Atlanta Braves Promote Carlos Portuondo to AAA

Atlanta Braves Promote Carlos Portuondo to AAA

According to the International League transactions page on Sunday the Atlanta Braves promoted RHP Carlos Portuondo to Gwinnett.

As Alan noted at the time the Braves the signed 28-year-old Cuban back in February for $990,000.  Because of his age Portuondo didn’t count against last years international bonus pool and the signing largely wen unnoticed.

The  6’2”, 220 pound righty features a low 90’s fastball and a slider working both as a starter and in relief but wasn’t a particularly outstanding export  statistically. The Braves sent him to High A Carolina where he made only nine appearances in relief throwing 17 1/3 innings with a 5.19 ERA, 1.269 WHIP, striking out 12 and walking eight.

They moved him from Carolina to Pearl on the fifth and two days later he packed again and headed to Gwinnett without making an appearance.  This move is likely more about age and experience that anything else.

At 28 he was significantly older than the other players in A+ and AA and they’ve been shuffling pitchers both in Atlanta and at Gwinnett regularly in recent weeks.

• Ryan Weber called up from Gwinnett on the third
• Brandon Cunniff called up from Gwinnett on the third
• Robert Whalen called up from Gwinnett
• Roberto Hernandez a.k.a. Fausto Carmona called up from Gwinnett
• Madison Younginer bumped up to Gwinnett on August first then called him to the majors to pitch in St Louis six days later.
• Traded for Chad Rogers and assigned him to Gwinnett on the fifth
• Claimed reliever Chaz Roe from the Orioles

Someone will have to go down today in order to activate Roe for the series in Milwaukee as planned.

That’s A Wrap

We can assume there will be other moves in the next few days but with David O’Brien and others waiting for Delta to fix whatever broke so they can get on their plane and head for Milwaukee news has slowed to a trickle.

Next: Down on the Farm

One interesting note is that the way Adonis Garcia’s been playing since the break teams with a need at third base – Detroit, the Mets, even the Yankees (Headley’s been awful)  – could look to add an inexpensive player for the final weeks and the future.

We’ll stay on top of the news and keep you up to date here at the Take