Two top Braves prospects are inching closer to the Majors, as MLB.com’s Mark Bowman tweets. The team has promoted Ozzie Albies from Double-A Mississippi to Triple-A Gwinnett and fellow shortstop Dansby Swanson from Class A+ Carolina to Mississippi. Albies was already a highly-regarded prospect heading into the season, but he’s surpassed expectations by skipping over Class A+ and batting .369/.442/.512 at Mississippi at the ridiculously young age of 19. Swanson, meanwhile, has hit brilliantly in his first full pro season, batting .333/.441/.526. The former Vanderbilt infielder and top overall 2015 draft pick appears to be on the fast track to the big leagues, where he could eventually pair with Albies in the Braves middle infield, likely with one of them moving from shortstop to second. Here’s more from the National League.
- The Pirates have announced that righty Jared Hughes has been reinstated from the 15-day DL, and that they’ve cleared space for him on the active roster by optioning fellow Rob Scahill to Triple-A Indianapolis. Hughes had missed the entire season to this point with a lat strain. The return of the ground-ball specialist should provide a boost to a Bucs bullpen that has struggled to this point, posting a 4.48 ERA, 8.1 K/9 and an ugly 4.5 BB/9 thus far and ranking as below replacement level as a unit.
- Cardinals GM John Mozeliak says shortstop Jhonny Peralta, who had thumb surgery in March, could be set to begin a rehab assignment in about three weeks, Rick Hummel of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch writes. That timetable means Peralta might return to the team early in June. Mozeliak notes, though, that the team will still find ways to use rookie Aledmys Diaz, who’s batting a remarkable .420/.452/.739 while playing mostly shortstop so far this season.
- Reds first baseman Joey Votto is in the midst of the worst offensive month of his career, as FanGraphs’ Owen Watson notes. Votto is batting just .238/.330/.325, with an unusually high strikeout rate (23.4%) and low walk rate (11.7%). He’s also been very pull-happy at the plate, an approach Watson suggests might not work for him. He’s been pulling the ball so much in part because opposing pitchers are throwing inside against him, trying to get him to hit into defensive shifts. Votto likely needs to adjust to that strategy, and Watson seems confident that he will.
Let’s see how Albies does in AAA for three months
I agree, give him no less than three months. No sense in rushing either.
The braves could have something special Albies and Swanson up the middle, Ruiz at third. Pitching Teheran, Wisler, Blair, Jenkins, Folty, Manny, and more coming. We still need a young catcher and then look out world the braves are back
i personally think blair and swanson are gonna be great pro’s but i think theyre banking on calling a lot of guys up for next year and being good-great, they should supplement it with some trades/signings of proven big leaguers if they plan to contend in 2017 if not it might take until 2019 for a large portion of this prospect wave to have it all figured out all at once, imho
The Braves have the financial flexibility to add one or two FAs, arm and bat that could help over next couple years and transition. Will be interesting to see how the couple of months go, May and June schedules are a lot better than April was.
They said the same about the cubs recently and look how that turned out
Before the 2017 season we will trade several of our SP prospects/Rookies for Current Impact Big Leaguers…..we are also signing a ridiculous amount of talent in the international ranks later this summer (allegedly)….
Rio Ruiz, Swanson, and Albies all need to continue to stay in the minors until at least August…..they are raking right now but they each have crazy amount of Strikeouts for hitting so well…..Ruiz has 25 times in 84 at bats I believe…..but is hitting .320 or something
September*
Also Throw Newcomb, Sims, and Allard (although a little farther off) into the mix too. I agree with everything else though. I’m real excited to see how good the Braves can get.
I don’t think people realize how loaded our farm system is with pitching, yes it is known we have several prospects but its more than that….there are legit future MLB starters 3-4 deep at each of our affiliates this year.
Here are some of the ‘others’ that weren’t mentioned….
