Farm Report: the Leaders in Pitching

More Cow Bell!  The other day, we looked at the hitters in the Braves’ organization:  those busting out as leaders in their respective leagues.  Today, I want to look at the pitchers.  Immediately, I’ll throw out a disclaimer:  to be on the charts as a pitcher requires a ton of innings, which isn’t often accomplished – particularly in the lower minors… even among starting pitchers.  So this review will look at the most outstanding performances thus far in our minor leagues… and there’s quite a bit to share.

Oriel Caicedo (GCL Braves).  4th in the GCL with a 2.16 ERA in 41.2 innings (9 games, 7 starts).  His WHIP is 8th at 1.1 and he has surrendered just 9 walks with 24 K.  He has easily been the best of the GCL pitching staff.

In the upper rookie league, Andry Ubiera (Danville) is 18th in the league in ERA (3.88) over 48.2 innings.  He is 13th in strikeouts (43), with 18 walks.
Michael Flores (Danville) is 19th (4.33) over 43.2 innings.  He’s also third in strikeouts (52), albeit with 21 walks.
Admittedly, those numbers don’t jump up and excite you since the team ERA is 4.00… so let’s look at the non-qualifiers:

Andrew Waszak has a 1.43 ERA in 37.2 innings – nearly qualifying for the chart, which would put him #1 on the list (35K, 6 BB).
Richie Tate has a 1.85 ERA in 24 innings (19 K, 7 BB).
Jared Dettmann:  2.65 ERA in 34 innings (25K/14BB).
Jordan Sechler also has a sub-3 ERA (2.92) over 24.2 innings (20K/8K).

Very interesting pitching group developing at Rome.  Keep an eye on these guys especially.

Mauricio Cabrera (Rome) is 14th in ERA 3.91 with a robust 122 innings (which is 4th in the league).  Cabrera has 102 K, but with high walks (64).  Lots of pitches this year.
Lucas Sims (Rome) is 9th in K’s (105 in 94.2 innings, 39 walks, 3.04 ERA).
1st Round pick Jason Hursh (Rome):  0.72 ERA in 25 innings.  That’s just two earned runs.  15 Ks, but 10 walks (the only evident downside).

Let me introduce you to Eric Pfisterer.  He was a 15th round draft pick of the Reds out of high school (2008).  Did not sign at that time.  Signed with Atlanta in January 2013 as a undrafted free agent after finishing up at Duke University.  He’s now 23 years old.
In 17 relief appearances, he has a 1.36 ERA in 33 innings with 38 K and 4 walks.  That got me to notice.

Carlos Perez: 20 relief appearances with Rome:  32 IP, 37 K, 8 walks.  2.25 ERA. (now on Lynchburg DL).  Had some trouble in ~14 innings in the Carolina League – 11 walks against 15K and a 3.95 ERA.  No word on whether his injury might be related.

Jarrett Miller (Lynchburg).  3.57 ERA, 123.2 IP.  107K, 53 BB.
Greg Ross (Lynchburg).  3.64 ERA, 101.1, 16 starts.  72/36.  While he was at Rome:  19 innings, 18 hits, 18 K – 1 walk.  1.40 ERA.  7 relief appearances.
John Cornely (Lynchburgh) has 56 K in 41.2 innings (19 BB and 36 hits lead to a 3.67 ERA).
Ryan Weber (Lynchburg) has 61K/12BB in 72 innings, 3.48 ERA

Reliever Ryne Harper (Mississippi) has a 1.70 in 47.2 innings (45K, 14BB).
Gus Schlosser (Mississippi) is 3rd in the Southern League in ERA – 2.25 in 120 innings… 6 shutout innings last night giving up 1 hit.  91 K and 38 BB.
Aaron Northcraft (Mississippi) has a 3.64 ERA in 121 innings (101K/43BB) – 18th in the league.
Pat Egan (Mississippi):  1.89 ERA in 47.2 innings (39K/11BB).
Andrew Russell (now at Gwinnett):  2.27 ERA in 43.2 ip (34/16).  Lots of walks now at AAA.
Mark Lamm (now at Gwinnett):  2.47 ERA in 43.2 ip (46/19).  Good start (3.31 ERA in 16 innings) at AAA.

Tim Corcoran (Gwinnett):  2.98 in 54 ip; 44K, but 31 walks.
David Hale (Gwinnett): 2.99 in 90 ip; 58k/29bb
Kameron Loe (Gwinnett): 3.00 in 60 ip; 31k/16bb
Cody Martin (Gwinnett): 3.97 in 56.2 ip; 55/25.  Back down to earth a bit after a hot AAA start.
Omar Poveda (Gwinnett): 9th in league in ERA (3.44) with 147 ip (119/48).  Leads the league in strikeouts.
Ryan Buchter (Gwinnett)):  has 84 K in 53 innings (3.25 ERA, 42 walks).

Minor League Notes:

• Christian Bethancourt reached base for the 40th straight game last night – a new team record that continues with every game he extends it.  He’s on a tear right now (I believe his hitting streak is now at 16 games, too):  .292 and 11 homers.
• The struggling Matt Kimbrel was sent to the GCL Braves.  He was getting lit up at Danville (12.84 ERA in 20 innings – 29 earned runs).  So far?  One inning – 2 hits surrendered.
• Sean Gilmartin has returned to the Gwinnett Braves after a successful rehab stint.  He has not yet gotten into another AAA game, but hopes to improve on a fairly ugly 5.83 ERA in 71 innings this year.