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Thread: Minor League Thread 813 Braves' Patiently Build Up Bethancourth's Bat

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    Director of Minor League Reports rico43's Avatar
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    Minor League Thread 813 Braves' Patiently Build Up Bethancourth's Bat

    From MiLB.com
    As soon as Christian Bethancourt's broken left hand healed last fall, the Atlanta Braves began to retool the catcher's swing.

    "He can catch and throw at the Major League level right now," Atlanta manager Fredi Gonzalez said during Spring Training of 2012.

    But at the end of a Double-A season cut short a year ago, it was obvious that Bethancourt was a long way from being able to hit Major League pitching. That's why the Braves went to work on the 21-year-old and, after some ups and downs, the results have been dramatic the last two months at Mississippi.

    Bethancourt was 4-for-4 with two homers Sunday against Jackson, extending his hitting streak to 14 games and his on-base streak to 38 -- tying the Mississippi record. He padded that record Tuesday, homering again.

    "He made some pretty dramatic changes mechanically, and it took him a while to get comfortable," Atlanta general manager Frank Wren said. "But he's comfortable now and has been really impressive in the second half."

    Since his on-base streak began June 13, Bethancourt is batting .333 (50-for-150) with an OPS of .954 thanks to an on-base percentage of .367 and a slugging mark of .587. The first two-homer games of his career have come in the past month. The Braves' No. 3 prospect has failed to get a hit in just five of the 38 games, and that he still reached base safely in them also shows just how far he has come.

    "Walks haven't been his strong suit, but he's getting better," Wren said.

    The streaks that Bethancourt keeps track of -- blocking balls in the dirt and nabbing runners trying to steal. His rate throwing out runners, though, is down to 34 percent this year after he caught 39 percent last season.

    "The main thing is my defense," Bethancourt said. "I keep trying to get better, and I'm starting to put everything together -- blocking pitches, calling the game, throwing out runners."
    ---------------
    After Mississippi second baseman Tommy La Stella had his team-record hitting streak snapped at 23 games in Huntsville last Tuesday, Atlanta's No. 14 prospect bounced back to hit safely in his next five games. He is batting .338 through 62 games after going hitless Sunday and has a chance to qualify for the Southern League title despite a late start to the season and a trip to the disabled list.
    ----------------

    TUESDAY'S GAMES

    CLASS AAA

    Gwinnett (53-7) 3, Durham 2 (10)
    Gosselin walk-off RBI FC with error.

    SP: Loe 6.2 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 3 K.
    WP: Obispo (2-3) 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K.
    Gartrell 1-1, R, RBI, 3 BB; Pagnozzi 3-3; Gosselin 1-5, 2B, R.

    CLASS AA

    Mississippi (66-55) 5, Pensacola 3


    WP: Northcraft (7-8) 6 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 4 K.
    Harper (Save, 8) 1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K.
    Bethancourt 2-4, 2 R, HR (11th), RBI; La Stella 1-4, 2B, R 2 RBI; Martinez 3-5; Salcedo 2-5, R, RBI; Hefflinger 2-5, 2B.

    ADVANCED CLASS A

    Lynchburg (56-59) 6, Winston-Salem 4


    SP: Holland 3 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 2 K.
    WP: Rivera (6-0) 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K.
    Cornely (Save, 5) 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K.
    Castro 2-3, R, RBI, SB; Rohm 1-4, RBI; Moses 1-3, R, 3B, RBI; Landoni 1-4, R; E. Reyes 1-3, 2 R.

    CLASS A

    Rome (61-60) 2, Savannah 1


    SP: Cabrera 6 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 5 K.
    WP: Chaffee (1-1) 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K.
    Fitzgerald (Save, 1) 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K.
    Peraza 1-4, 3B, 2 RBI, SB (54); Carroll 1-3, 2B, R.

    APPALACHIAN LEAGUE

    Elizabethton 6, Danville (24-26) 3


    LP: Ubiera (3-2) 3.2 IP, 5 H, 6 ER, 2 BB, 1 K.
    Caratini 1-1, 2B, RBI, 4 BB; Camargo 1-4, R; V. Reyes 1-2, 2 BB; Piloto 1-5, 2B, 2 RBI.

    GULF COAST LEAGUE

    GCL Yankees 5, GCL Braves 2


    LP: Grosser (1-2) 3 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 2 K.
    Obregon 3-4, 3B, 2 RBI; Manwaring 1-3, 2B, 2 R (.136); Reed Harper 1-3.

    DOMINICAN SUMMER LEAGUE

    DSL Tigers @ DSL Braves (24-34)

    SP: TBA.
    Last edited by rico43; 08-13-2013 at 09:51 PM.

