Ernesto Mejia and Robby Hefflinger went on home run binges, Josh Elander and Tyler Pastornicky crafted hitting streaks, Daniel Rodriguez and Gus Schlosser struggled on the mound while Jose Peraza struggled at the plate and in the field.
Who's Hot?
- Ernesto Mejia 1B, Gwinnett Braves - 13-38, 2 2B, 6 HR 12 RBI, 2 BB - Mejia's week was highlighted by a stretch that saw him homer in 4 straight games. He put up a .316/.350/.842/1.192 slash line overall, and leads the International League in homers, RBI, and total bases.
- Robby Hefflinger OF, Lynchburg Hillcats - 10-36, 2B, 5 HR, 9 RBI, 4 BB - Hefflinger is hoping the third time is a charm for him at Lynchburg, and he's gotten off to a hot start, with hits in 7 of his first 9 games. He homered 4 times in 3 games during one stretch, and is leading the Carolina League in homers and total bases.
- Josh Elander OF, Rome Braves - 16-44, 2 2B, 3B, HR, 8 RBI, 2 SB - Elander is making the conversion from catcher to outfield this season, but the change hasn't affected him at the plate, as he followed up a 0-5, 4 strikeout performance in his first game of the year by ripping of a 9 game hitting streak that still going strong.
- Tyler Pastornicky 2B, Gwinnett Braves - 18-45, 5 2B, HR, 5 RBI, 2 SB - Pastornicky was 2-14 in his first 4 games of the year, but since then, he's gone 16-31 and is in the middle of a 6 game hitting streak and has had multiple hits in 5 straight games. He's leading the league in at bats and hits.
- David Rohm OF, Lynchburg Hillcats - 12-30, 4 2B, HR, 5 RBI, 4 BB, SB - Rohm struggled in an injury plagued 2012 with the Hillcats, putting up a .238/.227/.349/.626 slash line in 309 plate appearances last season, but he's gotten off to a great start this year, with a .400/.486/.633/.1119 slash line in his first 8 games of the year. He's working on a 4 game hitting streak.
Honorable Mention: Alden Carrithers, Sean Kazmar, Ryan Bucther, Cole McCurry, Cory Rasmus, Gwinnett Braves; Christian Bethancourt, Alex Wood, Jose Martinez, Christian Marrero, Ryne Harper, Ian Thomas, Mississippi Braves; Elmer Ryes, Matt Weaver, Kyle Kubitza, David Peterson, Ronan Pacheco, Ryan Woolley, Wilson Rivera, Lynchburg Hillcats; Greg Ross, Zach Jadofsky, Jeremy Fitzgerald, Carlos Perez, Shae Simmons, Rome Braves
Who's Not?
- Daniel Rodriguez LHP, Gwinnett Braves - 0-1, 2 GS, 1.2 IP, 9 ER, 8 H, 2 BB, 0 K - The 28 year old lefty signed last year out of the Mexican League, got his 2013 season off to a rough start, being pulled from his first start after just 1.1 innings when he hit consecutive batters. Things got much worse in his second start, when he was only able to record 1 out while allowing 9 earned runs. His week ended on a positive note, as he was able to go back home to Mexico for the birth of his first child.
- Ross Heffley 2B, Lynchburg Hillcats - 5-32, 2 2B, 2 RBI, 3 BB, 8 K - Heffley excelled last year after being selected in the 18th round, putting up a .296/.345/.412/.757 slash line in 259 plate appearances for Rome, but he started cold this year, hitting just .156 with a .441 OPS through his first 8 games, striking out in 25% of his at bats.
- Gus Schlosser RHP, Mississippi Braves - 0-1, 2 GS, 5.1 IP, 8 R, 7 ER, 9 H, 5 BB, 2 K - Schlosser's season got off to a great start, as he allowed just 1 earned run in 5 innings in his first start of the year, but his second start was a complete mess, as he allowed 7 runs, 6 earned, while only recording 1 out. He only allowed 33 walks in 165.1 innings last season, but has given up 5 walks in 5.1 innings this year.
- Jose Constanza OF, Gwinnett Braves - 3-36, 2B, 2 RBI, 3 BB, SB, 10 K - Constanza won the International League batting title last season, but his return to the league hasn't started well, as he's hitting just .167 with a .425 OPS in his first 36 at bats, striking out in 27% of his at bats.
- Jose Peraza SS, Rome Braves - 6-28, 2B, 2 RBI, 4 BB, 2 SB, 6 K - Peraza has been the most exciting and impressive player on his team each of the last 2 seasons, but he's struggled at the outset of this season, putting up a .214/.324/.250/.574 slash line in his first 8 games. More troubling is that he's made 7 errors in 7 games at shortstop. He's an incredibly fast and athletic player who many believe will become a fine Major League defender, but, like many young shortstops, he's clearly going to have his growing pains.
Dishonorable Mention: David Hale, Joe Leonard, Gwinnett Braves; Breaden Schlehuber, Myke Jones, Phil Gosselin, Luis Nunez, Dan Brewer, Barrett Kleinknecht, JR Graham, Cody Martin, Aaron Northcraft, Mississippi Braves; Navery Moore, Mark Pope, Will Skinner, AJ Holland, Lynchburg Hillcats; Blake Brown, Tony Mueller, Rafael Briceno, Aris Alcantara, Brandon Rohde, Lucas Sims, Rome Braves