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Prospect Rankings

2011 Atlanta Braves Top 15 Prospects Post Season Report Card

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With the 2011 minor league season complete we check in on the progress of each of the Atlanta Braves preseason Top 15 prospects as ranked by our prospect ranker J.P. Schwartz The post season grading report was done by the publisher of Top Prospect Alert, not Mr. Schwartz, and reflects only the 2011 season and not future upside or downside of the individual prospect. Our 2012 preseason rankings will be published in the coming months.

#1 Julio Teheran GRADE A-
Teheran went 15-3 with a 2.33ERA for the Triple-A Gwinnett Braves. He walked 48 and struck out 122 in 144.2 innings of work. Opposing hitters batted .232 against him. He also had two spot starts for Atlanta going 0-1 with a 5.19ERA, walking 4 and striking out 2 in 8.2 innings of big league work.

#2 Freddie Freeman GRADE A
Through September 5th, Freeman was batting .291 with 29 Doubles, 18 Home Runs, and 64 RBI’s as the Atlanta Braves every day first baseman. He is a National League Rookie Of The Year Candidate.

#3 Arodys Vizcaino GRADE A
Vizcaino went a combined 5-5 with a 3.06ERA in 97 innings between Triple-A Gwinnett, Double-A Mississipi, and the High-A Lynchburg Hillcats. He walked 28 while striking out 100 batters on the season. Opposing hitters batted .225 off of Vizcaino. In 11 big league appearances through September 5th, Vizcaino was 1-1 with a 6.00ERA walking 8 and strking out 14 in 12 innings of work.

#4 Mike Minor GRADE B
Minor went 4-5 with a 3.13ERA for Triple-A Gwinnett. He walked 27 and struck out 99 in 100.2 innings. Opposing hitters batted .246 against him. In 11 big league starts with Atlanta through September 5th, Minor was 4-2 with a 4.09ERA over 61.2 innings. He has walked 21 and struck out 59. Opposing hitters in the major leagues are batting .287 against him.

#5 Carlos Perez GRADE C-
Perez went 4-10 with a 4.82ERA for the Low-A Rome Braves. In 125 innings he walked 66 and struck out 109. Opposing hitters batted .278 off Perez this season. His ERA was nearly a run and a half lower in the second half of the season.

#6 Randall Delgado GRADE B
Delgado went a combined 7-7 with a 3.88ERA between Triple-A Gwinnett and Double-A Mississippi. In 135 innings of work he walked 57 and struck out 135 batters. Opposing hitters batted .255 against Delgado. In three big league starts through September 5th, Delgado was 0-1 with a 4.20ERA, walking 6 and striking out 10 in 15 innings with Atlanta.

#7 Craig Kimbrel GRADE A+
Kimbrel has been arguably the best closer in the National League in 2011. He recently set the all time single season saves record for a rookie. Through September 5th, Kimbrel is 4-2 with 42 saves and a 1.57ERA. He’s got 113 strikeouts while walking 26 batters in 68.2 innings of work. He is limiting opposing hitters to a .167 batting average. He is a top contender for NL Rookie of the Year.

#8 Matt Lipka GRADE C
Lipka batted .247 with 21 Doubles, 3 Triples, 1 Home Run, and 37 RBI’s for Low-A Rome. He also tallied 28 stolen bases on the season. He struck out just 83 times in 530 at bats.

#9 Brandon Beachy GRADE A
Through September 5th, Beachy is 7-2 with a 3.37ERA in 21 starts for Atlanta. In 120 innings, he has walked 35 while striking out 135. Big league hitters are batting just .233 off of Beachy.

#10 Christian Bethancourt GRADE B-
Bethancourt batted a combined .289 with 16 Doubles, 3 Triples, 5 Home Runs and 53 RBI’s between Low-A Rome and High-A Lynchburg. He also stole nine bases on the year. The .289 batting average is a career high for Bethancourt.

#11 Brett Oberholtzer TRADED TO HOUSTON
Oberholtzer was 9-9 with a 3.74ERA in 127 innings for Double-A Mississippi before the trade. Since joining the Astros he has gone 2-3 with a 5.27 ERA for the Double-A Corpus Christi Hooks. Opponents batted a combined .253 against Oberholtzer on the season.

#12 Andrelton Simmons GRADE B
Simmons batted .311 with 35 Doubles, 6 Triples, 1 Home Run, 52 RBI’s and stole 26 bases for High-A Lynchburg. He struckout just 43 times in 517 at bats. He hit .345 with runners in scoring position on the year.

#13 Paul Clemens TRADED TO HOUSTON
Clemens was 6-5 with a 3.73ERA in 108.2 innings for Double-A Mississippi before being traded in July. After joining the Astros organization Clemens went 2-1 with a 2.35ERA for Corpus Christi before a season ending start for the Triple-A Oklahoma City Redhawks in which he allowed eight earned runs in 4.2 innings. Combined Clemens struck out 125 batters in 144 innings and held opposing hitters to a .239 batting average.

