Atlanta Braves Week 12 Farm Report: A fresh class of players

(33-41) Rome Braves (A)

Week 12 Record: 2-2

South Atlantic Standings (1st Half)

Results 

South Atlantic Standings (2nd Half)

Current

As of Monday, June 24

Week at a Glance

Week 12 Notes

Three players represent Rome in the North vs. South All-Star Game: Second baseman Greg Cullen, catcher Logan Brown and Jose Montilla all got in on the action Tuesday in the South’s loss to the North, 6-2.

The South Division lost Tuesday night, but at least Rome was represented well by reliever, Jose Montilla. The righty picked up the hold after coming in with two outs in the 6th inning. Montilla worked 1.1 innings and struck out one.

Brown was 0-for-1 at the plate while stranding a runner, and Cullen finished 0-for-1 with two strikeouts.

Brown and Cullen both started the game, as Brown hit 6th and Cullen batted in the eight-hole.

The Braves top two 2019 draft picks start their career. Outfielder Justin Dean returns from the IL.

On Thursday, the Braves first two picks from the 2019 MLB Draft were assigned to their respective teams, with catcher Shea Langeliers and infielder Braden Shewmake starting their professional careers in Rome, a nice head start for the two college bats.

Also, Rome’s leadoff hitter, Justin Dean, made his return from injury, adding strong bat after the team was depleted offensively by promotions in a Week 12.

It didn’t take long for Langelier’s or Shewmake to make their mark:

Here’s a different view of Langelier’s homer…

And here’s one of Shewmake’s six hits in his first week of pro ball…

It’s still extremely early, but both young players are starting off just right:

• (C) Langeliers: 2 G, 2-for-5 (.400 BA), HR, 3 RBI, 3 BB, K
• (SS) Shewmake: 4 G, 6-for-15 (.400 BA), 2 RBI, K

Dean’s week wasn’t to great — 3-for-21 (.142 BA) with a triple and two RBI — but after missing almost a month, he may need several games to shake off the rust.

Players of the Week

(2B) Greg Cullen

4 G, 7-for-20 (.350 BA), HR, 3B, 3 RBI

Frankly, Braden Shewmake deserves to be in the mix for Batter of the Week, as he batted .400 in Week 12. However, Cullen had the homer and the triple, so he’s perhaps a bit more deserving.

Cullen has been a man on a mission lately, recording a hit in every game this past week, as he’s in the midst of a nine-game hitting streak.

Through 69 games this season, the second baseman is hitting .255 with five home runs. As Rome’s table-setter, Cullen is doing his job well and getting on base at a .377 clip.

At 22-years-old and in his first year of full-season ball, he’s on the right track to earn a promotion possibly sometime this season or the beginning of 2020.

The Atlanta Braves need all the middle-infielders they can get, as the top side of the minors is thin at second base and shortstop.

(P) Dilmer Mejia

1 start, 1-0, 5 IP, 4 H, ER, BB, 4 K

Making his first start of 2019 (he’s made 13 appearances as a reliever), Mejia worked a solid 76-pitch (57 strikes) outing on Saturday, as Rome won 5-3.

Mejia is quietly having an awesome season, pitching to a 1.47 ERA with a 4-1 record, predominantly as a middle-reliever. He’s not much of a strikeout-pitcher, but throughout his 43 innings-pitched thus far this season, the righty is only walking 2.3 batters per nine.

The results must be rather refreshing for Mejia, as he’s coming off a 2018 season where he posted a 7+ ERA in both Rome and Florida; though, he did pitch to a 2.87 ERA in 13 starts with Danville last season.

Hopefully he keeps it up. Lord knows Rome needs some quality pitching.

Transactions/IL List

(—) injured before 2019 season began