at a glance

Too early to draw any conclusions about the 2015 Mississippi Braves, but it is clear that their starting pitching needs to improve. Four of the five, including Jason Hursh and Tyrell Jenkins, had rough first outings as the M-Braves dropped three of five to Tennessee to open the season at Trustmark Park. The M-Braves, typically near the top of the Southern League in staff ERA, are last with a 5.20. They’ve walked 27 batters in 45 innings. The offense is batting just .214 but has managed to score 23 runs, fourth in the league, and swipe seven bases, tops in the SL. Returnees David Rohm and Daniel Castro are hitting .417 and .389, and newcomer Kyeong “K.D.” Kang is at .250 with the team’s lone homer and four RBIs. Touted prospects Rio Ruiz (.222) and Mallex Smith (.188) have started slowly. The M-Braves begin a five-game series today at Jackson (Tenn.). P.S. The list of M-Braves alumni to reach the majors has topped 90 with the appearances this season of Brandon Cunniff and Cody Martin with Atlanta, Sean Gilmartin with the New York Mets and J.R. Graham with Minnesota.