ATLANTA -- Now that AJ Smith-Shawver has graduated from prospect status, there’s even more reason to keep an eye on the next flock of Braves starting pitching prospects. Here’s a look at how some have fared during the season’s first month. Cam Caminiti (Braves' No. 2 prospect): The 18-year-old left-hander -- who was taken with the 24th overall pick last year -- hasn’t been assigned to a Minor League affiliate yet. He dealt with some left arm discomfort in Spring Training, but he is building up strength and throwing in extended spring camp. The Braves will be cautious as the teenager preps for his first full year as a professional. Hurston Waldrep (Braves' No. 3 prospect): The 23-year-old first-round selection from the 2023 MLB Draft has posted a 6.04 ERA through his first five starts for Triple-A Gwinnett. His 13.8 percent walk rate is far too close to his 18.3 percent strikeout rate and opponents have hit .308 against him. This stretch hasn’t quieted thoughts that he and his splitter might eventually be best utilized out of the bullpen. Drue Hackenberg (Braves' No. 5 prospect): This has also been a rough stretch for Hackenberg, who was taken in the second round of the 2023 MLB Draft. The 23-year-old righty has a 6.75 ERA through five starts with Double-A Columbus. He seemed to right himself with a couple good starts recently, but he allowed 10 hits and eight runs (seven earned) in four innings against Chattanooga on Saturday. It should be noted he threw one inning on Tuesday before rain halted play, so he was dealing with an altered schedule in this last outing. |
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Owen Murphy (Braves' No. 6 prospect): The 21-year-old first-round selection from 2022 is approximately 11 months removed from Tommy John surgery. JR Ritchie (Braves' No. 7 prospect): Ritchie, another 2022 first-round selection, has posted a 2.57 ERA through his first four starts for High-A Rome. His best outing was completed Tuesday, when he allowed two runs and struck out five over 6 2/3 innings against Winston-Salem. His 20.2 percent strikeout rate isn’t eye-popping, but he has limited opponents to a .181 batting average. |
Garrett Baumann (Braves' No. 8 prospect): Baumann struggled with his command in the Spring Breakout game and he issued four walks in his season debut for Rome. But the 6-foot-8 hurler has issued just two walks over his past three starts combined. He threw six scoreless against Winston-Salem on Wednesday. Lucas Braun (Braves' No. 10 prospect): Braun has posted a 3.00 ERA through his first four starts for Columbus. He has 26 strikeouts and just two walks over 24 innings. If he continues to show good command, he’ll show why he created a buzz around Spring Training, despite not being in big league camp. The 23-year-old right-hander has made steady strides since being selected in the sixth round of the 2023 Draft. Didier Fuentes (Braves' No. 11 prospect): This might actually be the Braves’ best pitching prospect. The 19-year-old hurler was promoted to Double-A after recording nine strikeouts over five innings for Rome on April 18. He recorded seven strikeouts in three innings against a talented Tigers prospects team in the Spring Breakout game. He allowed three runs in 2 2/3 innings when he made his debut for Columbus on Sunday. |
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MLB MORNING LINEUP PODCAST |
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Who was the first Braves player to have a five-hit game at Coors Field? A) Andruw Jones B) Chipper Jones C) Kenny Lofton D) Eddie Perez |
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SATURDAY'S HISTORICAL WIN |
Bob Horner’s four-homer game has been widely talked about among Braves fans over the past four decades. It stands as one of the most memorable accomplishments in franchise history, especially during the TBS era. But until Saturday night, many might have forgot the Braves suffered an 11-8 loss to the Expos that day (July 6, 1986) in Atlanta. As soon as Eugenio Suárez hit his fourth homer against the Braves on Saturday, I went to Baseball-Reference to see if a team had ever won a game while allowing four homers to an opposing player. I quickly found the Expos were the only team to do so during the Modern Era. My great teammate Sarah Langs found that the Chicago Colts were the only other team to ever do this. They did so way back in 1896 on a day when they surrendered four homers to the Phillies’ Ed Delahanty. Providing a fitting ending to this great game was the defensive gem Austin Riley and Matt Olson teamed to make. Riley gloved Randal Grichuk’s bouncer at the edge of the grass behind third base, continued into foul territory and then skipped a throw that found Olson’s glove just before Grichuk reached the bag. It looked like the game would be extended when first-base umpire Clint Vondrak ruled Grichuk safe. But manager Brian Snitker and his players exhaled after a quick replay review reversed the call. “I work on that bounce throw in practice because it’s going to happen,” Riley said. “I try to work on, different angle throws and it worked out.” |
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The Braves made the right decision earlier this season when they benched Orlando Arcia and made Nick Allen their primary shortstop. Allen’s offensive production will be minimal. But when Arcia has played this year, it’s been obvious that his maddening bat is not his only flaw. There have been multiple occasions when his limited range has been an issue this year. Now, the Braves are doing the right thing with Eli White, who has seemingly replaced Jarred Kelenic as the everyday right fielder. Kelenic has great tools, but White provides much more with his speed and glove. We’ll see how long White has success with his torpedo bat. But for now, he’s a better option than Kelenic across the board. |
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C) Lofton Lofton had a five-hit game at the Rockies’ home on April 18, 1997. Andruw Jones and Perez both tallied five-hit games in Denver during the 1999 season. |
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