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Thread: Minors Thread 726: MLB.com report: Braves only team w/o Top 100 prospect!

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    Director of Minor League Reports rico43's Avatar
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    Minors Thread 726: MLB.com report: Braves only team w/o Top 100 prospect!

    While some organizations might evaluate their future by primarily focusing on the Minor League level, much of the optimism surrounding the Braves' future is currently being displayed on a daily basis at the Major League level. Four key pieces of Atlanta's everyday lineup -- Justin Upton, Jason Heyward, Freddie Freeman and Andrelton Simmons -- are 25 years old or younger, and Upton is the only member of this group that was not homegrown.

    When Alex Wood returned to the Major League level on Thursday, he became the third homegrown member of Atlanta's starting rotation that is 25 or younger. Earlier this season, the talented left-hander was part of a Braves bullpen, whose top two relievers -- Craig Kimbrel and Luis Avilan -- still have not celebrated their 26th birthdays.

    Still, even with this abundance of young talent already at the big league level, the Braves are excited about the plethora of pitching talent in their Minor League system. Eight of the club's top-10 prospects in MLB.com's updated rankings are pitchers.

    The Braves had five players -- Teheran, Bethancourt, Simmons, Randall Delgado and Arodys Vizcaino and ranked among the game's top 100 prospects before the start of the 2012 season. But they now stand as the only Major League club that does not have a player on this list.

    With Teheran having graduated from prospect status, J.R. Graham now owns the distinction of being Atlanta's top prospect. The 22-year-old right-handed pitcher, who possesses an electric fastball and a high-energy personality, has gained this honor despite being sidelined since the middle of May with a strained right shoulder. It is still unclear when he might be cleared to begin pitching again.

    Right-hander Lucas Sims occupies the next spot on the Braves' list of top prospects. The Braves have not been disappointed by selecting Sims and Wood with their first two selections in the 2012 First-Year Player Draft.

    A couple of recent first-round selections -- Sean Gilmartin and Jason Hursh -- rank fourth and fifth, respectively, among the club's top prospects. Gilmartin was acquired with the 27th overall selection in 2011 and Hursh has made a solid impression since the Braves took him with the 31st overall pick in this year's Draft.

    Christian Bethancourt, who will be a candidate to serve as Atlanta's starting catcher next year, ranks third on this updated list. The only other position players ranked among the club's top 10 prospects are outfielders Todd Cunningham and Matt Lipka.

    Dropped off

    Much of the optimism surrounding Carlos Franco entering this season has evaporated as he has struggled offensively for Class A Rome. The 21-year-old third baseman showed some promise when he produced a .408 on-base percentage for Rookie Level Danville.

    After posting a 1.93 ERA in 20 appearances for Rome last year, David Peterson entered this season with the hope that he could continue this success in his second professional season. But injuries have limited 23-year-old right-hander to five appearances with Class A Advanced Lynchburg.

    Rising/falling stock

    Cody Martin began this season ranked as the club's 18th-best prospect and now ranks seventh. While he is not blessed with incredible stuff or a power arm, he has done nothing but impress while posting a 2.86 ERA in 22 appearances (16 starts) with Double-A Mississippi and Gwinnett.

    Juan Jaime's inability to stay healthy has led him to drop from 10th to 17th on the club's prospect list. The hard-throwing right-hander's fastball has topped out at 102 mph. But he has posted a 4.00 ERA while making just 19 appearances so far for Mississippi.
    ------------
    Braves right-handed pitcher Humberto Carpio and Reds Minor League outfielder Yoel Noel were each handed 50-game suspensions Friday after testing positive for steroids.

    The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball announced that Carpio was suspended without pay after testing positive for metabolites of Stanozolol, while Noel tested positive for a metabolite of Nandrolone. Both bans are effective immediately.

    Noel, 18, was batting .172 with a homer, four RBIs and a .198 on-base percentage in 26 games this season with the Reds in the Dominican Summer League. Carpio, 19, has yet to appear in a Minor League game.
    -----------------

    FRIDAY'S SCORES

    CLASS AAA

    Gwinnett (46-61) 4, Charlotte 1


    WP: Hale (5-5) 7 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 4 BB, 3 K.
    Rasmus (Save, 14) 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K.
    Mejia 1-4, HR (27th), RBI; Boggs 1-4, 2B, 2 RBI; Gosselin 1-4, RBI; Leonard 2-4, 2B.

