Diamonds in the Rough/Spot Fillers/Roster Expanders
Introduction: This is the fourth and final edition of the Braves 2011 roster guide. We’ve covered the 25-man roster (at least as it looked coming out of spring training), the likely non-prospect replacement players, and the prospects. This final part of the guide gathers together the leftovers from the 40-man roster. These are minor leaguers who would not qualify as “prospects.” While many (most?) of these guys will never appear for the ML Braves, some of them certainly will (one of them is pitching out of the Atlanta bullpen right now). Injuries could force some of these fringe type players into big league duty. Some of these guys will likely be called up in September when rosters expand, and thus could end up playing in some huge games. Finally, this part of the guide is the place you will find diamonds in the rough. And there are always diamonds in the rough (Greg McMichael, Charles Thomas, Nick Green, Brooks Conrad, etc).
Pitchers
Jairo Asencio (Reliever)
Pitches: Right Handed
Age: 27
MLB Time: 2009 (3 games, 2.2 innings, 1 run, 0-1), 2011 (2 games, 5 innings, 0 runs, 4 hits, 1 BB, 4 K)
Drafted/Signed: 2001 out of Dominican Republic
Notes: Called up to replace Peter Moylan when he went on the DL. Formerly known as Luis Valdez. Asencio appeared briefly with the Braves in 2009, but he was unable to pitch professionally last year due to visa problems. He’s back, with a new name, and appears to be better than ever.
Asencio signed with Pittsburgh in 2001 but didn’t pitch in the minors until 2004. He really didn’t show anything at all during his 4 years in the Pirates system. He signed with the Braves after the 2007 season, and it was over the next two years that he proved himself to be a capable reliever. In 2008 and 2009, Asencio pitched in 116 games at AA and AAA, recording 57 saves, while posting a 2.94 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP with 159 K over 140.2 innings.
After missing last year, he made his return at spring training and looked great in 10 appearances, allowing just 1 run on 7 hits and 3 walks with 9 K over 13 innings. He’s a decent arm to have in situations just like this, when one of the main guys goes on the DL. He’ll primarily be used in long relief situations and when the Braves are behind by more than a run or two late.
2011: 4 scoreless innings at AAA; 5 scoreless in Atlanta.
Juan Abreu (Reliever)
Pitches: Right Handed
Age: 26
MLB Time: None
Drafted/Signed: 2005 out of Dominican Republic
Notes: Pitched in 39 games at AA last year, recording 11 saves, and posting a 3.20 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP with 47 K over 44.2 innings. He has had good K numbers throughout his minor league career. Control is not his strong suit. He pitched well in spring training, making 11 appearances, and allowing just 1 run on 8 hits and 5 walks with 11 K over 11.1 innings. He’s another nice right handed arm to have just in case.
2011: 4 games, 4 innings, 0 runs, 3 K at AAA.
Cody Gearrin (Reliever)
Pitches: Right Handed
Age: 25
MLB Time: Could make MLB debut tonight
Drafted/Signed: 4th round of the 2007 draft
Notes: Not sure why Gearrin has been ignored to a large extent. He’s coming off of back to back solid seasons at the higher levels of the minors. In 2009 he made 47 appearances at advanced-A and AA, recording 19 saves while posting a 2.30 ERA, a 0.95 WHIP and 52 K over 54.2 innings. Last season he pitched in 52 games at AAA, posting a 3.36 ERA, a 1.29 WHIP, and 66 K over 80.1 innings. On the other hand, as Gearrin has advanced in the minors his K’s have decreased while his walks, HBP, and homers have increased. Gearrin also struggled in limited action this spring, pitching in 4 games and allowing 3 runs on 6 hits, 3 walks, 2 HBP, and 3 K over 4 innings.
2011: 6 games, 10.1 IP, 10 hits, 4 walks, 1 HBP, 8 K, 3 runs at AAA.
Anthony Varvaro (Reliever)
Pitches: Right Handed
Age: 26
MLB Time: 2010 with Seattle (4 games, 4 innings pitched, 5 earned runs on 6 hits and 6 walks with 5 K.
