spring flings

If you saw the Mississippi Braves play last year, you probably noticed Johan Camargo. He was hard to miss, even though he seemed always to be moving. He might’ve been playing third base, or second base, or shortstop. At the plate, he could’ve been batting from either side. He was hard to miss because of the energy he brought to the field. Zestful would be an apt description. Camargo, 23, a Panama native, isn’t a hot-shot prospect, but he is a very good player. Atlanta thought enough of him to protect him on its 40-man roster last fall. He’s a longshot to make the big club this spring, but considering his versatility — and energy — he could be a valuable reserve down the road. Camargo hit .267 with four homers, 43 RBIs and 46 runs in his first Double-A campaign in 2016. He is one of 10 M-Braves alums on Atlanta’s current 40-man. … Another nine M-Braves were among the group issued non-roster invitations on Thursday to next month’s big league camp. That list includes another intriguing player, catcher Kade Scivicque. The former Southwest Mississippi Community College star made it to Mississippi late last summer after coming over from the Detroit organization in a trade. Scivicque looks like a catcher: 6 feet, 225 pounds. He isn’t on the prospect charts, either, but don’t sell him short. He was an All-Stater at SWCC and All-SEC at LSU before the Tigers plucked him in the fourth round of the 2015 draft. And he made Double-A in his first full pro season. In 168 minor league games, Scivicque has hit .272 with 11 homers and 61 RBIs. After his time in the big camp, Scivicque likely will return to the M-Braves this season. … Among the other M-Braves alums on Atlanta’s NRI list are Ozzie Albies, Dustin Peterson, Sean Newcomb, Patrick Weigel and – blast from the past – Blaine Boyer, one of the four members of the original M-Braves roster (2005) still in the majors in 2016. The others: Brian McCann, Jeff Francoeur and Gregor Blanco.