#14 David Filak GRADE D
Filak went a combined 3-11 with a 6.14ERA between Rookie League Danville and Low-A Rome. He walked 52 and struck out 79 in 104 combined innings. Batters hit .304 against Filak.

#15 Edward Salcedo GRADE C+
Salcedo batted .248 with 27 Doubles, 6 Triples, 12 Home Runs, 68 RBI’s and stole 23 bases for Low-A Rome. He struck out 105 times in 508 at bats. Salcedo faltered as the season went on hitting just .229 in the second half of the year.

Minor League Baseball News

Former Braves Farmhand Steve Bishop Talks About Playing His Idol David Justice In The Upcoming Moneyball Movie

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When Steve Bishop was battling his way through the low levels of the Atlanta Braves farm system in the early 1990’s with the Braves’ Pioneer League affiliate the Idaho Falls Braves he dreamed of one day being in the big leagues like his idol David Justice. While he never made it to the majors, or Double-A for that matter, Bishop has made it to the big leagues as an actor, and appears in the upcoming Moneyball movie staring Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill. Ironically Bishop will play his idol Justice in the film. In the interview Bishop talks about his relationship with Justice, the major leaguers who were regulars on the set, working with Pitt and Hill, and how being a former pro baseball player helped him to embrace the acting role.

Former minor leaguer tries to do Justice in ‘Moneyball’ — USAToday.com

Major League Baseball News

Craig Kimbrel Quietly Becoming The Best Rookie Closer In Major League History

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Atlanta Braves rookie closer Craig Kimbrel quietly tied the major league rookie record for saves on Tuesday night recording his 40th save in a win over the Chicago Cubs. His overall numbers on the year are eye popping as well. He is 3-2 with 40 saves and a 1.70ERA in 63.2 innings in which he has walked 25 and struck out 103 batters. The story looks at Kimbrel’s record setting accomplishments, Braves teammates talk about Kimbrel’s dominance this season and Kimbrel himself talks about not paying attention to his individual accomplishments during the season.

Kimbrel’s run has been something to behold — AJC.com

Minor League Baseball News

Journeyman Catcher Corky Miller Plans To Keep Playing Baseball As Long As People Are Offering Him Jobs

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I’m not sure if it is a record, but Corky Miller has spent parts of the last 11 consecutive seasons playing in the International League including this season as a member of the Louisville Bats. He has also spent parts of the last 10 years playing in the big leagues, compiling a total of 199 big league games with the Cincinnati Reds, Minnesota Twins, Boston Red Sox, Atlanta Braves and Chicago White Sox. His career batting average in the big leagues is just .188 but his impact both in the majors as well as in Triple-A in helping develop pitchers, has kept Miller in baseball for all these years and led to lots of success for a number of current big league pitchers who Miller caught for in the minor leagues. In the story Miller talks about his journeyman career in which he has seen and done about everything there is to see or do, how he plans to continue to play baseball until teams stop calling, and stealing home his rookie season. Also some of the pitchers for whom he has caught offer their antidotes about Miller’s brutal honesty behind the plate. It’s a very good read.

Corky Miller a once-in-a-lifetime guy — Cincinnati.com

Minor League Baseball News

Cincinnati Reds Mid 1990’s Prospect Jamie Dismuke Is Still A Big Draw In Syracuse As An Opposing Coach

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Jamie Dismuke never made it to the majors a player despite being the star on a number of good Cincinnati Reds Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts and Triple-A Indianapolis Indians teams in the mid 90’s. After 5 seasons in the high minors without making it to the big leagues, Dismuke called it quits in 1997. Now a days the Syracuse, New York native is one step away from the majors once again, this time as a coach for the Triple-A Gwinnett Braves. In the story, Dismuke talks about still drawing a crowd in his home town of Syracuse, being blocked as a player by Hal Morris, his love of coaching, and the fulfillment he felt being called to the big leagues to coach with the Atlanta Braves last September. It’s a very good read, especially for those who remember Dismuke from his playing days.

Jamie Dismuke, once a Corcoran baseball star, will tell you there’s really no place like home — Syracuse.com

Minor League Baseball News

Triple-A Manager Brett Butler Talks About How Difficult It Is To Enforce Minor League Baseball’s Anti-Dipping Rules

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Over his big league career, Brett Butler played for the Atlanta Braves, Cleveland Indians, San Francisco Giants, Los Angeles Dodgers, and New York Mets. For a large portion of that time Butler used dip. He eventually quit but it would prove to be too late as Butler was diagnosed with throat cancer which sidelined him during the 1996 season with the Dodgers. Since then he’s been outspoken against the use of smokeless tobacco. Butler is currently the manager of the Triple-A Reno Aces of the Arizona Diamondbacks organization. In the story Butler talks about Triple-A players dipping despite a ban in minor league baseball, players on his teams who have dipped despite knowing about his battle with cancer, the 10 year old boy who caused him to quit dipping cold turkey, and his desire to make it back to the big leagues as a coach. Solid read.

