Matt Wisler, RHP, Triple-A Gwinnett
Ranking: Braves’ No. 1 prospect by Baseball America
Wisler might not be mentioned in this space for a while because he got his first major league call-up last Friday to start in place of Mike Foltynewicz and nailed it. He pitched eight innings, allowing only one run, to become the first Braves to go eight innings in his major league debut since John Smoltz in 1988. Wisler gave up only six hits and no walks.
Jose Peraza, 2B/CF, Triple-A Gwinnett
Ranking: No. 2 prospect by Baseball America
Peraza had three straight multi-hit games last weekend to give him a team-high 23 multi-hit games this season. He had back-to-back three-hit games on Friday and Saturday, including a triple to give him his team-high fifth three-bagger of the season. Entering the week, Peraza’s batting average was up to .300, which ranked 12th in the International League.
Mike Foltynewicz, RHP, Triple-A Gwinnett
Ranking: No. 3 prospect by Baseball America
Foltynewicz did not fare well in his first start back with Gwinnett after the Braves sent him down to get some more seasoning. He gave up seven runs in six innings against Pawtucket on Friday night, including two home runs, walked four and struck out five. The seven runs were two more than the five earned runs Foltynewicz gave up in his first four Triple-A starts this summer, before the Braves called him up to Atlanta.
Christian Bethancourt, C, Triple-A Gwinnett
Ranking: No. 6 prospect by Baseball America
Bethancourt had multi-hit games in each of his first three games with Gwinnett after being sent down from Atlanta. Bethancourt is primarily charged with working on his defense and cleaning up some of the routine plays he wasn’t making in the big leagues. But he’s off to a good start offensively, hitting .368 (11-for-19) with a double and a homer through his first five games. On Friday, Bethancourt homered on the first pitch he saw at Coolray Field this season from Pawtucket left-hander Brian Johnson.
Ozhaino Albies, SS, low Single-A Rome
Ranking: No. 8 prospect by Baseball America
Albies finished the first half hitting .322, which was tied for the South Atlantic League lead. He was tied for fifth with 22 stolen bases. In what’s become typical Albies fashion, he ended the first half on a seven-game hitting streak, including a three-hit game in the last game Sunday. The South Atlantic League All-Star is batting 12-for-31 (.387) with two doubles and a stolen base over the streak.
Ricardo Sanchez, LHP, Low-A Rome
Ranking: No. 9 prospect by Baseball America
Sanchez has allowed just one earned run in three starts for Rome, after missing six weeks with a calf strain. The 18-year-old won for the first time this season Thursday against Hickory after pitching six shutout innings, allowing just five hits, one walk and striking out six. He threw 51 of his 74 pitches for strikes.
Braxton Davidson, LF, low Single-A Rome
Ranking: No. 12 prospect by Baseball America
Davidson lost his 11-game hitting streak but he finished the first half with a home run on Sunday, his sixth of the year. Davidson has seen steady improvement in his first full season in the professional ranks. Last year’s first round draft pick hit .214 in April, .268 in May and was hitting .323 (21-for-65) in June heading into the break. He’s hitting .271 for the season and has a .407 on-base percentage, which is fourth in the South Atlantic League.
Tyrell Jenkins, RHP, Double-A Mississippi
Ranking: No. 13 prospect by Baseball America
Jenkins lost three games in a row to close out the first half, but only one of them was probably deserved and that was when he gave up four runs on eight hits in 4 2/3 innings on Sunday against Tennessee. He had allowed only four earned runs over 13 innings in his previous two starts but lost both as the Mississippi Braves’ offense scored just six runs in a seven-game span. Jenkins is 4-5 despite a 3.12 ERA in 14 first-half starts, but gets the reward of a trip to the Southern League All-Star game Tuesday in Montgomery, Ala.
Manny Banuelos, LHP, Triple-A Gwinnett
Ranking: No. 14 prospect by Baseball America
Banuelos, who was scheduled to start Monday night against Indianapolis, might have gotten the call-up to pitch Friday for the Braves had he not pitched the previous Tuesday. He gave up four runs in five innings in Louisville his last time out but only two were earned, giving him nine straight starts allowing two or fewer earned runs. He did walk a season-high five batters but he also struck out five.
Mallex Smith, CF, Double-A Mississippi
Ranking: No. 17 prospect by Baseball America
Smith went 4-for-11 (.363) with a double in his last three games before the All-Star break to finish the first half with a .340 batting average, which is second in the Southern League. His 23 stolen bases (in 29 attempts) were tied for second in the league. The speedy leadoff man is slated to start the Southern League All-Star game Tuesday in for the South division.
