Southern League Archives - Page 17 of 19 - All Mississippi Baseball

15 Apr

at a glance

Too early to draw any conclusions about the 2015 Mississippi Braves, but it is clear that their starting pitching needs to improve. Four of the five, including Jason Hursh and Tyrell Jenkins, had rough first outings as the M-Braves dropped three of five to Tennessee to open the season at Trustmark Park. The M-Braves, typically near the top of the Southern League in staff ERA, are last with a 5.20. They’ve walked 27 batters in 45 innings. The offense is batting just .214 but has managed to score 23 runs, fourth in the league, and swipe seven bases, tops in the SL. Returnees David Rohm and Daniel Castro are hitting .417 and .389, and newcomer Kyeong “K.D.” Kang is at .250 with the team’s lone homer and four RBIs. Touted prospects Rio Ruiz (.222) and Mallex Smith (.188) have started slowly. The M-Braves begin a five-game series today at Jackson (Tenn.). P.S. The list of M-Braves alumni to reach the majors has topped 90 with the appearances this season of Brandon Cunniff and Cody Martin with Atlanta, Sean Gilmartin with the New York Mets and J.R. Graham with Minnesota.

07 Apr

ten years after

Drumroll, please. As the Mississippi Braves approach the 10th anniversary of the first game at Trustmark Park (April 18), here’s an updated all-time M-Braves team (based on their performance with the Double-A club): At catcher, the great Brian McCann (.265, 6 homers, 26 RBIs in roughly two months in 2005) has to take a backseat to Christian Bethancourt, who went .277, 12, 45 in 2013 and was very good behind the plate. At first base, Ernesto Mejia’s monster season in 2011 will be tough to top; he batted .297 with team records for homers (26) and RBIs (99). Second base belonged to J.C. Holt, who hit .285 with 45 RBIs and 22 steals for the 2008 Southern League championship club, until Tommy La Stella came along in 2013. La Stella batted .343 with four homers, 41 RBIs and 32 runs in 81 games. Tyler Pastornicky still rates the nod at shortstop after batting .299 with six homers, 36 RBIs, 50 runs and 20 steals in 90 games in 2011. Third base goes to Kyle Kubitza, whose 2014 numbers (.295, eight homers, 55 RBIs, 31 doubles, 11 triples, 21 bags) eclipse Wes Timmons’ production in 2005 (.272, seven homers, 34 RBIs and 31 doubles). In the outfield, there’s Matt Young (.289, 10 triples, 81 runs, 42 steals in 2009), Brandon Jones (.293, 15 homers, 74 RBIs, 12 steals in 2007) and Todd Cunningham (.306, 23 doubles, 51 RBIs, 77 runs, 24 steals in 2012). The M-Braves have had so many good arms, it’s hard to whittle the number down to five starters. But here goes: Tommy Hanson, Todd Redmond, Chuck James, Jo-Jo Reyes and Jason Hursh. Luis Valdez (now known as Jairo Asencio), with his 28 saves in 2008, is the closer. P.S. Amid the new hot prospects and familiar veterans that fill the Mississippi Braves’ 2015 roster, there is one name that sorta jumps out. Who is Kyeong Kang? Well, he is a 27-year-old South Korea native who went to high school in Georgia and junior college in Alabama and has spent eight years in pro ball. He was drafted in the 15th round by Tampa Bay in 2006, played in the MLB Futures Game in 2009 and toiled for the Montgomery Biscuits of the Southern League from 2011-13. A 6-foot-2, 210-pound left-handed hitting outfielder, Kang has a career .269 average and 68 home runs, with four double-figure dinger seasons. He batted .282 with 12 homers in Double-A with Baltimore in 2014. Atlanta signed him in the off-season. … Former M-Braves Brandon Cunniff and Cody Martin, both looking for their MLB debut, made Atlanta’s opening day roster, and Jeff Francoeur, an original M-Brave from 2005, made Philadelphia’s club.

25 Feb

the lighter side

Desmond Jennings must be hoping that lighter will translate to better in 2015. The former Itawamba Community College star showed up for Tampa Bay’s camp noticeably thinner than last season, when he was listed at 6 feet 2, 200 pounds. “Trying to figure out a way to stay healthy and stay on the field for a full season,” Jennings told mlb.com. The veteran outfielder missed the last month of 2014 with a knee problem; his numbers — .244, 10 homers, 36 RBIs, 15 steals — were down from 2013. The onetime football standout stole 52 bases in the minors one year and got 31 bags for the Rays in 2012. P.S. Biloxi Shuckers fans should see a pretty good team take the field this season, though when the new Southern League club might actually take the field in Biloxi remains up in the air. As many as five of the Milwaukee Brewers’ top 10 prospects (as rated by mlb.com) could suit up for the Shuckers: No. 1 Tyrone Taylor, an outfielder; No. 2 Orlando Arcia, a shortstop; No. 7 Clint Coulter, a catcher; No. 9 Jorge Lopez, a right-hander; and No. 10 Victor Roache, an outfielder. Former Mississippi Braves outfielder Kyle Wren (No. 13), who batted .283 with 13 steals for the M-Braves in 2014, might also make the Biloxi roster to start this season. Ole Miss product David Goforth (No. 18) pitched for Milwaukee’s Double-A club in Huntsville in 2014 and posted 27 saves; he is likely to start in Triple-A if he doesn’t make the Brewers’ big league roster. As for the team’s schedule, the tentative plan is for the Shuckers to play the first two months on the road, including a five-game “homestand” against the M-Braves in Pearl from May 6-10, then open MGM Park on June 6. Some club officials say the stadium could be ready before that. Of course, it could also be later than that.