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    I really wonder what type of national attention Caratini will get after his year. Guy is posting around a 930 OPS with around a 450 OBP. Sure, he needs to show some more power but the kid is just 19.

    CB/Caratini/Peraza/Reyes is a nice combination of positional prospects.
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    Quote Originally Posted by thethe View Post
    I really wonder what type of national attention Caratini will get after his year. Guy is posting around a 930 OPS with around a 450 OBP. Sure, he needs to show some more power but the kid is just 19.

    CB/Caratini/Peraza/Reyes is a nice combination of positional prospects.
    Everyone keeps overlooking my sleeper guy Johan Camargo. He has been really good this season and can play multiple positions. Keep an eye on him.

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    From rotoword this morning:

    After going 4-for-4 with two home runs on Sunday, the 21-year-old was back at it on Tuesday with another home run as part of a 2-for-4 performance. Widely regarded as one of the top defensive catchers in the minor leagues, Bethancourt posted a dismal .566 OPS in 71 games last year before suffering a broken hand in August that prematurely ended his season. However, his bat has come alive (finally) this year after revamping his swing during the offseason. Overall, Bethancourt has batted .291/.318/.462 with 18 doubles, 11 home runs and a 48/14 K/BB ratio in 76 games. Considering that he's already on the Braves' 40-man roster, it wouldn't come as a surprise if the catcher receives a brief taste of the major leagues in September.

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    Sign Mac, Gattis is back up.......sell high on CB.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Russ2dollas View Post
    Sign Mac, Gattis is back up.......sell high on CB.
    Not a horrible plan. Its going to matter on what Mac wants to do. Take every dollar to go to Texas/NY or stay and become another Atlanta Braves icon.
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    Anyone seen a scouting report on Ryne Harper? He's moved up fairly fast and seems to have inherited the Mississippi closer's job with the promotion of Lamm to Gwinnett. Solid K-rate and K/BB ratio.

    Jay, with you on Camargo. Started slowly in Danville, but has been smoking (1.107 OPS over last 10 games) recently. Don't know much about his fielding, but he's sticking at SS for now, which is a good sign seeing Reynolds played SS in college.

    I'm one of the few who seems to think Elmer Reyes has a chance to hang on as a utility prospect. Good glove and appears to be hitting again after a couple of very disappointing seasons.

    I wouldn't be surprised to see Obispo up in September (Huddy to 60-Day DL if he's not there already). Fredi seemed to talk highly of him during spring training. I was a bit surprised when Loe got the the call-up instead of Obispo last month.

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    50, have you seen CB play this year at all? If so, what is your opinion of him?
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    Quote Originally Posted by 50PoundHead View Post
    Anyone seen a scouting report on Ryne Harper? He's moved up fairly fast and seems to have inherited the Mississippi closer's job with the promotion of Lamm to Gwinnett. Solid K-rate and K/BB ratio.

    Jay, with you on Camargo. Started slowly in Danville, but has been smoking (1.107 OPS over last 10 games) recently. Don't know much about his fielding, but he's sticking at SS for now, which is a good sign seeing Reynolds played SS in college.

    I'm one of the few who seems to think Elmer Reyes has a chance to hang on as a utility prospect. Good glove and appears to be hitting again after a couple of very disappointing seasons.

    I wouldn't be surprised to see Obispo up in September (Huddy to 60-Day DL if he's not there already). Fredi seemed to talk highly of him during spring training. I was a bit surprised when Loe got the the call-up instead of Obispo last month.
    On Obispo, we can always use some swing and miss bullpen guys in Sept to rest some arms.
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    Quote Originally Posted by thethe View Post
    50, have you seen CB play this year at all? If so, what is your opinion of him?
    I'm in Minnesota. I rely on you guys for the eyeball stuff.

    His stats look good. No question about that.

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    Thanks for the heads up on Harper. Didn't realize he was doing so well. Age doesn't matter with bullpen arms. Looks like a candidate for next years pen. Just keep churning these league min guys out and maybe we can keep Kimbrel.
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    Quote Originally Posted by thethe View Post
    I really wonder what type of national attention Caratini will get after his year. Guy is posting around a 930 OPS with around a 450 OBP. Sure, he needs to show some more power but the kid is just 19.

    CB/Caratini/Peraza/Reyes is a nice combination of positional prospects.
    I think Caratini's power is fine. Yes, the ball may not be going out the park but he does have 21 XBH in just over 150 AB's.

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    Too many young Braves to lock up, to keep Mac you would have to let some
    of them go..catchers age fast...and Mac can not play any other position..

    Quote Originally Posted by Russ2dollas View Post
    Sign Mac, Gattis is back up.......sell high on CB.

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