Glavine sharp in simulated game in Gwinnett

The Gwinnett Braves travel to Charlotte today to open their inaugural season Thursday against the Knights with prospect Tommy Hanson on the mound.

He’ll be followed in the rotation by Jo-Jo Reyes, James Parr, Charlie Morton and Todd Redmond. Prospect Kris Medlen will be piggy-backed behind a starter, possibly Morton, to stretch out as another option.

Enlarge this image

Hyosub Shin/hshin@ajc.com

Tom Glavine threw six scoreless innings of two-hit ball in a simulated game Tuesday at Class AAA Gwinnett’s new ballpark.

RELATED BRAVES LINKS

• Schedule • Beat blog • Stats
• Photos: Glavine in Gwinnett

RELATED STORIES

• Analyzing Braves' up-and-down season so far 
• All-Star McCann earns praise of peers 
• Braves stunned by Rockies in ninth 

       • More Braves coverage

In that group are three pitchers who started for the big-league Braves last season and another in Hanson who likely will at some point this season.

Reyes has 32 major-league starts, Morton 15, and Parr five. Then you have Redmond, last year’s Southern League pitcher of the year for Class AA Mississippi.

A lot for Gwinnett Braves manager Dave Brundage to be excited about? Believe it.

“I think there’s no question this rotation stacks up against anybody in minor-league baseball,” Brundage said. “On paper, they’re a very talented group of arms, even through the bullpen.”

Reyes took it a step further, saying: “I think some big league teams would like this rotation at some point in the season.”

The fans are picking up on that, too. They showed up in droves Tuesday afternoon in chilly temperatures to break in the new Gwinnett ballpark at an open house and team workout. They got a chance to pick up season tickets, taste the hot dogs, and make their first run at getting Hanson’s autograph.

At one point during the workout, Hanson was surrounded by 14 reporters. But the 22-year-old doesn’t plan to let the hype generated in the Arizona Fall League and spring training change his approach.

“It’s fun to hear my name getting thrown around and stuff like that, but I feel like I’ve still got a long ways to go to be the pitcher I want to be,” said Hanson, who was the first pitcher to be named MVP of the Arizona Fall League.

Possible trade bait

With the Atlanta Braves’ rotation set with veteran arms, both Reyes and Morton know it’ll be hard to break through barring an injury. If neither is called up, they are open to the possibility of being traded.

“In June and July somebody is going to need some pitching,” Reyes said. “If it’s with the Braves, that’s awesome. If not, it’s also a business. You’ve got to look at it that way as well.”

Said Morton: “I love the Braves organization. They’ve been nothing but great to me, top to bottom, but at the same time, it’s our goal to pitch in the big leagues. If a trade happens, a trade happens.”