09 Dec

four months out

Four months from today, the Mississippi Braves will open the 2015 season — their 11th at Trustmark Park in Pearl — against the Tennessee Smokies. Sure, it’s a little early to start a countdown … but what the heck. Here’s a shot in the dark at how the team might line up come April 9. At catcher, Tyler Tewell, who batted .251 with eight home runs and 45 RBIs at Class A Lynchburg. Braeden Schlehuber (.230, 41 RBIs for the M-Braves) could return at that spot. At first base, Seth Loman, the minor league veteran who was re-signed after hitting .261 with 11 homers and 59 RBIs in an injury-interrupted campaign. At second base, Emerson Landoni, who batted .271 for the M-Braves before getting sent down to open the job for rising prospect Jose Peraza. At shortstop, Daniel Castro, another midseason call-up from Lynchburg who batted .277 with four homers and 20 RBIs in 51 games. At third base, Kevin Ahrens, a former Toronto first-rounder who hit .266 with seven homers, 65 RBIs and 41 doubles at Lynchburg. In the outfield, David Rohm (.255 in Mississippi), Will Skinner (.253, 11 homers, 52 RBIs at Lynchburg) and Cuban Dian Tascano, 25, who reportedly agreed to terms with Atlanta on Monday and needs some minor league seasoning. Also in the outfield picture are Matt Lipka and Robby Hefflinger, each coming off a poor, injury-marred season. The rotation may well be headed by Lucas Sims, Atlanta’s top pick in 2012 who went 8-11 with a 4.19 ERA at Lynchburg, or Tyrell Jenkins, acquired from St. Louis in the Jason Heyward deal. Greg Ross (7-3, 2.08) impressed with the M-Braves in 2014, and Jarrett Miller (8-9, 4.04) was a steady arm in Lynchburg. J.R. Graham, who had a rough 2014 coming back from injury, might well be back in the bullpen. Alex Wilson (16 saves, 2.02 ERA) was an outstanding closer at Lynchburg. As for who’ll be managing the 2015 M-Braves, Atlanta has not yet announced its minor league staff assignments, but it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Aaron Holbert back at the helm for a fourth year. He has done a commendable job. P.S. Former Petal High star Anthony Alford is plugging away with decent results in the Australian Baseball League. Alford, a Toronto prospect, is hitting just .239 but has a .346 on-base percentage and 21 runs in 18 games as Canberra’s leadoff batter. He hit his second homer on Sunday. … Former Hattiesburg High standout Robert Carson, hoping to get back to the big leagues, is pitching in the Dominican Winter League and has not allowed a run in three appearances for the Gigantes del Cibao. The big left-hander, who has a 6.82 career ERA in 31 MLB games (all with the New York Mets), is now in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ system, his third organization.

25 Nov

play it again

Wendell Fairley, a former first-round draft pick out of George County High, recently signed to play in 2015 with the Southern Illinois Miners of the independent Frontier League. Fairley, who’ll be 27 in March, apparently has not played organized ball since 2012, his last season in the San Francisco system. The left-handed hitting outfielder was the Giants’ top pick in 2007 and batted .257 with eight home runs, 149 RBIs and 26 steals over five seasons. The Giants invited him to their big league spring training camp in 2010, but he never played above the Double-A level. P.S. They will be called the Biloxi Shuckers, but the new Southern League team’s plans for where they’ll play in 2015 remain unknown (see previous post). No new information was revealed at Monday’s nickname announcement ceremony. … It’s unlikely that David Goforth, a Meridian native and ex-Ole Miss standout, will play for the Shuckers, Milwaukee’s Double-A affiliate, next season. Goforth went 5-4 with 27 saves and a 3.76 ERA for the Huntsville Stars in 2014 and earned a spot on the Brewers’ 40-man roster. If he doesn’t make the big club, Goforth figures to pitch in Triple-A.

