Viera, Fla. — Jordan Schafer was among seven dropped from the Braves' camp roster Saturday, but it was in no way an indication of the top-rated prospect's performance in spring training.

Barring an injury to center fielder Mark Kotsay, the Braves weren't going to put the 21-year-old Schafer on their Opening Day roster. He hasn't played above Class A and was reassigned Saturday to Class AA Mississippi.

"I liked him all spring," Braves manager Bobby Cox said of Schafer, projected to be Atlanta's center fielder no later than 2009, after Kotsay handles the transition from Andruw Jones to the youngster.

Schafer hit .316 (12-for-38) this spring with four doubles, six RBIs, a team-high three sacrifice flies and a .421 on-base percentage.

"He's a good looking player," said Cox, who has said he would be comfortable with Schafer in center now. "If anything happens to Kotsay, he'd be back in the mix."

Rookie outfielder Brandon Jones and rookie left-hander Jo-Jo Reyes were other notable players included in the second round of roster cuts, among them catcher Javy Lopez and pitchers Ryan Drese, Francisely Bueno and Jorge Campillo.

Reyes and Jones were optioned to Class AAA Richmond; Drese, Bueno and Campillo were reassigned to Richmond. Lopez plans to retire.

The fourth-outfielder race is between rookie Josh Anderson and Gregor Blanco who has had a strong spring (.357 avg., .513 OBP) to vault into contention.

Jones, another prospect, had been considered a candidate for a left-field platoon with Matt Diaz after making a good impression in September. But the Braves later decided Diaz deserved a shot at everyday duties.

After utility man Omar Infante broke his left hand in winter ball, the domino effect ended Jones' chances. Without Infante as a backup center fielder, the Braves needed a fourth outfielder with plenty of center-field experience.

Speedsters Anderson and Blanco fit the bill; corner outfielder Jones does not.

The Braves are expected to keep two utility infielders until Infante returns from the disabled list in late April or May. Martin Prado seems assured of a job, and Brent Lillibridge would be the likely second utility infielder.

The Braves put Infante and left-hander Mike Gonzalez on the 15-day disabled list on Saturday, and right-hander Anthony Lerew went to the 60-day DL. Gonzalez and Lerew are recovering from elbow surgery. Gonzalez is expected back in June.