Matt Wisler, RHP, Triple-A Gwinnett
Ranking: Braves’ No. 1 prospect by Baseball America
Wisler got a little fastball-happy in his second start for Gwinnett, allowing three runs in a 30-pitch second inning against the Charlotte Knights. He got more comfortable with his off-speed pitches as the game went on and would have allowed only one more run if not for an error in right field that cost him two unearned runs. Wisler is 0-1 with a 3.72 ERA in two starts for Gwinnett.
Jose Peraza, 2B, Triple-A Gwinnett
Ranking: Braves’ No. 2 prospect by Baseball America
Peraza had the kind of up-and-down week you might expect from a 20-year-old playing in Triple-A, not to mention one whose name was mentioned in trade rumors — though Braves sources have indicated they don’t intend to trade him. One night Peraza was lining a triple to right center field off Carlos Rodon — who was called up to the White Sox a few days later — and the next he was striking out three times in four at-bats.
Mike Foltynewicz, RHP, Triple-A Gwinnett
Ranking: Braves’ No. 3 prospect by Baseball America
Foltynewicz acknowledges he was too eager to impress in spring training, playing for a new organization after coming over from Houston in the Evan Gattis trade. He’s working on a few adjustments pitching coach Roger McDowell gave him to focus on at the end of spring training and has seen some fruits of his work: allowing only two earned runs in 8 2/3 innings in his first two starts.
Rio Ruiz, 3B, Double-A Mississippi
Ranking: Braves’ No. 11 prospect by Baseball America
Ruiz is day-to-day after being hit by a pitch in the right knee on Friday night, but it’s not considered serious. He collected his first three-hit game of the young season two days earlier on April 15 against Jackson, going 3-for-5 with a double.
Tyrell Jenkins, RHP, Double-A Mississippi
Ranking: Braves’ No. 13 prospect by Baseball America
After some shoddy defense cost Jenkins five unearned runs in his debut for Mississippi, he had some rough luck again his next time out. Jenkins gave up five runs — this time in six innings of work — and only two of them were earned. A Daniel Castro throwing error in the sixth allowed one run to score and kept the inning alive for Gabby Guerrero (nephew of former All-Star Vladimir Guerrero), who followed with a two-run homer off Jenkins.
Manny Banuelos, LHP, Triple-A Gwinnett
Ranking: No. 14 prospect by Baseball America
Banuelos not only showed better command in his second start for Gwinnett, he struck out seven batters in five innings, while allowing only one run against Charlotte. The seven strikeouts was his highest total since Banuelos struck out seven for Scranton Wilkes-Barre — the Yankees’ Triple-A affiliate — on May 13, 2012. That was his second-to-last start of that season before he was shut down and eventually underwent Tommy John surgery.
Ozhaino Albies, SS, low Single-A Rome Braves
Ranking: No. 8 prospect by Baseball America
The 18-year-old switch-hitting native of Curacao is playing his first full season of professional baseball and just beginning to find some rhythm at the plate. He went 2-for-5 on Friday night in Augusta, raising his season average to .200, before the rest of the series got rained out. He has drawn four walks to give him a .294 on-base percentage, to go along with three stolen bases.
Braxton Davidson, LF, low Single-A Rome
Ranking: Braves’ No. 12 prospect by Baseball America
Davidson had a rainy weekend (and three postponed games) to think about his three-strikeout game Friday night against Augusta. Patience has served him well so far this season, though. He’s drawn eight walks in his first eight games to give him a .357 on-base percentage despite hitting just 2-for-20 (.100) including a home run to start the season.
Mallex Smith, CF, Double-A Mississippi
Ranking: No. 17 prospect by Baseball America
Smith tormented the Jackson Generals with four straight multi-hit games, including two three-hit games. He went 10-for-20 (.500) in the series, with a game-tying two-run homer, a triple, four RBIs, four stolen bases, and seven runs scored. Smith, the speedster who came over from the Padres in the Justin Upton deal, made a couple of diving catches in shallow center field Saturday night against Jackson as well.
Andrew Thurman, RHP, High-A Carolina Mudcats
Ranking: No. 20 prospect by Baseball America
Thurman took a loss in his second start for the Mudcats after allowing only two runs in five innings, and leaving with the Mudcats down 2-0. He scattered eight hits, walked only one and struck out three. He is 1-1 with a 1.64 ERA in two starts.
— Carroll Rogers
