Prospect Primer: Weekly update on Braves’ top minor leaguers

Touki Toussaint, RHP, low Single-A Rome

Ranking: No. 3 prospect in Baseball America midseason report

Toussaint failed to pitch beyond four innings in both of his past two starts for Rome. He’s given up 12 runs (11 earned) on 10 hits in his past two starts, while walking seven and striking out only four. He is now 3-4 with a 6.33 ERA in nine starts since coming to the organization in a trade from the Diamondbacks.

Mallex Smith, CF, Triple-A Gwinnett

Ranking: No. 6 prospect in Baseball America’s midseason report

Smith continues to figure it out in Triple-A. Smith bumped his average 14 points in the first seven games of Gwinnett’s current road trip, by hitting 11-for-32 (.344), to get to .274 in 48 games since his call-up from Double-A. Smith showed great baserunning instincts Wednesday in Charlotte when he scored from second on a bunt play after the catcher fielded the bunt and the pitcher failed to cover the plate.

Braxton Davidson, RF, low Single-A Rome

Ranking: No. 7 prospect in Baseball America’s midseason report

Davidson has gone 5-for-25 (.200) with 10 walks and 12 strikeouts in nine games since he returned from the disabled list. He suffered a concussion July 28 when he crashed into the right field fence attempting a catch in Asheville. Davidson is hitting .243 with a .392 on-base percentage in 105 games for Rome in his first full season in the system.

Tyrell Jenkins, RHP, Triple-A Gwinnett

Ranking: No. 9 prospect in Baseball America’s midseason report

Jenkins was pulled from his Sunday start after just two innings and 37 pitches with a “dead arm” for a lack of life on his pitches. The move then — and the subsequent move Monday to place him on the 7-day disabled list — was precautionary for a pitcher who has a history of shoulder problems and has already pitched a career-high 136 2/3 innings this season in Double-A and Triple-A combined. Gwinnett had an off day coming Wednesday anyway and planned to skip him the next time through the rotation to give him his first real breather of the season.

Lucas Sims, RHP, Double-A Mississippi

Ranking: No. 10 prospect in Baseball America’s midseason report

Sims is coming off his best start and his first win since getting called up to Mississippi. Sims went six innings on Tuesday in Biloxi, allowing just one run in four hits. He walked three and struck out six, while throwing 61 of his 96 pitches for strikes. Sims is now 1-2 with a 5.87 ERA in five start for Mississippi after going 3-4 with a 5.18 ERA in nine starts for Single-A Carolina.

Christian Bethancourt, C, Triple-A Gwinnett

Ranking: No. 6 prospect by Baseball America preseason 2015

Bethancourt continues his tear at the plate. Entering the week, he was hitting .500 (18-for-36) in his previous nine games with five doubles, nine RBIs and five runs scored. He is hitting .326 in 47 games since he was sent down to Gwinnett and is playing like he’s poised for a September call-up.

Jason Hursh, RHP, Triple-A Gwinnett

Ranking: No. 7 prospect by Baseball America preseason 2015 season

Hursh is scoreless through his first four relief appearances in Gwinnett, allowing two hits in 5 2/3 innings and one walk. He hasn’t struck out a batter in that time but he’s limiting hitters to a .111 average and has a 0.53 WHIP. Hursh is now 1-0 with a 1.53 ERA in 13 appearances in Double-A and Triple-A since moving to the bullpen, compared to 2-6 with a 5.63 ERA in 15 starts in Double-A.

Andrew Thurman, RHP, High Class-A Carolina

Ranking: No. 20 prospect by Baseball America pre-season 2015

Shortly after his one-hit seven-inning gem for Carolina, Thurman was promoted to Double-A Mississippi where he joins Rio Ruiz, another of the prospect haul the Braves got from the Astros for Evan Gattis. Thurman made his Double-A debut Friday night in Mobile, giving up five runs (four earned) on seven hits in 4 2/3 innings of a 9-3 loss. He struck out four, walked two and threw only 60 of his 100 pitches for strikes.

Steve Janas RHP, Double-A Mississippi

Ranking: No. 30 prospect by Baseball America preseason 2015 season

Janas did everything but get his team a win Saturday against Mobile. He allowed just two runs on six hits over seven innings, collected his first two professional hits and drove in Mississippi’s only run, but had to settle for a 2-1 loss. The seven innings were his longest outing in nine starts since he was called up from Carolina.

Austin Riley, 3B, advanced rookie Danville

Braves’ No. 41 draft pick in the competitive balance round in 2015 draft

Riley hit five doubles, seven home runs and drove in 21 runs in 30 games for the Gulf Coast Braves this summer, earning a quick promotion to Danville. In 15 games there, Riley has six extra-base hits in 15 games with three doubles, a triple and two home runs to go with eight RBIs and a .304 batting average.