2014 Rome Braves

State Mutual Stadium

This is the last post of the opening rosters of the Braves’ four full-season minor league affiliates.  Rome has been the Braves class-A affiliate since 2003 when the affiliation moved from Macon.  Rome is the Braves choice of sub-AA affiliates covered by MiLB.tv this year, so this roster is the one Braves’ fans can watch every game on if they so choose, and there are some very fun players to watch on this roster.  I’m going to go in reverse of the Lynchburg roster order and start with outfielders.

Outfield – Blake Brown, Cody Livesay, Jose Morel, Victor Reyes
Reyes could make a good argument as the most exciting prospect on the entire Rome roster. His speed and power combination will be tested in spacious State Mutual Stadium, one of the toughest home run parks in the minor leagues. He’s going to be one of the youngest players at the level, but that will be a theme for this year’s Rome club, who will feature many younger-than-league-average players.

Infield – Johan Camargo, Carlos Franco, Reed Harper, Joey Meneses, Mikey Reynolds, Jacob Schrader
A lot of guys with something to prove in this list, but Camargo is one for fans to keep an eye on.  He’s been a solid contact hitter with very good defense up the middle thus far.  Harper is another up the middle defender with a very good eye at the plate, but his skills at 2B/SS may be behind his skills at the plate, likely leading to a utility role going forward if he isn’t a standout anywhere defensively.

Caratini

Catcher – Victor Caratini, Bryan De La Rosa
This is easily the premier talent area of the team.  Caratini and De La Rosa could be considered the #2 and #3 catchers in the entire Braves system, and they’re both on one squad.  Caratini is more of a bat-first player who would be immensely valuable if he can stick behind the plate, but his true future position may be third base.  De La Rosa is a prototypical catcher in stature and defensive skills, but his bat is what the Braves want to see mature in Rome.  Combining the two would possibly be one of the best catching prospects in the whole game, but each has a chance to be a premier player down the line.  Caratini is personally one of my favorite prospects, and I like him a lot out from behind the plate at 3B.  His bat has taken leaps forward already, and there’s really no one blocking him from a quick ascent up the system at 3B like there is at catcher.

Pitchers – Rafael Briceno, Tyler Brosius, Chuck Buchanan, Jared Dettmann, Brady Feigl, Jermey Fitzgerald, Jean Carlos Gil, Francois Lafreniere, Andy Otero, Carlos Salazar, Michael Swanner, Richie Tate, Andry Ubiera
Carlos Salazar is the big name here, but there are a lot of young pitchers to keep an eye on.  There is not a single pitcher on this team born in the 80s, which is the first Braves full-season opening day roster to be able to say that.  Chuck Buchanan is one to keep an eye on as a college lefty with a good frame (6’5, 220) from the 2013 draft class with a lot of polish, albeit not high-end “stuff” that allowed him to drop down to the 18th round last June.

The Rome Braves are managed by Jonathan Schuerholz with Bobby Moore, Gabriel Luckert, Nestor Perez, and Tim Straus rounding out the coaching staff.