connected

Hundreds of players have passed through Trustmark Park in the 10 years that the Mississippi Braves have called the Pearl ballpark home. The number of those who have advanced to the big leagues is approaching 90, and they are now scattered all over the landscape. Just check the spring training box scores: Brian McCann — the first to break through the pipeline to The Show back in 2005 — and Chasen Shreve are with the New York Yankees, and Todd Redmond pitches for Toronto, Zeke Spruill for Boston. Minnesota is trotting out Jordan Schafer and Blaine Boyer. J.C. Boscan is in camp with Kansas City, which signed rehabbing Kris Medlen and just lost Tim Collins to Tommy John surgery. Brett Oberholtzer is a starter for Houston, which has also added Evan Gattis and James Hoyt. Antoan Richardson recently earned a spot on Texas’ 40-man roster, and the Rangers also have Ed Lucas and the oft-injured Matt Harrison in camp. Cory Rasmus is with the Los Angeles Angels, and Kyle Kubitza has gotten a long look in their camp. Jesus Sucre is with Seattle. Jeff Francoeur is fighting for a job with Philadelphia, as is Paul Clemens. Martin Prado and Jarrod Saltalamacchia are regulars for Miami, and Yunel Escobar is slated to play second base in Washington. Sean Gilmartin is trying to make the New York Mets as a Rule 5 pick. Jason Heyward is wearing St. Louis red, Tommy La Stella Chicago Cubs blue. Charlie Morton is in Pittsburgh’s rotation, and J.J. Hoover works out of Cincinnati’s bullpen. Gus Schlosser is now slinging it for Colorado, and so is David Hale. Gregor Blanco has won two rings with San Francisco, and the Giants also have Erik Cordier and Brandon Hicks in camp. Arizona has Randall Delgado. The Los Angeles Dodgers signed rehabbing Brandon Beachy and also have Ryan Buchter on their roster. After all the Atlanta Braves’ off-season wheeling and dealing, there are 18 M-Braves alums still on their 40-man plus several more who have been in big league camp much of the spring. You can hardly watch a game without seeing a player you saw at the TeePee. We had the same cool connection with the Jackson Mets and Generals, all of whom are gone from the big leagues now. We’ll be watching ex-M-Braves for a long time to come. And more future big leaguers will hit the field on April 9, when the M-Braves start the 2015 season. P.S. Yes, if anyone’s wondering, the Johnny Monell now playing for the New York Mets is the son of the Johnny Monell who played for the JaxMets in the late 1980s.