House That Hank Built
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Atlanta Braves AAA Affiliate Gwinnett Braves Official Roster and Preview

By Benjamin Chase

Feb 21, 2017; Disney, FL, USA;Atlanta Braves shortstop Ozzie Albies (left) and shortstop Johan Camargo (right) talk on the bench in a practice following media day for the Atlanta Braves during MLB spring training at Champion Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 21, 2017; Disney, FL, USA;Atlanta Braves shortstop Ozzie Albies (left) and shortstop Johan Camargo (right) talk on the bench in a practice following media day for the Atlanta Braves during MLB spring training at Champion Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 21, 2017; Disney, FL, USA;Atlanta Braves shortstop Ozzie Albies (left) and shortstop Johan Camargo (right) talk on the bench in a practice following media day for the Atlanta Braves during MLB spring training at Champion Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 21, 2017; Disney, FL, USA;Atlanta Braves shortstop Ozzie Albies (left) and shortstop Johan Camargo (right) talk on the bench in a practice following media day for the Atlanta Braves during MLB spring training at Champion Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /

The Atlanta Braves use their AAA affiliate, the Gwinnett Braves as a place to hold quick replacements for the major league roster. Could there be team success in Gwinnett as well in 2017?

The Atlanta Braves saw their AAA club in Gwinnett have a very good finish to their 2016 season, and many of the guys who were quite good in Mississippi will be finding their way to Gwinnett to help them be a very entertaining club once again.

Let’s start with the men carrying the timber:

Hitters

Catchers – David Freitas, Blake Lalli

The guess is that Anthony Recker ends up here when the Atlanta Braves go to an 8-man bullpen soon into the season after players get healthy, but it is curious to see just these two listed, especially as the Braves used Lalli less and less at catcher in 2016.

Infielders – Ozzie Albies, Johan Camargo, Sean Kazmar, Kyle Kubitza, Rio Ruiz, Matt Tuiasosopo

I was truly hoping not to see Ruiz at this level, but that’s not to be. He’ll be the guy I’m watching closest as he has really not shown the issue with lefties that he did in 2016 previously. If he can show the ability to handle either hand of pitcher, he could quickly supplant Adonis Garcia at third base.

Albies should just be in Gwinnett until he’s healthy, though I’d love to give him all the time he needs to get 100% after the freak fracture that he suffered last season.

Outfielders – Lane Adams, Xavier Avery, Mel Rojas, Jr., Adam Walker

Dustin Peterson should be here once he’s healthy. Until then, it’s an outfield of guys who are best used as bench guys, and really, Adams, Rojas, and Walker all could provide value to the Braves bench at some point in 2017.

Analysis

The lineup is significantly better than the Gwinnett lineup of 2016. I’ll be intrigued to see how long Albies and Ruiz will be in Gwinnett before moving up to the Atlanta Braves and taking over at the big league level.

It could be very interesting to see how Peterson fits into this lineup and really adds depth to the overall lineup, likely allowing Walker to work as a DH and giving plenty of power overall to the lineup.

Next: Pitchers

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