The Morning Chop – Olivera, Spring Movers, Dead Birds

Major Moves Underway

Welcome to Pi Day – 3/14/15!  We have some news this morning about changes in camp assignments:

More from Tomahawk Take

• Atlanta Braves 2023 Preseason Top 30 Prospects List: 1-5
• Braves News: Braves acquire Diaz, moves around the division, more
• Atlanta Braves 2012 Top Prospects Review: J.R. Graham
• Atlanta Braves Acquire Lewin Diaz from the Orioles
• Atlanta Braves 2023 Preseason Top 30 Prospects List: 6-10

No official word as yet about whether any cuts were being made today, though that could happen this weekend for a few.  That said, this is definitely a promotion for both of these players –

and

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I will recommend this read about Joe Benson for those who aren’t up on him – Fred has been watching him closely since the Braves inked him.  In fact, many of us were surprised a bit when he did not receive a major league camp invite from the outset.  Nonetheless, he has that in hand now.

It is possible that Benson is being swapped for Cedric Hunter, who has been struggling at the plate over this first couple of weeks at Disney.  Yesterday, he lost a routine fly ball in the sun that lead to 2 (more) runs in the blowout loss to the Tigers, though he also had an excellent against-the-wall grab in the very first Spring game.  But there’s nothing from the team on whether Hunter’s roster aspirations have ended.

We don’t have a lot on Keith Curcio, but the fact that he’s gotten an invite now is modestly interesting, though likely just to get his taste of the camp as a reward for good work on the back fields.

Curcio was drafted just 9 months ago in Round 6 out of Florida Southern College in Lakeland.  He is a Centerfielder and only got a chance to be involved in 16 games once signing.  He hit .283 between Danville and Rome (.316 at the higher level) with a homer and 9 RBI.  Nice start.  He’s recently turned 22, and will likely spell Eric Young and the others manning the position.