nice start

Speed is the word that dominates scouting reports on Jose Peraza, and he didn’t waste much time before showing it off in his Double-A debut on Thursday night at Trustmark Park. The Mississippi Braves’ new second baseman ripped a shot to the gap in left-center in the sixth inning and easily turned it into a triple for his first hit in the Southern League. The 20-year-old Venezuelan, batting leadoff, wound up 3-for-5 with three runs and an RBI as the M-Braves opened the second half with a 9-4 win over the Jackson (Tenn.) Generals. Peraza also turned two double plays. A consensus top 10 prospect in the Atlanta system, he was tearing it up at Class A Lynchburg, batting .342 with 27 RBIs, 44 runs and 35 stolen bases in 66 games. Baseball America says he has “plus-plus speed.” Listed at 6 feet, 165 pounds, Peraza hasn’t hit much for power as a professional but reports say that may come. He is an exciting addition to an already solid M-Braves lineup.