Pitching prospects win attention in fall league

Mesa, Ariz. —- While budding ace Tommy Hanson and behemoth slugger Tyler Flowers have made most of the headlines with eye-popping performances in the Arizona Fall League, two other Braves pitching prospects have also been quietly strengthening their resumes in the desert.

Right-handers Kris Medlen and Stephen Marek have enjoyed their front-row seats for the Hanson and Flowers show with the Mesa Solar Sox, while also contributing plenty to a team tied for first place before Wednesday.

“It’s been unbelievable out here —- a lot of fun,” said Medlen, an undersized Californian who had 20 strikeouts and one walk in 18 innings while posting a 2.50 ERA in 11 games (one start).

Marek had allowed no earned runs and nine hits in 11 relief innings before Wednesday.

Both were teammates of Hanson this season at Class AA Mississippi, after Marek was shipped from the Angels in the Mark Teixeira trade July 31.

Medlen, generously listed at 5 feet 10, went 6-5 with a 3.11 ERA as a starter for Mississippi after a June move from the bullpen.

“They’ve both got great stuff,” said Flowers, a catcher who was batting .394 with an AFL-leading 12 homers and a 1.477 OPS.

“I played against Marek in college, and he’s gotten better since then. He’s got very good stuff, throws hard —- 96, 97 [mph], somewhere around there —- and he’s aggressive, just pounds the zone.”

Marek, 25, could compete for a spot in Atlanta’s bullpen this spring. He had 68 strikeouts with 27 walks in 60 2/3 innings in Class AA.

“Big, strong, physical bullpen guy, consistently in the mid-90s with his fastball,” Braves general manager Frank Wren said. “And he has a well-above-average curveball. Our guys think he has a chance to come pretty fast in the big leagues. … He’ll be there [at spring training] to get his feet wet and show what he can do.”

Marek said he was surprised to be included with first baseman Casey Kotchman in the Teixeira trade. He’s admittedly shy and took awhile to adjust, but he said Mississippi manager Phillip Wellman and his new teammates made the transition easier.

“At first, I missed my buddies [after the trade], but I grew up a Braves fan,” Marek said. “And there’s a lot better opportunity, I guess, with the Braves. They obviously liked me enough to be part of that trade. Just hope I can live up to the trade.”

Hanson arrived in Mississippi a couple of months before Marek, after being promoted from high Class A Myrtle Beach. Marek became friends with Hanson and other Mississippi pitchers and marvels at Hanson.

“I’ve never seen anything like it,” Marek said of the big right-hander, who was 5-0 in seven starts for Mesa and led the AFL in ERA (0.63) and strikeouts (49 in 28 2/3 innings) while allowing 10 hits, two runs and seven walks.

Medlen moved into Mississippi’s rotation after going 1-3 with a 4.70 ERA in 19 relief appearances. The former junior college reliever/shortstop hadn’t been a starting pitcher since high school, but the Braves switched him so he would have more chances to work on his sharp curveball and change-up. He could compete for a spot on the major-league pitching staff during the 2009 season.

Etc.

Center field prospect Jordan Schafer’s winter-ball season in Mexico ended after he injured a finger when struck by a pitch. There was no broken bone and he’s home in Florida, resting for a few weeks before beginning rehab. He should be fully recovered by January. … The Braves made an offer to left-handed reliever Will Ohman, a free agent after going 4-1 with a 3.68 ERA in 83 appearances (second-most in the majors) for the Braves and limiting lefty hitters to a .200 average. “It was a real offer, an offer intended to make me feel like they wanted me back,” said Ohman, who has received interest from at least 10 teams and expects to make a decision in December.