This is why the Braves would not part with Cristian Pache or Drew Waters at the July 31 trade deadline.
The key Braves prospects both made their Triple-A debuts Tuesday night. Pache and Waters combined for five hits in the Gwinnett Stripers’ 8-3 road loss to the Rochester Red Wings.
Waters was 3-for-5 with an RBI, and Pache was 2-for-5 with an RBI.
Pitching prospect Ian Anderson pitched three innings in his first game with Gwinnett, but did not fare as well. Anderson allowed six hits and five earned runs, while striking out five.
The Braves promoted the three players Monday. Baseball America ranks Pache as the franchise's No. 1 prospect, with Anderson and Waters following.
Pache is regarded as arguably the best defensive outfielder in the minors. His bat has progressed, with the 20-year-old hitting .278 prior to Tuesday. He had 11 homers, 28 doubles and eight triples.
Waters has ascended through the system since the Braves selected him in the second round of the 2017 draft. The switch-hitter has had a tremendous offensive season, hitting .319/.366/.481 with five homers, 35 doubles and 41 RBIs over 108 games in Mississippi.
The Stripers are 66-47.
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