    CLASS AA

    Pensacola 5, Mississippi (15-16) 3


    LP: Lee (5-7) 5 IP, 7 H, 5 ER, 1 BB, 5 K.
    Marrero 2-3, R; Hefflinger (PH) 0-0, RBI; La Stella 1-4; Brewer 1-3, SB; Martinez 1-4, RBI (.298)..

    ADVANCED CLASS A

    Potomac 6, Lynchburg (11-20) 1


    LP: W. Perez (2-1) 7 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 8 K.
    Jadofsky 1.1 IP, 3 H, 5 ER, 3 BB, 1 K .
    Lipka 1-4, 3B, R; Rohm 2-3, RBI; Elander 1-4, 2B: McGIll 1-3.

    CLASS A

    Rome (14-19) 7, Asheville 3


    WP: Lafreniere (5-9) 7 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 4 BB, 5 K.
    Simmons 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K. (1.56)
    Peraza 2-5, 2B, 2 R, 3 SB (45); Heffley 2-4, 2B, RBI; Carroll 2-4, R; Tewell 1-4, R, HR (7th, SLAM), 4 RBI.

    SHORT-SEASON

    Game One
    Danville (17-15) 10, Burlington 3 (7)


    WP: Ubiera (2-1) 6 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 K.
    Lien 3-4, 3 R, 2B, SB; Reynolds 4-4, 2 R, 3B, 4 RBI; Piloto 2-3, 2 RBI; Caratini 2-2; Camargo 3-4, 3 R, 2 RBI.

    Game Two
    Burlington 2, Danville (17-16) 0 (7)


    LP: Dettmann (1-2) 5.1 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 1 K.
    Lien 1-4; Moranda 1-2; Schrader 1-2.

    DSL PIrates 14, DSL Braves (20-24) 9 Miranda blown save in 9th.

    SP: Heredia 3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 2 K.
    LP: Orozco (BS, 0-2) 0.2 IP, 0 H, 3 ER, 3 BB 1 K.
    Grullon ('13 FA) 3-3, R, 2 RBIK 2 BB; Chin 2-5, HR (1st) 3 RBI; Flores 1-1, 2B, 2 RBI; Castro 1-5, RBI.

    GCL Yankees 10, GCL Braves (11-17) 3

    LP: Gonzalez (3-2) 1 IP, 1 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 0 K, WP, HBP.
    Livesay 3-4, R; Arno 1-4, 2b, R, 2 RBI; V. Reyes 0-1, lelft game.
    Last edited by rico43; 07-26-2013 at 11:05 PM.

  2. The Following 7 Users Say Thank You to rico43 For This Useful Post:

    Braves1976 (07-27-2013), Chico (07-27-2013), Gary82 (07-26-2013), parkvadawg (07-26-2013), The Chosen One (07-26-2013), thethe (07-26-2013), zitothebrave (07-27-2013)

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    Shift Leader thethe's Avatar
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    Love looking at those Danville box scores. We have some players down there.

    Also, how fun would it be if both Wren/Peraza became players and we had the two of them at the top of the lineup.

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    Shift Leader thethe's Avatar
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    Braves have some solid starting pitching depth in AAA right now in Martin/Hale. I'm not saying they should start this year but they are options moving forward for the fifth spot.

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    Shift Leader thethe's Avatar
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    Rico wrote about it in his prospect writeup....Williams Perez is someone to watch. He hasn't been exactly a fast mover in the system but only 22 in Lynchburg and has absolutely dominated in his first three starts. 19 innings 4 walks 23 strikeouts 2.09 GO/AO.

    Thats filthy.

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    Shift Leader thethe's Avatar
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    Peraza with another 2 hits tonight and a double. Oh yeah 3 stolen bases to get to 45 for the year.

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    Clique Leader weso1's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by thethe View Post
    Peraza with another 2 hits tonight and a double. Oh yeah 3 stolen bases to get to 45 for the year.
    Wow.. some real exciting young guys to watch all of a sudden.
    thank you weso1!

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    Shift Leader thethe's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by weso1 View Post
    Wow.. some real exciting young guys to watch all of a sudden.
    Yup, Wren and his staff have done a great job the last two years restocking after so many promotions.

