braves bulk up
The talent in the Atlanta Braves’ farm system, which had grown a little thin in recent years, is currently rated No. 9 overall by mlb.com, which released its rankings (via MLBPipeline) this week. Several top-rated players from the rebuilt system are likely to suit up for the Double-A Mississippi Braves this season. Among those who could be with the club on April 9, opening day at Trustmark Park in Pearl, are right-hander Lucas Sims (ranked No. 4 in the Braves’ system), third baseman Rio Ruiz (No. 6), right-hander Tyrell Jenkins (No. 10), outfielder Mallex Smith (No. 16), right-hander Maurico Cabrera (No. 18), right-hander Wes Parsons (No. 19) and right-hander Andrew Thurman (No. 20). Sims, Ruiz, Jenkins, Smith and Cabrera are also in Baseball America’s list of the top 20 Braves prospects. P.S. The next former M-Braves standout to debut in Atlanta might not be second baseman Jose Peraza, the organization’s top prospect, but Cody Martin, who has made a strong bid this spring for a job in the rotation. Right-hander Martin, a seventh-round pick from Gonzaga in 2011, spent part of 2013 in Pearl, posting a 3-3 record with a 2.82 ERA in 16 appearances, most as a starter. He pitched at Triple-A Gwinnett in 2014. Despite a 26-22, 3.07 career ledger in the minors, Martin was taken off the Braves’ 40-man roster this past off-season, wasn’t claimed by another club and came to spring training as a non-roster invitee. … Atlanta released former M-Braves shortstop Tyler Pastornicky on Thursday. The onetime starter at short for the big club (before Andrelton Simmons arrived) didn’t seem to be the same player after a 2013 knee injury. … Ex-M-Braves outfielder Brandon Jones will play for the York Revolution of the independent Atlantic League this season. (Anthony Lerew, the M-Braves’ opening day starter in 2005, is also on the Revolution roster.) Jones, who played 51 MLB games for the Braves from 2007-09, batted .293 with 15 homers and 74 RBIs in Pearl in 2007. He played for Sioux Falls of the indy American Association in 2014.