, R, SB, BB, OF assist
Contreras 1-1, 2B, RBI
Ventura 1-4, 2B, RBI, BB
Mejia 1-3, 2 R, RBI, BB

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Danville 7, Bluefield 1

WP: J. Martinez (1-1) 6 IP, 5 H, 0 Er, 0 BB, 6 K
Walker 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K
Watts 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K

Neslony 2-4, 2 R, HR (1st), 2 RBI
Gonzalez 1-3, 3B, R, 2 RBI, 2 BB
Lee 3-4, 2B, RBI
James 2-5, RBI
Cumberland 0-5

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DSL Braves 10, DSL Nationals 5

SP: Javier 2 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
WP: Gil (3-1) 3.1 IP, 2 H, 0 ER(2R), 3 BB, 2 K

Michel 2-5, 2 R, RBI, SB
Centeno 2-5, R, 3 RBI, 3 K
J.C. Encarnacion (SS) 3-5, 2 R, 2 RBI (pro debut)
Morales 1-3, R, RBI, 2 E (7) (.146)

[IslandBrave]

I'd imagine he'd be on the same track as Albies. Get about 20 games in the GCL and move to Danville.

[CJ9]

Both home runs have come from the right side of the plate, which is where most scouting reports said a majority of his power comes from. Hard not to be excited about Cruz and Pache.

[smootness]

How is Pache pronounced? Is it Patch-ee? or Pash?

[50PoundHead]

How is Pache pronounced? Is it Patch-ee? or Pash?

I will defer to the Spanish speakers, but I'm wondering if it is Pa-chay.

[jimsnores]

Anxious to see if Man Ban can pitch like he did last time. It had been a while before that one. And thanks for the comments on Cruz, Rico. I rely on others to tell me when to be hopeful about prospects most of the time. He hasn't been all that hyped. If he is close to as good as Albies seems to be, that's pretty exciting. I hope the homers aren't just SSS. If he is already showing game power from the right side at 17, he should at least show a decent amount from the left side as his body matures.

[nsacpi]

Oz

[CJ9]

Neslony still on fire, homered tonight in Danville.

Anyone know anything about Jhon Martinez in Danville? Five scoreless with five Ks and no walks. Just wasn't sure if he was a guy we should keep an eye on.

[KB21]

How is Pache pronounced? Is it Patch-ee? or Pash?

It's pronounced good ball player.

From my standpoint, I'd have to rate Ozzie Albies the top prospect in the system. What he is doing to the Southern League as a 19 year old, you just don't see this all the time. He has the highest AVG in the southern league by 50 points and the highest OBP in the southern league by 50 points. He's also the 6th highest SLG in the league.

[jimsnores]

Neslony still on fire, homered tonight in Danville.

Anyone know anything about Jhon Martinez in Danville? Five scoreless with five Ks and no walks. Just wasn't sure if he was a guy we should keep an eye on.

Somebody fill me in. Is Neslony a real 'prospect', or minor league depth? I realize that he's old for Danville, but man, he sure is hitting.

[msstate7]

Rojas jr -- 2-4, 2b, hr

He's hitting pretty well lately. Could he get a shot soon? I know he's not much of a prospect, but doesn't he have some tools?

[bravesfanMatt]

Rojas jr -- 2-4, 2b, hr

He's hitting pretty well lately. Could he get a shot soon? I know he's not much of a prospect, but doesn't he have some tools?

saw him in Bham for two nights. hit one out the first game. He is strong and played a good center. you could tell Dansby and D.Pete liked him. Not sure we have much there however.

[50PoundHead]

Somebody fill me in. Is Neslony a real 'prospect', or minor league depth? I realize that he's old for Danville, but man, he sure is hitting.

With the retirement of Hessman, I may have to turn to the Nes-man.

As per Rojas, five-tool guy drafted in the 3rd round out of an Illinois JC in 2010. Son of former major league reliever Mel Rojas and relative to the Alou clan. Tools have never really translated.

[buck75]

Pretty good pitching in the minors tonight.

[nsacpi]

Daniel Castro providing reason to believe he may yet turn into a useful major league player.

[bravesfanMatt]

Mississippi is so stacked right now. If Sims gets on track that team is SCARY good!!

[bravesfanMatt]

And Carolina, the lest talented team, has handled Salem (really good team) the last three games. Shows records mean nothing in the minors.

[CrimsonCowboy]

With all the middle infielders, where is Cruz's ultimate position or is it too early to tell.

[msstate7]

Rojas Jr. hit 2 hr's and a double... 5 rbi's. Also an assist. Pretty solid night

[nsacpi]

Herr Albische is killing it.

[bravesfanMatt]

What a great night of Minor league ball.. Our prospects have been trending in the right direction of late. Weigel with his worst start but other wise no complaints anywhere else...

[Tapate50]

With what Oz is doing to AA at his age.. Not sure how he isn't top 10 unless all you want is power

[UNCBlue012]

With what Oz is doing to AA at his age.. Not sure how he isn't top 10 unless all you want is power

Dude is incredible. He's hitting almost .400 in AA and began heating in AAA. Him and Swanson are legit.

[msstate7]

What's latest on shae Simmons?

[50PoundHead]

Good for Clark. He hasn't pitched well, but the times he did pitch well he was let down by either the hitters or the bullpen.