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    Quote Originally Posted by thethe View Post
    Peraza with another 2 hits tonight and a double. Oh yeah 3 stolen bases to get to 45 for the year.
    Him or LaStella replace Uggla in a few years.

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    Shift Leader thethe's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Heyward View Post
    Him or LaStella replace Uggla in a few years.
    Peraza won't be ready at least until 2016. No need to worry about him until he hits at AA.

    Hopefully the Braves can trade Uggla this offseason after a solid year without throwing in any money. Then promote LaStella and find a way to keep Mac.

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    Does Caratini ever get out?

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    Director of Minor League Reports rico43's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by thethe View Post
    Braves have some solid starting pitching depth in AAA right now in Martin/Hale. I'm not saying they should start this year but they are options moving forward for the fifth spot.
    I predict both will be ready before Graham is.

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    Brian Jordan's New BFF JohnAdcox's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by thethe View Post
    Hopefully the Braves can trade Uggla this offseason after a solid year without throwing in any money. Then promote LaStella and find a way to keep Mac.
    Don't tease us. A get-on-base guy is too much to hope for.

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    Expects Yuge Games nsacpi's Avatar
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    One of Peraza's steals last night was of home.

    Here is a write up on him from the start of the year.

    http://www.baseballamerica.com/onlin...3/2614606.html

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    We've got a nice bunch of mid-range guys in the system, but recent graduation to the bigs of guys or not, I still don't see much high-end talent in the system and the fact that we don't have anyone in the mid-season Top 100 bears that out. I think we've got some pitching and if Graham had stayed healthy, he may have well cracked the Top 100. I really like Sims a lot. But I see so little in terms of position players.

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    It is true, we don't have much in the way of position prospects. Tommy La Stella is an on base machine in AA that I hope takes over next year for a much hoped for trade of Dan Uggla. Bethancourt and Salcedo have big talent in AA, but both have really struggled to hit so far. Peraza (high upside) and Wren in Rome have potential, and we have two guys in Danville, Victor Caratini and Connor Lien, and Victor Reyes in GCL. That is about it.

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    Quote Originally Posted by skillet View Post
    It is true, we don't have much in the way of position prospects. Tommy La Stella is an on base machine in AA that I hope takes over next year for a much hoped for trade of Dan Uggla. Bethancourt and Salcedo have big talent in AA, but both have really struggled to hit so far. Peraza (high upside) and Wren in Rome have potential, and we have two guys in Danville, Victor Caratini and Connor Lien, and Victor Reyes in GCL. That is about it.
    I think the guys you mention and a few other guys may turn out to be contributors, but they look to be what I call "support level" guys. In other words, not guys you build a team around. Because of that, it is imperative that guys like Heyward, Freeman, and the Uptons produce and are retained.

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    Connoisseur of Minors zitothebrave's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by 50PoundHead View Post
    I think the guys you mention and a few other guys may turn out to be contributors, but they look to be what I call "support level" guys. In other words, not guys you build a team around. Because of that, it is imperative that guys like Heyward, Freeman, and the Uptons produce and are retained.
    I think Tommy can be more than support level. His skills have him being a lot like Kelly Johnson. And a multi-year starter is more than a support level player. True we need to keep Heyward and Freeman and Justin (hopefully) because we lack star talent, but we won for many years with one or 2 stars and lots of other good players.
    Stockholm, more densely populated than NYC - sturg

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    Quote Originally Posted by zitothebrave View Post
    I think Tommy can be more than support level. His skills have him being a lot like Kelly Johnson. And a multi-year starter is more than a support level player. True we need to keep Heyward and Freeman and Justin (hopefully) because we lack star talent, but we won for many years with one or 2 stars and lots of other good players.
    Well, when Kelly Johnson was LaStella's age, he was already in the major leagues. Realize that LaStella being a college player and being injured have contributed to his slower rise, but I don't think LaStella is going to hit with nearly the power Johnson hits with.

    And when I say "support player," I don't mean bench guy. I mean a second-tier guy who is never going to ht a big payday, but is likely to be a solid contributor. As you know, I'm not a big Kelly Johnson guy, but he's been a decent player at several stops, but you aren't going to win with a team full of Kelly Johnson's, which sure as heck means that you won't win with a team full of Tommy LaStella's. There just isn't much star quality among the position players in the Braves' system right now.

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