Braves News
Martin motivated by lack of roster spot this offseason
Braves pitcher Cody Martin has gone from a Rule 5 Draft eligible player to a key piece during the offseason to a key piece of Atlanta's bullpen through the early part of the regular season. Martin recently talked with MLB.com's Mark Bowman about how he used his uncertain status as motivation coming into spring training.
"That was tough, but I knew I belonged [on the roster] and belonged in the big leagues," Martin said. "I'm not going to sit there, cry about it and say, 'Why not me?' If I'd have done that, who knows where I'd be? I'd probably be [with Triple-A] Gwinnett right now, being used as a starter. I took it as a challenge to prove them all wrong, especially all the teams that didn't pick me in the Rule 5 Draft. It all worked out pretty good. I'm where I need to be right now."
So far this season, Martin has appeared in four games and allowed just two hits over 5.1 innings. He has nine strikeouts and is yet to walk a batter.
Braves vets Johnson, Grilli anchor bullpen
More on the Braves' bullpen and it's early success, this time from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Michael Cunningham. While guys like Cody Martin and Brandon Cunniff have gotten off to great starts, it is a pair of veterans at the back end of the pen that have been most impressive.
Its early still but the combination of Jim Johnson and Jason Grilli has allowed just one run and five hits in 9.1 innings so far this season while recording five saves. Manager Fredi Gonzalez talked about the example the two vets are setting for their younger colleagues.
"Two different guys, but they're both veterans, serious, and they bring it every day," Gonzalez said of Johnson and Grilli. "It's been fun. Unbelievable preparation (by) both of those guys, before a game, and I think the young guys follow them. They're two good role models."
Cahill looks rusty in first start since spring
Trevor Cahill allowed four earned runs in 2 1/3 innings in his Braves debut on Tuesday. Cahill once again struggled to command his sinker leaving ball up and getting hit hard. Fredi Gonzalez talked about Cahill's performance with MLB.com's Mark Bowman:
"When a sinkerballer is giving up fly balls, maybe there's too much rest," Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "But it's just the first start of many. He'll get his side [session] in a couple days and we'll go from there."
Braves release Carlos Quentin
The Braves released outfielder Carlos Quentin on Tuesday nine days after he was acquired in a trade that also involved closer Craig Kimbrel and outfielder Melvin Upton Jr. The Braves designated Quentin for assignment on April 6 and were unable to find a trade for the veteran outfielder. The move doesn't come as a surprise as he was included in the deal to offset some of the salary that went to San Diego in the trade.
The best rosters in the minor leagues (Insider$)
ESPN.com's Keith Law spotlights some of the best team rosters in the minor leagues and the Braves' low-A affiliate in Rome cracks the list.
Atlanta has overhauled its farm system this offseason, a process that continued right up until Opening Day with the trade of Craig Kimbrel and Melvin Upton's contract to San Diego, spreading prospects across all four of their affiliates. Gwinnett has top starting pitching prospects Mike Foltynewicz and Matt Wisler, but for long-term upside, look to Rome, which has the team's No. 2 prospect, shortstop Ozhaino Albies, and their first pick from last year, outfielder Braxton Davidson. The pitching staff has 18-year-old lefty Ricardo Sanchez, whom the team acquired from the Angels for Kyle Kubitza and Nate Hyatt; Sanchez was the Angels' top pitching prospect going into 2014, but due to his age and some fatigue in late summer didn't throw much that season.
MLB News
Denard Span cleared for post-surgery rehab assignment
Slowly but surely the Washington Nationals are getting healthy. Outfielder Denard Span was cleared to begin a rehab assignment on Tuesday after missing the first part of the regular season due to surgery to repair a sports hernia and then another surgery to fix a core muscle injury.
Royals outfielder Alex Rios out indefinitely with fractured hand
Kansas City outfielder Alex Rios is out indefinitely after being diagnosed with a fracture in his left hand. Rios suffered the injury when he was hit by a pitch from Twins reliever J.R. Graham on Monday.