MINORS FINAL 8/28: Final GCL Leaders
http://thenypost.files.wordpress.com...r-300x4501.jpg J.J. Franco at Brown
With all of the hoopla surround Braxton Davidson and Luke Dykstra, the big story to emerge from the Gulf Coast League club in 2014 was the most productive 38th-round draft choice imaginable, J.J. Franco. Son of ex-Mets and Reds reliever John Franco, he was a second baseman out of Ivy League entry Brown University who still had a year to go. Maybe the Braves knew something, maybe it was just a gesture that grew into something greater, but Franco finally began play June 30th and took second base away from DYkstra, who'd torn it up at that point.
Franco wound up the year hitting .347, good enough for third in the league had he enough ABs to qualify. But the best part was that he played errorless baseball at second base to instantly install himself as a true prospect to watch -- despite his age (23 in February). Oz Albies likewise was short ABs to qualify for the batting title, which likely would have been his since he moved up after hitting .381 in 19 games.
Here are the official team leaders for 2014:
GAMES: Kelvin Estevez (47).
AT-BATS: Ray-Patrick Didder (157).
RUNS: Erison Mendez, Braxton Davidson (23). Davidson's in just 37 games.
HITS: Didder (43).
DOUBLES: Luke Dykstra (11).
TRIPLES: Didder (5).
HOME RUNS: Alejandro Flores (4).
RBIs: Mendez (29), Dykstra (28).
STOLEN BASES: Mendez (9).
AVERAGE: Mendez (official) (.277).
WALKS: Davidson (22).
OBP: Albies (.481), Dykstra (.420).
PITCHED GAMES: Jorge Zavala (18)
WINS: Oriel Caicedo (4).
SAVES: Zavala (7).
INNINGS: Francisco Gonzalez (58).
STRIKEOUTS: Gonzalez (41).
ERA: Gonzalez (official) (4.06); Caicedo (2.81 in 48
innings).
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Niether Lynchburg, nor Rome had any postseason all-stars. Still awaiting Southern League.
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THURSDAY BOXES LINK
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CLASS AAA
Gwinnett (62-76, 9 back, eliminated), idle.
CLASS AA
Huntsville 7, Mississippi 5
(80-55, 41-25, 0.5 ahead with four to play)
LP: Hursh (11-7) 3.1 IP, 7 H, 7 ER, 1 BB, 2 K.
Graham 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K.
Loman 2-4, HR (12th), RBI.
Hunter 1-3, 2 R, HR (14th), RBI.
Poythress 1-1, 2 RBIs. (PH)
M. Jones 1-1. 3B, R. (PH)
Wren 1-5, RBI, SB.
ADVANCED CLASS A
Lynchburg 6, Carolina 2
(66-69, eliminated)
WP: Walters (6-1) 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K.
Cabrera 0 IP, 0 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 0 K.
Ahrens 3-5, HR (7th), 3 RBIs.
Martinez 3-4, 2B, HR (4th), 2 RBIs.
Tewell 1-4, 2B, R.
CLASS A
Kannapolis 7, Rome 5
(54-82, eliminated)
SP: Cordero 6 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 0 K.
LP: Kimbrel (BS, 2-3) 1 IP, 4 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 1 K.
Oliver 2-5, 3B, RBI.
Livesay 2-4, R, RBI, SB.
Schrader 1-5, HR (11th), RBI.
SHORT-SEASON
Blown save, 5-run 9th for Tigers
GCL Tigers 7, GCL Braves 6 (13)
(29-30, eliminated)
SP: Fulencheck 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K.
Osnowitz (BS) 0.2 IP, 1 H, 5 ER, 4 BB, 1 K.
LP: Sechler (BS, 1-2) 4.1 IP, 3 H, 0 ER(2R), 1 BB, 3 K.
J.J. Franco 1-3, 2 R. (.347)
A. Flores 3-5, 2 2B, 2 R.
Mendez 1-6, 2B, 2 RBIs.
Gaylor 1-6, R, SB.
Danville 8, Bristol 4
(37-30, 2 back, magic number is 2)
WP: Caicedo (1-0) 6 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 4 BB, 3 K.
Vail 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K.
Morel 3-5, 2 R, 2 SB. (.209)
Edgerton 1-5, R, RBI.
Albies 2-5, R, SB.
F. Sanchez 1-2, 2 R, HR (2nd), 3 RBIs, 3 BB.
Davidson 0-0, 2 BB.
