The Braves farm report from Thursday night is a tale of three infielders, each a highly regarded prospect, and it isn’t a reach to think that one day soon they could form three-fourths of the Braves’ starting infield.
The infielders are Rio Ruiz, Ozzie Albies and Dansby Swanson. Ruiz is a third baseman, and Albies and Swanson likely will form the double-play combination, though both are playing shortstop this season.
On Thursday, Ruiz and Swanson each was 2-for-4, and Albies was 1-for-4.
Here’s a look at their primary stats on offense this season:
Ruiz (Triple-A Gwinnett): .377 average (20-for-53) with one home run and eight RBIs. He has nine runs scored, four doubles and a triple. He has a .431 on-base percentage and .978 OPS.
Albies (Double-A Mississippi): .350 average (21-for-60) with no home runs and three RBIs. He has nine runs scored, two doubles and two triples. He has a .409 OBP and .859 OPS.
Swanson (high Single-A Carolina): .344 average (21-for-61) with one homer and nine RBIs. He has eight runs scored, nine doubles and no triples.
Their stats on defense?
Ruiz: one error in 33 chances, with 22 assists, and he has taken part in seven double plays.
Albies: three errors in 74 chances, with 52 assists, and has taken part in 11 double plays.
Swanson: two errors in 75 chances, with 45 assists, and has taken part in 15 double plays.
In addition to those red-hot numbers, they have in common a high number of strikeouts. Ruiz has 14 in 14 games, Albies 11 in 15 games and Swanson 12 in 15 games.
That has been a part of Swanson’s young career. He has 26 in 44 at-bats. That’s a strikeout in 59.1 percent of his at-bats. Ruiz has struck out in 21 percent of his 1,540 at-bats, and Albies has struck out in 13.8 percent of his 652.
