Atlanta Braves Minor League Recap: 6/12

Gwinnett 0, Rochester 2

Kenshin Kawakami did a little better in his second start with Gwinnett. I'd read that he was going to be in AAA for at least 4 starts, but since he's only gone 5.2 innings combined in the 2 starts he's made you'd have to believe he'll be there longer to stretch his arm out. Cory Gearrin pitched 3 perfect innings and he's been great since the  All-Star break, with a 2.00 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP in 18 innings over 10 appearances. Craig Kimbrel tossed a perfect inning and in his last 7 appearances he's thrown 7 innings, allowed just 1 hit, 3 walks, and has struck out 7, while collecting 5 saves. In 67 at bats since the All-Star break, Barbaro Canizares has hit .388 with a .998 OPS.

Mississippi 12, Montgomery 2

Julio Teheran allowed a pair of runs, the first he's given up since his first AA start, but he's still on a roll, with a 0.96 ERA and a 0.64 WHIP in his last 3 starts. His numbers for the year are fantastic; in 126 innings over 21 starts between Rome, Myrtle Beach, and Mississippi, he has a 2.36 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 10.3 K/9, 2.4 BB/9, and 4.4 K/BB. And the fact that he's only 19 makes it all even more impressive. With a pair of doubles, Willie Cabrera regained the league lead. I've noticed that whenever I see Tyler Pastornicky reached base the first thing I do is check to see if he stole a base. That may be because he has 4 in his last 4 games, going 5-12 in that span.

Myrtle Beach 8, Frederick 4

Mike Jones is a big guy, so he has a reputation for being a slugger, but after hitting 13 homers between Low and High A in 2008, he's combined to hit just 11 homers in the last 2 seasons at High A. LV Ware has been hot this month, with a .308 average and .862 OPS in 26 at bats. Zeke Spruill has been great since returning from a broken hand, with a 2.51 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP in 32.1 innings. His control has been unreal, averaging just 1 walk for every 16 innings and 12 strikeouts per walk.

Rome 3, Augusta 5

The Braves seem to be taking the cautious route with Robinson Lopez, he didn't pitch for 12 days and only threw 2 innings when he did. He's got an electric arm, so protecting it is a good plan. Next year he should be used to full season ball and able to show us all how good he really is. Phil Gosselin has been the most consistent and successful of the Braves 2010 draftees playing for Rome, hitting .327 with a .828 OPS in 159 at bats, mostly as the team's leadoff hitter. Matt Weaver may have been destined for the outfield. He's been playing a lot of right field lately, and been hitting well, with a .318 average and .837 OPS since the All-Star break.

Danville 4, Bluefield 1

Joey Terdoslavich, who, for the record, has played mostly first base this season, hit his first professional home run tonight. After struggling to start the month, Evan Gattis has gone 5-11 with 4 RBI in his last 3 games. 21 year old Lucas La Point, who the Braves selected in the 23rd round in 09, struck out 9 over 6 scoreless relief innings, coming on after David Filak, a 20 year old selected in the 4th round this year, started the game with 2 scoreless.

GCL Braves 2, GCL Pirates 4, Game 1

GCL Braves 7, GCL Pirates 3, Game2

The Braves split a double header with the Pirates, and despite going 0-3 in the first game, Daniel Falcon continues to dominate the GCL. The 22 year old first baseman, newly converted from the outfield, has hit .352 with a .901 OPS in 88 at bats. Kyle Rose played in the first game, what was scheduled to be the first of 4 rehab games for him before returning to Rome, but he only came to the plate once. Hopefully that was the plan and not a result of him re-injuring his leg.

DSL Braves - Off