Atlanta Braves Minor League Weekend Wrap, May 22nd
Atlanta Braves Minor League Weekend Wrap Up
Transactions
5/18 – 3B Rio Ruiz recalled by Atlanta Braves from Gwinnett Braves
5/18 – IF Kurt Hoekstra assigned to Danville Braves from Rome Braves
5/18 – LHP Tucker Davidson assigned to Rome Braves from Danville Braves
5/19 – OF Dustin Peterson activated from 7-day DL by Gwinnett Braves
5/19 – 2B Emerson Landoni placed on 7-day DL by Gwinnett Braves
5/19 – 1B James Loney assigned to Gwinnett Braves
5/19 – IF Carlos Franco assigned to Gwinnett Braves from Mississippi Braves
5/19 – C Blake Lalli released by Gwinnett Braves
5/19 – RHP Danny Reynolds placed on 7-day DL by Mississippi Braves
5/19 – IF Reed Harper activated from 7-day DL by Mississippi Braves
5/19 – C Carlos Martinez assigned to Florida Fire Frogs from Danville Braves
5/19 – C Alex Jackson placed on 7-day DL by Florida Fire Frogs
5/20 – C Braeden Schlehuber activated from 7-day DL by Gwinnett Braves
5/20 – LHP Rex Brother assigned to Mississippi Braves from Gwinnett Braves
5/20 – RHP Luke Jackson recalled to Atlanta Braves from Gwinnett Braves
5/20 – LHP Joe Rogers assigned to Rome Braves from Mississippi Braves
5/20 – RHP Andres Santiago assigned to Danville Braves from Florida Fire Frogs
5/20 – RHP Kris Medlen assigned to Florida Fire Frogs from Braves extended spring training
5/20 – RHP Raymar Navarro assigned to Rome Braves from Danville Braves
5/20 – LHP Joey Wentz placed on 7-day DL by Rome Braves
5/20 – IF Yeudi Grullon assigned to Danville Braves from Rome Braves
5/20 – LHP Adam McCreery assigned to Danville Braves from Rome Braves
5/20 – IF Kurt Hoekstra assigned to Rome Braves from Danville Braves
5/20 – IF Juan Yepez traded to St. Louis Cardinals from Rome Braves
5/21 – IF Johan Camargo optioned to Gwinnett Braves from Atlanta Braves
5/21 – IF Yeudi Grullon assigned to Rome Braves from Danville Braves
Hitter of the week: Carlos Franco was promoted to Gwinnett due to how well he’s been hitting, and he put up an excellent week combined between his two assignments, posting a line of .348/.444/.696/1.140 with 3 home runs, 6 RBI, and a 4/11 BB/K ratio.
Franco is playing 1B primarily with Gwinnett, but he has some definite skills at 3B as well, albeit not an elite defender at the position. He is a guy that I have been a fan of since he was competing with guys like Edward Salcedo for the top 3B prospect in the system due to his steady play over any elite particular tool.
Franco’s power has been notably growing the last two seasons, and he has implemented more loft into his swing this year with very obvious results, leading the entire Atlanta Braves system in home runs with 11.
Honorable mention: Joey Meneses took off on a tear in late April/early May in 2016 in Carolina that carried through until mid-June when he was promoted to Mississippi. He struggled with his promotion to Mississippi, though that was part in parcel due to his transition to the outfield at the same time.
Playing primarily first base again in 2017, Meneses has begun to hit again with Mississippi recently. After hitting for a good average with poor zone rates in his walk and strikeout rates in April, Meneses struggled early in May. He put up a .400/.455/.600 line over the last week, driving the ball well, and most importantly, he’s controlling the strike zone, with a 2/3 BB/K rate over the week.
Pitcher of the week: Twice receiving honorable mention on a week, Tyler Pike finally receives the first billing this week. While some of that is due to a down week of performances from the starters in the system, Pike’s numbers were certainly worthy.
On the week, Pike made two starts, going 12 innings, allowing 2 runs (1 earned) on 10 hits and 5 walks, striking out 9 on the week. Pike has been throwing well and working with Florida pitching coach (and long-time Braves minor league pitching coach Dennis Lewalyn) to re-capture the excellence that made him a highly desired draft pick.
Pike is having an incredible May so far as well and could be the ace of next week’s May All Stars post if he keeps this up for one more week!
Honorable mention: The Braves promoted two teenagers to Mississippi and then backed them up with a couple of very solid starters in the bullpen in Michael Mader and Wes Parsons. Mader had a solid week as well, but the guy of note here is Parsons.
Parsons has been receiving spot starts throughout the season, being a true swing man, starting one day, then relieving twice over the next 7-10 days before making another start. This past week was a good example of that. After making a start on Saturday, May 13th, where he went 4 solid innings, Parsons threw 1 1/3 innings of relief for Mississippi on the 17th and then started on Sunday against Jacksonville.
All tallied, his work this week was 7 innings, 1 run allowed on 2 hits and 2 walks, striking out 6. His ability to continue to be effective between roles will be a huge asset throughout the season.
Next: Gwinnett Braves