Six Braves Prospects Make AFL Roster, Including Freddie Freeman
by gondeee on Aug 31, 2010 6:13 PM EDT
in Braves Minor League News
Email
PrintFreddie Freeman, the Atlanta Braves first baseman of the future, will not only get a September call up to the Major Leagues tomorrow, but he'll join some of the best prospects in the game when he competes in the Arizona Fall League which starts in mid-October. Freeman will have a chance to be managed by one of the best first baseman of the past 30 years as a member of the Phoenix Desert Dogs skippered by Don Mattingly.
Brandon Beachy, the breakout non-drafted free agent currently pitching for the Gwinnett Braves, will highlight the pitchers the Braves are sending to Arizona. Kyle Cofield, Eric Cordier, and Michael Broadway will also toe the rubber for the Desert Dogs. Outfielder Cory Harrilchak will round out the six player Atlanta contingent as the only A-ball prospect in the group.
Cofield has had an up and down season and missed some time due to injury. There was a bit of a buzz about him during spring training this year, and like many of the arms going to Arizona, Cofield could break out at any time and turn into a solid Major League prospect.
Cordier was acquired several years ago from the Royals in a spring training deal that sent light hitting short stop Tony Pena Jr. to Kansas City. Cordier has suffered several major injuries in his career, so he's a bit older and a bit behind many of the other guys in double-A, but he has a live arm and has now put together two back to back solid season.
Broadway was drafted way back in 2005 in the fourth round. He's been largely unimpressive as primarily a reliever, but he has slowly climbed the ladder towards Atlanta. He's an interesting add to the AFL roster since he likely won't make the Braves 40-man roster once again. The Braves would essentially be showcasing him for other teams.
Harrilchak is an interesting young outfielder, currently at Myrtle Beach. He's been a streaky player so far in his pro career, but he's got some speed, doubles power, and seems to be a decent all-around hitter. The tough competition of the AFL will be a major test for him.
Overall it looks like a good squad going out there.
UPDATE
According to the Phoenix Desert Dogs roster, shortstop Tyler Pastornicky has also made the Arizona Fall League. Not sure why his name wasn't in the original release that the beat writers got. He could be on the "taxi squad," which is a collection of players who fill in when there are injuries to the main roster. Pastornicky was one of the prospects the Braves acquired in the Yunel Escobar deal.
42 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Man, what a day for Freddie!
"Tony Gwynn made sacrifices. Cal Ripken made sacrifices. I'm not sure Derek Jeter made sacrifices given the ungodly deep pockets the Yankees have." - Chipper Jones
by MBL1 on Aug 31, 2010 6:16 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
i’d say the AFL would be out of the question then, huh?
Following the infamous "astroglide" comment and the challenge for use of word:
no way the Astros glide into the playoffs.
by BrockSamson on Aug 29, 2010 3:26 PM PDT
Arena Football League?
Sweet. They are just that good. The walls are inbounds fellas!
"You can't print what I said, but they have to catch us." - Chipper Jones
God damn it
Derek Lowe confirmed he’s had elbow discomfort for 6 wks. Got cortisone shot Sun. Plans to throw side Wed. Thinks he should be OK for Friday
Pitch KK for christ’s sake!
I fed a fish to a pelican and Frisco bay and he tried to eat my cell phone he ran away
if i were him
i’d say “fuck you” if the braves asked me to do anything
Career ERA: 4.17
by kbertling353 on Aug 31, 2010 6:50 PM EDT up reply actions
Remember, they pay him millions of dollars..
"Check out this bitchin' homemade tesla coil!"
by bwellnjonesco on Aug 31, 2010 7:10 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
valid
"Having over half of your lineup batting .250 or less with no poers hitters is a certain death."
-Simon Damrow
by VivaLosBravos on Aug 31, 2010 11:24 PM EDT up reply actions
Fun personal factoid
Don Mattingly was the annoying little brother of my dad’s best friend growing up in Evansville, IN.
