With the promotions of Brooks Conrad, Clint Sammons, and Luis Valdez to Atlanta, it was inevitable that some other players in the system would be promoted to fill the gaps. Here's who's been moved up:
Gwinnett will add C Benji Johnson, OF Matt Young, and P Jeff Lyman. Lyman, who started 2 games for Gwinnett this season, has thrived mostly as a reliever, combining for a 5-9 record and a 3.46 ERA in 35 games between AA and AAA. Young, who was just named the Southern League's Hustle Player of the Year, followed up last year's Mississippi MVP season with another fine campaign, hitting .289 with a .827 OPS and a team record 42 SB. Johnson will now have played for Myrtle Beach, Mississippi, and Gwinnnett, combining for a .216 average and a .667 OBP in 69 games between AA and AAA.
OF Cody Johnson will join AA Misssissippi, hoping to insert some power into their lineup for the final week of the season. Though an oblique injury has slowed him during the month of August, the slugger managed to hit .242 with a .861 OPS for Myrtle Beach this year, becoming the first player in the Carolina League to hit more than 30 home runs since 1997, as he slugged out a team record 32.
The legend of OF Adam Miligan continues to grow, as he moves up to Myrtle Beach after playing for both Danville and Rome this season. In 61 games for those 2 teams, the first year player hit .361 with an astounding 1.029 OPS that included 12 home runs and 43 RBI.
Moving up from the GCL team to help out Danville in their championship series are C Jace Whitmer, 1B Alberto Odreman, and OF Kyle Rose. Whitmer had previously played for Danville, hitting .220 in 35 games between the D-Braves and the GCL this year. In 55 games in the GCL Odreman his .251 with a .720 OPS that included 9 home runs and 29 RBIs. Rose had a fine season as well, hitting .282 with a .736 OPS along with 26 SB in 47 games.