Week 13 Atlanta Braves Farm Report, Part 2: Rome is rising

After spending most of the season with a light-hitting offense, Rome has received quite a jolt, thanks to recent Atlanta Braves draft pick, shortstop Braden Shewmake.

In Part 2 of Week 13’s Farm Report, we look at how Rome was able to go 5-2, despite mostly struggling this season, and also take a look at how several of the Atlanta Braves newly-drafted players did down in the Rookie levels.

For reference, here is a link to week one.

(37-43) Rome Braves (A)

Rome finished the week strong with four straight wins and they totaled five wins for the entire week.

Week 13 Notes

Monday was also a great day for Rome: It doesn’t happen very often, but Rome kicked off Week 13 with an abundance of offense beating Rome 12-3.

It all started in the opening inning, when Rome scored five runs. Braden Shewmake singled to right, knocking in a run; and Shea Langeliers doubled to right, scoring Shewmake. Man, those two could be a great duo for the rest of the season.

After those first two runs scored, Griffin Benson (double), Henry Quintero (triple), and Ariel Montesino all pushed across runs.

In the second, Benson homered to right, scoring Shewmake and Langeliers — Benson had a heck of a game, by the way, finishing with 6 RBI.

If you’re keeping count, that’s already eight runs for Rome, and we’re just through two innings.

Benson struck again in the 4th, a sac-fly to left that scored Shewmake, again. Shewmake finished with four runs.

Then in the 8th, Rome pushed across three more runs, one coming from none other than Benson, who singled to center field, scoring… you guessed it, Shewmake.

Rome totaled 15 hits and was 7-for-18 with RISP on Monday, hitting eight XBHs. Here’s every player that contributed:

• (CF) J. Dean: 1-for-4, R, BB, K, SB
• (2B) G. Cullen: 1-for-5, 2B, 2 K
• (DH) B. Shewmake: 3-for-4, 2 2B, RBI, 4 R
• (C) S. Langeliers: 1-for-3, 2B, RBI, R, 2 BB
• (1B) G. Benson: 3-for-3, HR, 2B, 6 RBI, BB
• (LF) H. Quintero: 2-for-4, 2 3B, 2 RBI
• (3B/SS) D. Florentino: 1-5, RBI, 4 K
• (SS) A. Montesino: 3-3, 2B, RBI, 2 SB

Outfielder Jose Bermudez was the odd-man out, going 0-for-4 with a strikeout, as the No. 9 hitter.

Reliever Victor Vodnik got the start. He’s one of my favorite pitchers for Rome, though for some reason they don’t utilize him very much.  Here’s his line from Monday’s game: 4 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 K

Despite Vodnik’s solid outing — which was 72 pitches by the way — Jake Higginbotham picked up the win (his second of 2019). Higginbotham pitched the 5th thru 7th innings, striking out three and walking none. He allowed two hits from the 11 batters he faced.

Braden Shewmake hits first home run of pro career on Tuesday:  Rome ended up with the loss, 5-4, but what really mattered was the Atlanta Braves second pick in the 2019 MLB Draft began his torrid stretch of hitting on Tuesday.

We’ll get to just how awesome Shewmake’s first full week as a pro was in a minute, but this game was notable because it was his first of many long balls.

The shortstop from Texas A&M finished 2-for-4 Tuesday, with two runs scored and a strikeout, to go with his 8th inning home run.

Other notable contributors were:

• (CF) Justin Dean: 2-for-3, 2 RBI, R, 2 BB
• (3B) Brendan Venter: 1-for-4, 2B, 2 K

The Atlanta Braves first pick in the draft earlier this month, catcher Shea Langliers, went hitless in four tries, striking out once.

Jose Bermudez scores game-winning run in Rome’s win Thursday:  He may be the No. 9 hitter in the lineup and he may be having a poor season, but Bermudez was the hero for Rome on Thursday, as the R-Braves beat Greenville 4-3. Well, so was Greg Cullen.

In Rome’s half of the 9th, Burmudez led off with a ground ball single to left, then immediately stole second base with Justin Dean up to bat. Dean gave Rome one out, as he grounded out to shortstop, but it was productive as he pushed Bermudez to third base.

Next, Cullen came to the plate and slapped a ground ball to third baseman Brandon Howlett. Bermudez took off for home and Howlett’s throw was errant at the plate, giving Rome the go-ahead run in the top of the 9th.

Reliever Jose Montilla struck out two of three Greenville batters in the bottom of the inning, preserving Rome’s dramatic win, and earning the win himself.

Bermudez finished the game 1-for-3 with a strikeout and a run scored, the game-winning run, of course. He also finished with two stolen bases. Dean was 1-for-5 and Cullen hitless in five at-bats, with one strikeout.

Third baseman Brendan Venter led Rome with two RBI, as he went 1-for-4 with a double, a run and a strikeout. Braden Shewmake had another solid game, going 1-for-4 with an RBI, a walk, a strikeout, and a stolen base.

Dilmer Mehta started Thursday’s game, going 5 innings and striking out three. He allowed five hits and walked three, while surrendering three runs.

Braden Shewmake wins it for Rome on Friday:  It’s never to early to win the game for your team, as Shewmake provided Rome with more theatricals on Friday, beating Greenville 4-3.

With one out in the top of the 9th, and two-straight singles by Rome (Justin Dean and Greg Cullen), Shemake had runners on the corners, when he slapped a ground ball to left, scoring Dean and pushing Cullen to 2nd base to take a one-run lead.

Overall, Shewmake had himself another outstanding game, as the fresh-outta-college shortstop is killing it in his first taste of pro ball. Shewmake finished 3-for-5 with a double and two RBI, as he also plated a run in the 1st inning from his line drive double to left.

Langliers may have stalled the 9th-inning rally for Rome (struck out with runners on), but he also picked up an RBI in the game, an RBI single in the 3rd that scored Dean.

First baseman Griffin Benson and DH Henry Quintero both finished with two hits and two runs apiece, as seven out of nine Rome batters recored a hit. Rome finished with 11 hits as a team.

Starter Alan Rangel went five innings, laboring through 94 pitches and striking out four and walking two. He allowed thee runs and seven hits, as he wasn’t involved in decision.

Ryan Shetter ended up the win, working the 8th and 9th innings, striking out three.

Player of the Week

(SS) Braden Shewmake

6 G, 13-for-28, .464 BA, HR, 5 2B, 6 RBI, SB

Who saw this coming? I guess this is why he was the second pick in the ’19 Draft by the Braves.

Shewmake has now completed his first 10 games as a pro, and the numbers are staggering. He already has three 3-hit games and three 2-hit games, with his six Week 13 games consisting of five multi-hit performances.

All of those hits add up to a season total of 19-for-23 (.440 BA) and a 1.082 OPS with 27 total bases.

Roster Moves & IL List

• April: (P) Jackson Lourie , 7-day IL
• May: (2B) Braulio Vasquez , 7-day IL
• June 13: (INF) Carlos Paraguate, 7-day IL
• June 17: (C) Hagen Owenby, 7-day IL
• June 28    (P) Victor Vodnik, 7-day IL