Brett Butler sides with Surgeon General, cuts out tobacco — NewsOK.com

Major League Baseball News

Top Pitching Prospect Arodys Vizcaino Called Up By The Atlanta Braves

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The Atlanta Braves have called up top pitching prospect Arodys Vizcaino according to multiple sources and he will make his major league debut this week. The 20 year old has pitched for the High-A Lynchburg Hillcats, Double-A Mississippi Braves, and Triple-A Gwinnett Braves in 2011. He began the season as a starter in Lynchburg going 2-2 with a 2.45ERA in 9 starts. He was then promoted to Mississippi where he was 2-3 with a 3.81ERA in 49.2 innings covering eight starts and three relief appearances. Vizcaino was converted exclusively to relief following a promotion to Triple-A in order to groom him for a role in the Braves bullpen, and he responded by going 1-0 with a 1.29ERA in six appearances out of the Gwinnett bullpen. Vizcaino began his career in the Yankees organization and came to the Braves in the trade that sent Javier Vazquez to New York. Braves fans can expect to see a lot of velocity from Vizcaino whose fastball can approach 100 MPH.

Major League Baseball News, Trade Deadline Deals

Prospect Breakdown: Astros Trade Michael Bourn To Braves For Brett Oberholtzer, Paul Clemens, Juan Abreu & Jordan Schafer

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The Houston Astros have traded outfielder Michael Bourn to the Atlanta Braves for a package of four prospects which includes pitchers Brett Oberholtzer, Paul Clemens and Juan Abreu as well as outfielder Jordan Schafer. Oberholtzer is the best of the Braves second tier pitching prospects. He is currently 9-9 with a 3.74 ERA with 92 strikeouts in 127.2 Innings for Double-A Mississippi. The 6’2″ lefty went 6-8 with a 3.72ERA combined between Low-A Rome and High-A Myrtle Beach in 2010. The 22 year old Oberholtzer was an 8th round pick of the Braves in the 2008 draft. Clemens is 6’4″ right hander who’s posted a 6-5 record with a 3.73ERA and 93 strikeouts in 108.2 innings for Mississippi this season. The 22 year old went a combined 2-4 with a 3.23ERA between Rome and Myrtle Beach in 2010. Clemens was a 7th Round pick of the Braves back in 2008. Abreu is a 6’0″ right handed reliever who is currently 4-2 with a 2.25ERA at Triple-A Gwinnett. He’s struck out 68 batters in 48 innings and International League hitters are batting just .193 against him. The 26 year old went a combined 4-2 with a 4.35ERA and 12 Saves between Myrtle Beach and Mississippi last season. He was originally signed as a non drafted free agent by the Kansas City Royals back in 2003, and has yet to make his major league debut. Schafer was at one time a top organizational prospect before running into a string of bad luck including a 50 game suspension from major league baseball in 2008 and a wrist injury in 2009. His best season in the Minors came back in 2007 when he hit a combined .312 with 15 Home Runs and 63 RBI’s between Rome and Myrtle Beach. Schafer has not had more than 4 Home Runs in a season since hitting 10 in his suspension shortened 2008 season. Since a call up from Gwinnett in May of this year, Schafer hit .240 with 6 Doubles, 3 Triples, 1 Home Run, and 7 RBI’s in 52 Games with the Braves. The 24 year old Schafer was a third round selection of the Braves back in 2005.

Major League Baseball News

Former Atlanta Braves & Falcons Star Brian Jordan Authors Children’s Books

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As part of his work with the Brian Jordan Foundation, former Atlanta Braves, St Louis Cardinals and Atlanta Falcons star Brian Jordan is reading his children’s books to area Atlanta area kids. In the story Jordan talks about his inspiration to write and the work his foundation is doing to raise scholarship money and establish literacy programs for underprivileged youth. Jordan’s first book “I Told You I Can Play” is currently available on Amazon.com.

Local sports legend visits daycare — NorthFulton.com

Minor League Baseball News

Braves Prospect Phil Gosselin Talks About Playing High-A Baseball Near His Hometown

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Phil Gosselin is probably best known for cranking a Home Run off the then unbeaten Stephen Strasburg that helped the Virginia Cavaliers beat San Diego State in the 2009 NCAA Regional. However now that he’s turned pro, Gosselin is beginning to makie a name for himself in the Carolina League as the second baseman is one of the batter hitters on the Lynchburg Hillcats. The Atlanta Braves farmhand is batting .272 with 22 doubles, five triples, five home runs, and 51 RBI’s so far this season. In the story below, Gosselin talks about staying focused in his first full season, playing close to home in Lynchburg, getting to see his Virginia Cavaliers make it to the NCAA’s once again, and playing minor league ball for Luis Salazar who lost his eye after being hit with a line drive during spring training.

Ex-Virginia standout Phil Gosselin is learning in the Braves organization — Washington Post