MINORS THREAD 4/24/14: R0Braves add another Indy Leaguer

[rico43]

CONSTANTINO DEBUTS FOR ROME

The latest independent league player signed by the Braves debuted for Rome in a pinch-hitting capacity Wednesday. Third baseman Chris Constantino (a great baseball name) was actually signed by the Braves in November, but has been in extended spring training.

The notable part of Constantino's story is where he was playing: Roswell in the indy Pecos League (which I had never heard of!). Roswell, of course, was the locale of Joe Baumann the year he hit 72 home runs back in the 50s. Constantino was briefly in the Cardinals system after being a 43rd round pick out of Walters State (Tenn.) JC. But he was a terror in the Pecos League, hitting .360 in 55 games (11 homers, 55 RBIs). A beefy 6-3, 235, he was originally a pitcher but damaged a shoulder.

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CLASS AAA

Columbus 5, Gwinnett 4 (11)

SP: Floyd 5.1 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 1 K, HR.
LP: Russell (0-1) 0.1 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K.
Hamilton 2-4, 2B, R, RBI.
Terdoslavich 2-2, 2B, 2 R, 2 BB.
La Stella 2-5. (.338)
Mejia 1-5, 2B, RBI.

CLASS AA

Mississippi 11, Pensacola 9

SP: Weber 2 IP, 8 H, 5 ER, 1 BB, 2 K.
WP: Cornely (2-0) 3.2 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 K.
Simmons (Save, 5) 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K.
Landoni 3-6, 2 RBIs.
Loman 4-6, 2 2B, 2 R.
E. Reyes 1-6, 2B, R, 2 RBIs.
Kennelly 0-1, 2 R, 4 BB.
Kubitza 1-4, 3B, R, RBI, SB.

ADVANCED CLASS A

Salem 8, Lynchburg 5

SP: Waszak 3.1 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 4 BB, 2 K.
LP: Wilson (1-1) 12.12 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 3 K.
Ahrens 3-5, 2 2B, 2 R.
Peraza 2-4, R, SB.
Piloto 1-3, RBI.
Tewell 1-3, R, 2 RBIs.

CLASS A

Kannapolis 7, Rome 4

LP: Ubiera (0-3) 5 IP, 5 H, 5 ER, 1 BB, 5 K.
Constantino 0-4.
Carroll 3-5, 3B, R, RBI.
V. Reyes 1-3, 2 RBIs.

[50PoundHead]

A lot of pitchers got it up last night. Zowie.

The Mississippi bullpen has to be running on fumes with the combination of pitch limits and shaky starts coming from the rotation.

[Tapate50]

Simmons with a pretty solid 2 IP. 5k

[50PoundHead]

I was following on Gameday and Cornely was dealing until he ran out of gas as well. Don't see many 2-inning saves anymore, so kudos to Simmons.

[nsacpi]

We are not quite a month into the season, but imo Shae Simmons has taken the biggest jump forward in terms of prospect status. If he keeps this up he'll have to be considered an elite prospect. Not too many relievers get that tag, but his strikeout and walk numbers, as well as pure stuff would merit it in his case. My guess is he is in line for a mid-season promotion to AAA, and depending on circumstances could well have a role to play on the big team before the season is over.

[rico43]

We are not quite a month into the season, but imo Shae Simmons has taken the biggest jump forward in terms of prospect status. If he keeps this up he'll have to be considered an elite prospect. Not too many relievers get that tag, but his strikeout and walk numbers, as well as pure stuff would merit it in his case. My guess is he is in line for a mid-season promotion to AAA, and depending on circumstances could well have a role to play on the big team before the season is over.

Fredi threw Shae into the fire a couple of times in the first two weeks of games, and it seems that those blown saves have had an educational effect on the kid. Make no mistake; he is NOT another Kimbrel. He tops out at 96 and is probably more effective a few MPH less than that. If he develops a deceptive off-speed pitch, then he's golden. So your projections are probably only about a half-season off. I can seem him as a back-end guy when Walden and Avilan start getting too expensive, or ... (shut my mouth)

[thethe]

I could see a situation next year where Thomas/Simmons are the 7th/8th inning guys.

[jpx7]

I could see a situation next year where Thomas/Simmons are the 7th/8th inning guys.

Time for Wren to lock them down to long-term deals?

[nsacpi]

I could see a situation next year where Thomas/Simmons are the 7th/8th inning guys.

Thomas will be a starting pitcher next year.

[thethe]

Thomas will be a starting pitcher next year.

I'm on that bandwagon as well but where is he going to fit in? I have a feeling that Santana is going to be here for the next 4 years.

[nsacpi]

I'm on that bandwagon as well but where is he going to fit in? I have a feeling that Santana is going to be here for the next 4 years.

Nah. We don't give those kinds of contracts to 30something pitchers. Well we did once upon a time with Derek Lowe and have drawn the appropriate conclusions.

[rico43]

Nah. We don't give those kinds of contracts to 30something pitchers. Well we did once upon a time with Derek Lowe and have drawn the appropriate conclusions.

Based on their starts, Santana and Harang will both be one-and-dones, and both will probably get something even better than Hudson got from SF at the least, and Santana will likely get his $15 mil per.