Atlanta Braves Make Cuts, Who’s Still There, Who’s Not
By Jeff Schafer
The time comes when the inevitable turns into the reality. For some Atlanta Braves players, that moment was this afternoon.
Spring Training is about getting your timing down and your mentality back into baseball form for veterans….but for players wishing to wear the Atlanta Braves jersey day in and day out, Spring Training is all about getting noticed and hanging on as long as you can.
Most teams have been making cuts since last week, narrowing their roster down as we get closer to opening day where each team’s roster needs to be at 25.
Mar 7, 2013; Lake Buena Vista, FL, USA; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Aaron Northcraft (64) against the Detroit Tigers during a spring training game at Champion Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Prior to Friday, the Braves had 62 players still reporting to their MLB Spring Training. After Friday, 45 players.
The Braves made the decision to cut 14 Non-Roster Invitees and three players on the 40-Man Roster.
Aaron Northcraft was the one man who is on the 40-Man Roster that was opted down to Triple-A Gwinnett because of an injury he suffered to his finger the first day of fielding practice. The injury is past him but the Braves decided to send him down to get in some innings. Wirfin Obispo and Carlos Perez were also sent to Triple-A camp.
Other big names were Jason Hursh and J.R. Graham. Neither were considered to make the opening day roster and were probably just glad they had the opportunity to be in camp – at least for Hursh.
Listing The Cuts
- Aaron Northcraft
- Jason Hursh
- J.R. Graham
- Carlos Perez
- Wirfin Obispo
- Daniel Rodriguez
- Lay Batista
- Mark Lamm
- Cody Martin
- Yunesky Maya
- Shae Simmons
- Matt Kennelly
- Braeden Schlehuber
- Jose Yepez
- Mark Hamilton
- Edward Salcedo
- Matt Lipka
I’m a little surprised by the cut of Lipka but you can’t say to much about it since the Braves seem to have the outfield spot pretty covered. He has had a great ST though. Keep an eye out for him in minor league ball as he’s a young up-and-comer.
I wish Hamilton could of done a little more during the games he played but only collecting two hits and having a .158 batting average doesn’t cut it. When I saw him at the Wide World of Sports complex, he was destroying the ball and was looking forward to that on the field.
Non-Roster Invitees Still On The Squad
- Freddy Garcia
- Atahualpa Severino
- Ian Thomas
- Gus Schlosser
- Steven Lerud
- Philip Gosselin
- Tyler Greene
- Tommy La Stella
La Stella is batting .270 and has proven to some that he has the opportunity to be on the team by seasons end. Other infielders who are competing, Green and Gosselin are hitting .174 and .286 respectively.
The lefties still battling for a spot. Thomas and Severino would love that 25th man spot on the Braves opening day roster. Thomas, 6’4″ has been impressive this spring with 5.1 innings pitching with only giving up one run. Severino on the other hand, 4 innings pitched and five runs given up.
Look for the Braves to continue their cuts probably by the end of the weekend.