Atlanta Braves Morning Chop: Winter League Updates

Two dozen Braves players have been involved in post-season leagues so far and it is time to catch up on how that’s going.

Winter Leagues are used for a variety of purposes:  for learning, for challenging, for competition, and sometimes even for fun.

As we will see, though, some of our Atlanta Braves farmhands (mostly!) are having more success with that than others.

ARIZONA FALL LEAGUE

Several Braves are on the Salt River Rafters club, which is 9-7-1 thus far, a half game behind Mesa for first place in the Eastern division, and tied for 3rd overall in the 6-team league.

• Travis Demeritte.  Let’s start with this intriguing prospect. There’s been a lot said about him this Fall:

He has impressed many with his range and glovework around second base.  He also impresses in the batting cage.  That occasionally transfers to in-game hitting.

In 13 AFL games, Demeritte is hitting .250 in 56 ABs with 2 doubles, a triple, a homer, 5 walks and 15 K… the latter of which is the number most at issue, helping reduce his OPS to .686.  I would like to see him try AA Southern League pitching next season.

• Dylan Moore.  The SS has not played very often, but got his licks in early and often:  6 games, 22 AB, 8 hits with 2 doubles and 2 homers for a slash line of .364/.440/.727/1.167.  Hang that one up on a wall for all to see… especially since he’s a fellow UCF brother!
• Dustin Peterson.  He’s been hanging in there against some of the better pitchers that this league throws out there.  .265 in 10 games/34 AB with a double and triple.  .639 OPS overall.  Has taken just one walk (.286 OBP), but also limited the strikeouts (4).
• Kade Scivicque.  Catcher Kade has also done well in limited action:  5 games, .278/.316/.389/.705 line with two doubles among his 5 hits in just 18 AB.
• Chris Ellis.  Moving to the pitchers, Ellis started okay, but ran into a buzzsaw the last time out, giving up 5 runs in 2.2 innings to kill his stat line.  His WHIP is around 2.0, which is the result of both being hittable and wild (7 walks in 8.2 innings overall).

Ellis could be getting tired, too:  he has thrown 155 innings this season in 3 leagues with 31 starts on the year… personal highs across the board, and the Braves have definitely pushed him a bit this season.

• Akeel Morris, picked up from the Mets in Kelly Johnson Trade II, is doing well:  3.00 ERA with 5 K in 6 innings.  He does have 4 walks, leading to a 1.67 WHIP.
• Evan Phillips has a 4.05 ERA likewise thanks to 5 walks in 6.2 innings.  His K total is 8, which leads the Braves’ contingent on the Salt River Rafters club, along with a 1.35 WHIP and .160 BAA.