Atlanta Braves News: The Morning Chop, Box Score, We Love Catching! And Beating the Nats
By Jeff Schafer
Tomahawk Take Editor’s Note: The Atlanta Braves destroyed the Washington Nationals on Wednesday night….AND IT WAS GLORIOUS!!! The Braves put up 13 runs off 16 hits as they routed the Nats on their home field.
The bats were on fire — except for Rio Ruiz and Dansby Swanson in this game. They went a combined 0-9 at the plate and 1-9 on base with five strikeouts. Oddly enough, the Braves totaled 11 strikeouts on Wednesday.
Julio Teheran really looked like his old self as he lasted seven strong innings, giving up six hits, two runs, one walk and had three strikeouts. Teheran has actually looked really well in his last two games…both of which we saw Kurt Suzuki as the catcher. Maybe Teheran has found his permanent catcher.
Matt Kemp did leave the ball game on Wednesday with “hamstring tightness”. He reached for his hamstring after he slid into 3rd base in the top of the 3rd inning. Kemp was on the DL earlier this season with a hamstring strain.
Braves manager Brian Snitker told reporters following the game that it’s nothing serious and he could return to the lineup on Friday.
Braves WIN 13-2
| Batting | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | PA | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ender Inciarte CF | 6 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | .304 | .355 | .413 | .769 |
| Brandon Phillips 2B | 6 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 6 | .306 | .348 | .434 | .781 |
| Nick Markakis RF | 4 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | .290 | .370 | .383 | .753 |
| Matt Kemp LF | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | .327 | .364 | .558 | .922 |
| Danny Santana LF | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | .222 | .267 | .407 | .675 |
| Matt Adams 1B | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | .290 | .340 | .538 | .878 |
| Kurt Suzuki C | 5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | .223 | .336 | .404 | .741 |
| Rio Ruiz 3B | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 | .194 | .293 | .319 | .612 |
| Jason Hursh P | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Dansby Swanson SS | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 5 | .220 | .302 | .344 | .646 |
| Julio Teheran P | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | .083 | .115 | .083 | .199 |
| Sam Freeman P | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| Johan Camargo PH-3B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .226 | .250 | .355 | .605 |
| Team Totals | 41 | 13 | 16 | 12 | 5 | 11 | 47 | .390 | .447 | .512 | .959 |
| Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | HR | ERA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Julio Teheran, W (6-4) | 7 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 4.86 |
| Sam Freeman | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1.89 |
| Jason Hursh | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Team Totals | 9 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 2.00 |
Braves load up on catchers, add more pitchers as MLB Draft wraps up
Tomahawk Take Editor’s Note: Who said the Braves love pitching the most?!? Well, that’s actually very true, but a close second in the 2017 draft seemed to be catching! Day three of the MLB draft seemed to be all about that catching as the Braves selected six catchers….yes, six!
Definitely a lot of potential here as reading through their scouting reports, a bunch of these guys could be studs. I’m wondering if the Braves have a concern about signing a few of these guys. Mostly collegiant juniors Lugbuaer and Owenby. Never know though, Braves and GM John Coppolella must have a plan.
I think the Braves saw a need and they went after it. Usually in day three it isn’t about drafting the “best player” because at this point, who knows? Braves and Director of Scouting Brian Bridges had a plan.
11th round – Drew Lugbuaer (6-4, 230) Junior Michigan University
12th round – Hagen Owenby (6-1, 211) Junior East Tennessee State University
18th round – Zack Soria (5-10) Senior Florida International University
22nd round – Justin Morhardt (6-4, 225) Senior Bryan College
25th round – Jake Taylor (6-1, 210) Shawnee High School
26th round – Charlie Carpenter (6-6, 230) Junior University of South Carolina-Upstate
"The Braves didn’t change their strategy on the third and final day of the MLB draft so much as they recharged their battery through augmentation."
"After drafting seven pitchers among their first 10 picks over the first two days, Atlanta added 15 more Wednesday, but given the team’s predilection toward storing arms over the past couple years, that didn’t warrant the attention."
"Drafting six catchers, pumping a position that is a bit short-stocked within the farm system, probably did."
Next: Get to know Braves 2nd Round Pick: Drew Waters
Canadian minor-league pitcher Mike Soroka has bright future with Atlanta Braves
Tomahawk Take Editor’s Note: The 28th selection of the 2015 MLB draft by the Atlanta Braves was Canadian’s own Mike Soroka. The big (6’5″, 230-pound) right-handed pitcher is enjoying a fantastic season so far in 2017. Soroka is moving up the Braves minor league system fast! In 2016, as an 18-year-old, Soroka went 9-9 with a 3.02 ERA and jumped to #4 on the Braves top prospect list. Going into the 2017 season, Soroka is ranked #48 on Baseball America’s top MLB prospects.
If he continues to pitch like he is, Soroka be moved up to Triple-A Gwinnett by years end.
Ever wonder what is full name is: Michael John Graydon Soroka
"The 19-year-old Soroka was promoted to double-A to start the 2017 season — a rarity for a player in his second full season as a pro. Atlanta director of player development Dave Trembley said the promotion wasn’t a hard decision.“Mike’s going to be real special,” Trembley said. “He’s a guy that will take the ball every fifth day, he’s going to be a guy that’s going to give you a lot of innings. He prepares very well, he’s very mature, he knows what he wants.The Calgary native hasn’t disappointed since being promoted, going 7-3 with a 2.45 earned-run average in 12 starts with the Mississippi Braves. He also took a perfect game into the seventh inning of a May 12 start against the Mobile BayBears, retiring the first 19 batters he faced."