Drafted/Signed: 12th round of the 2005 draft
Notes: Like many minor league pitchers, Varvaro has had good K numbers but has struggled with control. He has struggled in general at AAA. He also struggled in 5 appearances in ST, allowing 3 runs on 7 hits and 3 walks with 3 K over 4.2 innings.
2011: 0-2 in 5 games at AAA. 6.1 IP, 7 runs (5 earned), a homer, 2 hits, 6 BB, and 3 K.
Michael Broadway (Reliever)
Pitches: Right Handed
Age: 24
MLB Time: None
Drafted/Signed: 4th round of 2005 draft
Notes: Broadway had 57 K over 53.1 innings during 40 appearances between AA and AAA last season, but his 4.39 ERA and 1.42 WHIP were not so encouraging. He didn’t blow anyone away during 4 appearances at spring training either, allowing 2 runs on 4 hits, a homer, 2 HBP, a walk, and 3 K.
2011: 3 games, 4 IP, 1 run, 6 K at AA.
Yohan Flande (Reliever/Starter)
Pitches: Left Handed
Age: 25
MLB Time: None
Drafted/Signed: 2006 out of Dominican Republic
Notes: Flande is left handed, therefore he has a chance. Of his 93 career minor league appearances prior to this season, 84 had been starts. Over that time he posted a 3.23 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP, while fanning just 367 over 510 innings. At AAA for the first time, Flande is also being used exclusively as a reliever for the first time this season, and perhaps his K numbers will rise (as they did with Johnny Venters). He only got 1 appearance this spring and gave up a walk and a 2-run homer without striking anyone out in his only inning of work.
2011: 4 games, 8.1 IP, 0 ER, 5 K at AAA.
Todd Redmond (Reliever/Starter)
Pitches: Right Handed
Age: 26 (on 5/17)
MLB Time: None
Drafted/Signed: 39th round of 2004 draft
Notes: Redmond was surely proud and excited when the Pirates drafted him in the 39th round of the 2004 draft. However, he must have felt some trepidation being taken that late in a draft by Pittsburgh, especially considering that the Royals took him in the 40th round a year earlier. Redmond has pitched in 158 games during his career in the minors, 148 as a starter, posting a 3.68 ERA, a 1.21 WHIP, and 706 K over 871.1 innings. He is beginning his third season at AAA but his first working exclusively as a reliever. Redmond was fairly impressive in his 2 ST appearances, recording a pair of saves while allowing 1 run on 2 hits and a walk with 6 K over 4 innings.
2011: 5 games, 4.1 IP, 1 hit, 0 runs, 3 BB, 7 K at AAA.
Position Players
Mauro Gomez (Corner Infielder)
Bats: Right Handed
Age: 26
MLB Time: None
Drafted/Signed: 2004 out of Dominican Republic
Notes: If the most common trait of a career minor league pitcher is lots of K’s and lots of walks, the career minor league position player equivalent is lots of power lots of K’s. Gomez certainly has power, as he showed at AA last year, racking up 42 doubles, 16 homers, and 80 RBI, while walking 46 times and fanning 122 times in 495 at bats (.281/.349/.471/.820). He didn’t get much of a chance to shine in ST but his power was still on display, as he went 1 for 2 with a 2-run jack.
2011: 17 for 44 with 7 doubles, 2 homers, 11 RBI, 2 BB, and 12 K at AAA (.386/.413/.682/1.095).
Jose Constanza (Outfielder)
Bats: Left Handed
Age: 27
MLB Time: None
Drafted/Signed: 2005 out of Dominican Republic
Notes: Zero power. Good speed. He has decent plate discipline that seems to be improving, but the clock is ticking and he’s already 27. He hit .319 with a .373 OBP and stole 34 bags in 40 tries last year at AAA. He went 4 for 18 with a walk this spring.
2011: 16 for 48 (.348) with .412 OBP, 6 SB in 6 tries at AAA.
