counting heads

The Atlanta Braves’ current 40-man roster — and it could change before the winter meetings — includes 17 Mississippi Braves alumni plus two others who are on the disabled list and don’t count against the limit. New to roster, sort of, are 2010 M-Braves pitchers Juan Abreu and Erik Cordier. Abreu was on the 40-man for a brief period last winter. Both had pretty good numbers in Pearl last summer, enough to gain protected status. Both could also be back with the M-Braves in 2011. One new name, sort of, on the list is Jairo Asencio. This is the pitcher formerly known as Luis Valdez. He reportedly was unable to get into the country this year from the Dominican Republic because it was discovered that he was not who he said he was. Luis Valdez, the closer for the 2008 Southern League champion M-Braves club, is actually named Jairo Asencio. He used the other name so that he could sign a pro contract (with the Pittsburgh Pirates) before he was actually old enough to do so (you have to be 16). Asencio, now 26, is expected to return to the Braves’ system in 2011.
P.S. The list of minor league free agents, which likely includes several 2010 M-Braves, should be available soon. Stay tuned.