Matt Wisler, RHP, Triple-A Gwinnett
Ranking: Braves’ No. 1 prospect by Baseball America
Wisler admitted being “a little bit nervous” for his first start of the season, since arriving in the six-player deal that sent Craig Kimbrel and Melvin Upton to San Diego. He walked three and hit a batter. But he didn’t let that stop him from pitching five shutout innings in a 6-3 win over Durham by holding the Bulls to 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position. He scattered four hits and struck out five.
Jose Peraza, 2B, Triple-A Gwinnett
Ranking: Braves’ No. 2 prospect by Baseball America
After a quiet big league camp, Peraza was still looking to get on track through his first four games in Gwinnett. He was 2-for-15 (.133) with a walk to start his first season in Triple-A. Peraza, who made the 2014 Futures Game, hit .339 with a .364 on-base percentage at high Single-A Lynchburg and Double-A Mississippi combined last season. He had hopes of making a big impression in spring training but hit 1-for-16 (.063) with four strikeouts in nine games with the big league club.
Mike Foltynewicz, RHP, Triple-A Gwinnett
Ranking: Braves’ No. 3 prospect by Baseball America
Foltynewicz was the hard-luck loser on Gwinnett’s Opening Night at Coolray Field, allowing only a solo home run in four innings and taking a 1-0 loss. The Braves will keep a close eye on “Folty’s” fastball command, and he responded Thursday night by throwing 51 of his 79 pitches for strikes. He struck out seven, walked two and threw a wild pitch.
Lucas Sims, RHP, high Single-A Carolina
Ranking: Braves’ No. 5 prospect by Baseball America
After going 8-11 with a 4.19 ERA in 28 starts last season in high-A Lynchburg, Sims got off on the right foot in his first start at the Braves’ new high-A affiliate in Zebulon, N.C., known as the Carolina Mudcats. Sims gave up only two earned runs in six innings Friday night to win his first start of the season and the Mudcats’ first game as a Braves affiliate. The only damage came on a two-run home run in the fourth inning, one of only two hits off him in the game.
Jason Hursh RHP, Double-A Mississippi
Ranking: Braves’ No. 7 prospect by Baseball America
Hursh had an inauspicious start to his return to Double-A Mississippi. The Braves’ 2013 first round draft pick out of Oklahoma State gave up three runs (two earned) on three hits and four walks in three innings in Mississippi’s opener against Tennessee. He went 11-7 with a 3.58 ERA win 27 games (26 starts) last year for Mississippi.
Rio Ruiz, 3B, Double-A Mississippi
Ranking: Braves’ No. 11 prospect by Baseball America
Ruiz went 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles in his first game for Double-A Mississippi and first in the Braves organization, since arriving along with Foltynewicz and Andrew Thurman from the Astros in the Evan Gattis trade. He singled in each of his next two games before an 0-for-5 Sunday against Tennessee dropped his season average to .250.
Braxton Davidson, LF, low Single-A Rome
Ranking: Braves’ No. 12 prospect by Baseball America
The Braves’ 2014 first round draft pick hit the first home run of his professional career on Opening Night for the Rome Braves. In his second at-bat of the game, after striking out looking in his first, the left-handed hitter went opposite field over the left center field fence for a solo shot. Davidson, 18, is playing his first full professional season. He hit .224 in rookie ball last year (Gulf Coast and Danville.)
Tyrell Jenkins, RHP, Double-A Mississippi
Ranking: Braves’ No. 13 prospect by Baseball America
Jenkins threw first-pitch strikes to 11 of the 13 batters he faced, according to Mississippi Braves broadcaster Kyle Tait, but he took a loss in his debut with the Braves thanks in large part to a couple of errors behind him. He allowed five runs in 1 2/3 innings and none of them were earned. The Braves acquired Jenkins along with Shelby Miller from St. Louis in the Jason Heyward trade.
Manny Banuelos, LHP, Triple-A Gwinnett
Ranking: Braves’No. 14 prospect by Baseball America
Banuelos needed 38 pitches to get out of his first inning in his debut with the Gwinnett Braves. The former Yankees farmhand threw two wild pitches in the inning as well, the first of which cost him a run. His inefficiency limited Banuelos to 3 2/3 innings, and he threw only 47 of his 79 pitches for strikes, but he only allowed two runs (one earned).
Andrew Thurman, RHP, High-A Carolina Mudcats
Ranking: Braves’ No. 20 prospect by Baseball America
The former Astros second-round pick out of UC Irvine dominated in his debut with the Mudcats. He pitched six shutout innings for the win, allowing only three hits, walking none and striking out three. He retired nine of the 20 batters he faced on grounders while throwing 44 of his 65 pitches for strikes.