Dan Nelson (Utility Infielder)
Bats: Switch
Age: 27
MLB Time: None
Drafted/Signed: 13th round of 2004 draft
Notes: Nelson has a weak bat but great plate discipline. Injuries have slowed him down in his career. He spent time at advanced-A, AA, and AAA last year, hitting .275 with a .356 OBP, 13 homers, 52 walks, and 69 K in 415 at bats. Was 0 for 1 in only ST at bat.
2011: 8 for 26 (.308) with .438 OBP, a double, 2 homers, 7 RBI, 6 BB, and 2 K at AAA.
Shawn Bowman (Third Baseman)
Bats: Right Handed
Age: 26
MLB Time: None
Drafted/Signed: 12th round of 2002 draft
Notes: Bowman has good power, but like so many career minor leaguers, Bowman’s progress has been slowed by injuries and an inability to make consistent contact. He hit .269/.333/.493/.826 with 22 homers, 37 walks, and 100 strikeouts in 424 at bats at advanced-A and AA last year. If his numbers this spring were any indication, we won’t see Bowman any time soon, as he was 3 for 20 with a homer, 1 walk, and 9 K’s.
2011: 9 for 37 with 2 homers, 3 BB, and 12 K at AAA.
Donell Linares (Third Baseman)
Bats: Right Handed
Age: 27
MLB Time: None
Drafted/Signed: 2008 out of Cuba
Notes: A Cuban defector still trying to catch on. His progress stalled in his 3rd minor league season last year at AA. He hit .240 with a .279 OBP. He makes good contact but also rarely walks.
2011: 12 for 45 with 3 homers, 4 BB, and 6 K at AA.
Willie Cabrera (Outfielder)
Bats: Right Handed
Age: 25 (on 8/13)
MLB Time: None
Drafted/Signed: 14th round of 2005 draft
Notes: Good contact and gets on base a lot. Not much else.
2011: Started at AA, going 6 for 19. 3 for 24 with 2 BB and 7 K so far at AAA.
Marcus Lemon (Outfielder)
Bats: Left Handed
Age: 23 (on 6/3)
MLB Time: None
Drafted/Signed: 4th round of 2006 draft
Notes: Recently acquired. Good walks but K’s a bit high. Little power or speed.
2011: 6 for 25 with no EXBH, 1 BB, and 9 K at AA.
Ernesto Mejia (First Baseman)
Bats: Right Handed
Age: 25
MLB Time: None
Drafted/Signed: 2005 out of Venezuela
Notes: Good pop. Way too many K’s.
2011: 16 for 45 with 5 doubles, a triple, 2 homers, 6 RBI, 6 BB, 10 K, and 2 SB in 2 tries at AA (.356/.431/.644/1.076).
Stefan Gartrell (Rightfielder)
Bats: Right Handed
Age: 27
MLB Time: None
Drafted/Signed: 31st round of 2006 draft
Notes: Recently acquired. Gartrell was drafted out of college and I’m a bit surprised he hasn’t had a cup of coffee in the big leagues yet. He has good power but also strikes out a lot. Over the last 2 years and AA and AAA, Gartrell has hit .267 with 50 dingers.
2011: AAA in both White Sox and Braves organizations. 12 for 41 (.293) with 5 doubles, 2 homers, 3 BB, and 8 K.
Wilkin Ramirez (Outfielder)
Bats: Right Handed
Age: 25
MLB Time: 2009 with Detroit (15 games, 4 for 11 with a triple, a homer, 3 RBI, 1 BB, and 3 K)
Drafted/Signed: 2003 out of Dominican Republic
Notes: Good speed, good pop, good walks, and way, way, way, way, way too many K’s. Last year at AA and AAA, Ramirez hit 23 homers with a .306 OBP and 166 strikeouts in 448 at bats.
2011: 5 for 27 with a triple, 2 homers, 1 BB, 4 K, and 1 SB in 1 attempt at AAA.
No comments:
Post a Comment