Chris Ellis (other player from Angels) he is 23 in AA with a 1..84 era through 5 starts,
High A Carolina
Max Provse – 6’8 RHP 2012 3rd rounder – 1.69 ERA through 4 starts….
A Ball Rome –
I’m a big fan of Max Fried 22 LHP acquired from Padres who missed 2015 do to TJ he’s back and has looked solid through 4 starts with a 3..50 ERA..former 1st rounder and top 75 prospect,
Mike Soroka 6’4 RHP 2015 first rounder has a 1.30 ERA through 5 starts in Rome he is 18…..
Ricardo Sanchez LH is 19 (acquired from angels when he was 17 for Kubitza) has a 2.80 era through 4 starts at Rome.
Touki Tossaint RH 1st 2014 first rounder for Arizona 19 is a top 100 prospect but is still struggling with control and missing bats.
Plenty of other arms as well Whalen, Gant, Cabrera, Thurman, Hursh…..and we also have 3 of the first 45 picks in this years draft……
Agreed, there is plenty of talent. May be a couple more years away, but only need two top prospect pitchers over next 18 months.
You forgot Lucas Sims who is battling for most strikeouts. He might be one of Wren’s only finds.
Votto is a overpaid ball player. Looking for walks and singles.
.228 ISO last year was 20th best in baseball.
Career .220
He hits with plenty of power
Yankees should call for sp and offer Sanchez since he’s blocked at his position
Yes, Braves are struggling for a Catcher of the Future like Sanchez. But honestly if he is ready, should look to trade McCann (similar to how Braves let him walk thinking Bethancourt was ready).
I wish we could get Sanchez. I would even be willing to take Headley’s contract in order to get him. Give up a couple prospects as well. We need a catcher of the future bad.
Saw Swanson play with Mississippi in Jacksonville tonight in his first game in AA he went 2 for 3. Rbi double and a two run home run. Average .667
With Swanson and Albies looking almost ready for next year and possibly Ruiz coming next I want to see what happens with the OF situation. As it stands now we are looking at an all LH hitting OF with no power. Add in LH hitting corner infielders we need some right handed pop somewhere.
With our prospect talent and depth I can’t see us not being able to put together a package to get Gary Sanchez that would be my focus.
What LF/RF options are out there for 2017 ? Free agency or trade.
If Ruiz sticks at 3rd the Braves can transition Austin Riley to RF and he should be ready by the time Markakis contract is up Mallex is in center. I read somewhere somebody pushing for a Ryan Braun deal I would like to see people’s thoughts on that.
Yes I think Ruiz, Swanson, and Albies will all be ready for late season call up/seasoning for 2017. Have agreed with you all the way on Sanchez, I think Headley/Sanchez deal could possibly be done. Could actually see McCann coming back to unblock Sanchez, but that is a lot of money. Even McCann coming back gives Herbert time to season or draft another. I suggested Braun trade a couple months ago and most said “No way he gets traded!” I think it is funny, he is our Freeman, although hitting better.
I wouldn’t be totally opposed to McCann coming back but if that is the case than Hector gotta be a part of the deal to off set some of that salary and no way we give up a Top 10 prospect in the deal either. Maybe Ellis, Whalen & Hector for McCann.
Also he probably would be a better fit to help out the young pitchers we got coming up. A move like that would make it even more important to get a RH power bat in the OF as well.
My preference is Sanchez/Headley and make a run at Braun which I highly doubt he accepts a trade to a team in a similar situation as the Brewers but how bout Matt Kemp. He is signed to 2020 and he proved himself able to be healthy last year. If the Padres were to eat some of the contract with the more they ate the better the prospect I could see it. I would be scared to death but I could see it.
The more I think about it the more I like the McCann scenerio. He gives Herbert time to develop and he is still accustomed to the Braves way.
To make that move though it would be imperative to get a RH power hitting OF to play a corner. But to bring on McCann’s salary I am not feeling a Kemp or Braun.