Jason Heyward wins at baseball.
by bbxxj on Aug 31, 2010 6:26 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
World English Dictionary
factoid (ˈfæktɔɪd)
— n
a piece of unreliable information believed to be true because of the way it is presented or repeated in print
Don't kiss an ass if it's in the process of shitting on you.
"…aren’t worthy enough to hold his (Pujols) ass cheeks apart while Playboy models wipe him with thousand dollar bills after he craps out the cure to whatever previously-incurable disease." by royhobbs 1/7/09
excellent
"Having over half of your lineup batting .250 or less with no poers hitters is a certain death."
-Simon Damrow
by VivaLosBravos on Aug 31, 2010 11:24 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, sorry just a brain cramp. I was going to type fact but somehow factoid came out.
Jason Heyward wins at baseball.
Not trying to be word-nazi
I just saw/heard the actual definition somewhere not too long ago, and I figured I’d pass it on. GI Joe.
Don't kiss an ass if it's in the process of shitting on you.
"…aren’t worthy enough to hold his (Pujols) ass cheeks apart while Playboy models wipe him with thousand dollar bills after he craps out the cure to whatever previously-incurable disease." by royhobbs 1/7/09
Anyone know the reasoning behind the selections?
Some of our top prospects aren’t going. Were they not chosen? Did the team not want them to compete?
I was just wondering if this league was strictly for the top players or if it’s more complicated than that. We’ve had some really good players go through it in recent years, but I don’t think I’ve ever bothered to question why certain people went while others didn’t.
"If I have asthma, they won't let me scuba. And if I can’t scuba, then what’s this all been about?? What am I working toward??"
"You look like you should be married to one of the San Diego Padres."
I think it’s mostly guys that they want to get some more work. Freeman is very young for AAA and he’ll be very young for the majors, so they probably want to get him a little more work before handing him the starting job in the majors. Beachy’s season has come out of nowhere, so they’d probably like to see what he’s got in a tough hitter’s league like the AFL. Harrilchak has been a little old for all of the leagues he’s played in, so this gives him a chance to start getting acclimated to a AA-type level before the regular season starts up again.
MASN Announcer: "Ususally they have what they call here 'the privilege,' and that's what bobby cox calls it when he let's the veteran guys swing away on 3-0. This is not such a hitter."
Jason Heyward: Single up the middle, ballgame.
Looks like I'm going to Phoenix in a few months. :)
"Based on stereotypes that are totally untrue and I do not agree with, you would maybe-not be a very good driver..."
"Oh man am I a woman?!"
by Scott Coleman on Aug 31, 2010 7:06 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
I'll see you there then
I knew there was a reason I moved out here!
by king of games on Aug 31, 2010 7:33 PM EDT up reply actions
Without a doubt! Where are you located now?
"Based on stereotypes that are totally untrue and I do not agree with, you would maybe-not be a very good driver..."
"Oh man am I a woman?!"
by Scott Coleman on Aug 31, 2010 7:46 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Awesome.
I’m in Tucson. Not too many people on TC are from AZ. Don’t tell me you’re an ASU guy
"Based on stereotypes that are totally untrue and I do not agree with, you would maybe-not be a very good driver..."
"Oh man am I a woman?!"
by Scott Coleman on Aug 31, 2010 11:52 PM EDT up reply actions
No, I moved here a couple years ago from PA, My dad lived in Georgia/Florida for a long time and watched a lot of Braves games.
by king of games on Sep 1, 2010 9:31 AM EDT up reply actions
Pretty cool.
In the few years I’ve been reading, if not a member of, TC, I assumed you lived in the Phoenix area.
When my parents first married in 1949, they moved for a while to Tucson before coming back to GA. I’m sure Tucson has changed a lot since then. I know Phoenix has. I’ve been through both, but never spent a lot of time in either.
I believe there ought to be a constitutional amendment outlawing Astroturf and the designated hitter. ~ Crash Davis
by Old Braves' Fan on Sep 1, 2010 1:51 PM EDT up reply actions
any reason Teheran and Delgado aren't going?
