LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla.—Three touted prospects were among the seven players the Braves reassigned to minor-league camp on Saturday: right-hander Jason Hursh, infielder Rio Ruiz and outfielder Mallex Smith.
The Braves also reassigned infielder Daniel Castro, outfielder Cedric Hunter and catchers Matt Kennely and Chris O’Dowd.
The Braves selected Hursh in the first round of the 2013 draft out of Oklahoma State and Baseball America rates him as the team’s No. 6 prospect. Hursh appeared in one spring game for the Braves this year and allowed two runs with two walks and a strikeout in two innings. Hursh,23, made 26 starts for Double-A Mississippi last season.
The Braves acquired Ruiz from the Astros as part of the Evan Gattis trade in January. Ruiz, the 10th-rated Braves prospect, was 0-for-3 with two walks and a run scored in three spring games. Ruiz, 21, played 131 games for high Single-A Lancaster last season.
Smith came to the Braves as part of the Justin Upton trade in December. He was 4-for-11 with a triple and two stolen bases in three tries this spring. Smith, 21, played 55 games with high Single-A Lake Elsinore in 2014.