Innings pitched limit for the year?
ROBOT HEYWARD: TEAM PHILLIES APPEAR TO BE LOSING EVERY GAME IN WHICH TEAM BRAVES LOSE. NEW STRATEGY: START KAWAKAMI, KENSHIN IN REMAINING 35 GAMES
That, and it’s literally the most hitter friendly league there is.
"Based on stereotypes that are totally untrue and I do not agree with, you would maybe-not be a very good driver..."
"Oh man am I a woman?!"
by Scott Coleman on Aug 31, 2010 7:47 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Anyone else worried a little about Beachy being there? I know he’s had a great season, but I would hate to see a guy like that get shelled in the AFL.
Maybe I’m feeling overly protective.
"If I have asthma, they won't let me scuba. And if I can’t scuba, then what’s this all been about?? What am I working toward??"
"You look like you should be married to one of the San Diego Padres."
What?
A lot of guys get shelled there! No, how can a guy leading all of the minors in ERA not belong? I’d rather him get beat up there instead of next year in Atlanta. The kid is smart and cool under pressure. He’ll get better, even if he gets shelled, or dominates.
by Braves12 on Aug 31, 2010 8:56 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Hanson didn’t seem to mind it so much.
by king of games on Aug 31, 2010 9:17 PM EDT up reply actions
Hanson is the exception that proves the rule
by yondaime4 on Aug 31, 2010 10:49 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Yeah I'm probably just being overprotective.
If he were a first round pick, I wouldn’t feel this way. That sounds horrible but it’s the truth. I would expect a first round pick to be conditioned in a way that a few bad outings wouldn’t shake him mentally. I don’t feel the same way about a kid that came out of no where like Beachy.
"If I have asthma, they won't let me scuba. And if I can’t scuba, then what’s this all been about?? What am I working toward??"
"You look like you should be married to one of the San Diego Padres."
The reality is that the first rounders psyche’s are much more brittle than the guys that come out of nowhere. A lot of those premium talents have never failed, and more importantly the idea that they could fail has never really been brought to their consciousness. Conversely, guys like Beachy, who weren’t drafted and hadn’t been a second, or third, thought in anyone’s mind until this year, have not only dealt with failure, but been told plenty of times that they don’t have a chance, and, more harshly, that they just aren’t good. The “nobodies” are pretty damn mentally tough and a few rough outings aren’t very likely to rock them. I’ve seen some premium talents get very shaken by some stuff that the “nobodies” wouldn’t even flinch at.
I wrote a novel, it's about baseball, you should buy it:
http://www.amazon.com/Four-C-B-Wilkins/dp/1449578454/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1257720610&sr=1-1
www.dropoutproductions.com
For a perfect, recent, example in reference to the first description given above,
see: Francoeur, Jeff.
I believe there ought to be a constitutional amendment outlawing Astroturf and the designated hitter. ~ Crash Davis
by Old Braves' Fan on Sep 1, 2010 1:46 PM EDT up reply actions
I didn't think that could go
Isn’t there a rule that states something to the effect of if a player’s home country has a fall/winter league, then that player isn’t eligible for the AFL? I thought so, and that would be why we don’t generally see international players in the AFL…
So how are these guys chosen? Does each team get a certain number of players to send? Or are they chosen by some committee?
The teams choose the players themselves. I think they have some kind of lottery process to choose what positions they get to send, as far as the position players go and how many pitchers to send, but I don’t know what that specifically entails.
I wrote a novel, it's about baseball, you should buy it:
http://www.amazon.com/Four-C-B-Wilkins/dp/1449578454/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1257720610&sr=1-1
www.dropoutproductions.com
I think Broadway and Cordier are auditioning...
for spots at the end of the bullpen next year. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Cordier at all.
Good news
but I think Freeman just needs to finish the season with the Braves and have a good offseason and get ready for spring training than to play and risk an injury
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Talking Chop
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