24 Nov

the big reveal

Biloxi’s Southern League team gets its name today. Shrimpers? Black Jacks? Mullet? A big announcement ceremony is planned. Speeches will be made. Cheers will be heard. Merchandise will go on sale. That’s all well and good, but it would also be nice if team officials would announce where they plan to play in 2015. We already know that the new MGM Park won’t be finished for the start of the season in April and may not be ready until August. Is the team going to play all road games until August? Is the team going to play in Huntsville, its former home, until the new park opens? Does it make sense to have a grand opening in August, with only a handful of home dates available? Inquiring minds want to know. The Mississippi Braves are scheduled to play “at Biloxi” from May 6-10 and again in August. The M-Braves host the new team, still a Milwaukee Brewers affiliate, for the first time from June 11-15.

06 Sep

that empty feeling

There is no game tonight at Trustmark Park in Pearl. Had the Mississippi Braves won the second half in the Southern League South, they would be playing Mobile at the TeePee in Game 3 of the division series. But two losses in the final series at Huntsville cost the M-Braves dearly, as Jacksonville ended the season with 10 straight wins and finished a game up in the SL South. It is disappointing that the M-Braves didn’t make the playoffs, but this was not a disappointing season. Not in the least. Manager Aaron Holbert’s club had the league’s best overall record: 83-56. They led the league in batting (.266) and stolen bases (141), finished second in ERA (3.37) and were tied for third in runs (609). Even attendance was up: an announced 3,152 per game. The M-Braves had six players on the final roster who batted .280 or better, led by Jose Peraza, a fast-rising prospect at second base who batted .335 and stole 25 bases in 44 games. Outfielder Cedric Hunter, a one-time big leaguer, surely re-opened some eyes by batting .295 with 14 home runs and 72 RBIs. Kyle Kubitza, another good prospect at third base, hit .295 with eight homers, 55 RBIs and 21 steals. And jack-of-all-trades Barrett Kleinknecht, a.k.a. Klank, hit .280 with nine homers and 38 RBIs. Pitching prospect Jason Hursh, Atlanta’s No. 1 pick in 2013, went 11-7 with a 3.58 ERA. Aaron Northcraft went 7-3, 2.88 before a midseason promotion to Triple-A Gwinnett. Williams Perez, Mitch Atkins and Greg Ross were also outstanding as starters. Shae Simmons was a lights-out closer (0.78 ERA, 14 saves) before he was promoted to Atlanta at the end of May. Several others in the bullpen stepped up, including Ryne Harper, John Cornely and Brandon Cunniff. This was a very good team, fun to watch. Such a shame they didn’t get to keep playing. P.S. Tim Bogar joined the ranks of former Jackson Mets now managing in the majors when he took over in Texas for Ron Washington, who surprisingly resigned on Friday. Bogar played shortstop for Our Jackson Mets in 1989, hitting .266 with four homers and 45 RBIs. The other former OJMs now managing are Ned Yost in Kansas City, John Gibbons in Toronto and Ron Gardenhire in Minnesota. Pittsburgh’s Clint Hurdle managed the JaxMets in 1990. Bogar, who was Washington’s bench coach, was a highly successful minor league manager, but his MLB debut didn’t go so well: The lowly Rangers (53-88) lost to Seattle 7-5.

01 Sep

all about arms

The lights were bright, the stage was big and T.J. House, the pride of Picayune High, rose to the occasion. On ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball, before a sell-out crowd at Kansas City’s Kauffman Stadium, in a key American League Central contest, rookie left-hander House worked seven innings for Cleveland, allowing one run on five hits with no walks. He stood to get the win, which would have been his third of the year, but the Indians’ bullpen blew the save in the ninth. Cleveland scored twice in the 10th to take a 4-2 lead before the game was suspended because of weather. It’ll be resumed in Cleveland on Sept. 22. … Among the marquee games today is Pittsburgh at St. Louis, with former Ole Miss star Lance Lynn taking the mound for the Cardinals, who have caught Milwaukee in the National League Central race. Pittsburgh is hanging on in third place. Lynn is 14-8 with a 2.79 and is trying to become only the second pitcher in MLB to win at least 15 games in each of the last three seasons. … In Atlanta on Sunday, former Mississippi Braves standout Alex Wood delivered perhaps his best career outing in the Braves’ 1-0 win over Miami. Wood went eight innings, allowed five hits and no walks and fanned 12. Then ex-M-Braves closer Craig Kimbrel blew through the Marlins in the ninth for his 41st save. Former M-Braves Phil Gosselin, Freddie Freeman and Andrelton Simmons combined to go 7-for-11, but the only hit that produced a run for Atlanta was a home run (No. 21) by another ex-M-Braves star, Evan Gattis. Oh yeah, and former M-Braves right fielder Jason Heyward made yet another great catch. Doesn’t it seem like he does that everyday? … At Huntsville today, in the Double-A Southern League, the current M-Braves will pin their postseason hopes on right-hander Mitch Atkins (6-1, 3.56). The M-Braves need to beat Huntsville and get help from Mobile, which will try to halt Jacksonville’s nine-game win streak. If the Suns (a Miami affiliate) win again, they’ll also win the SL South. If the M-Braves do make the postseason, they’ll play at home on Saturday (Sept. 6) in the division series.

26 Aug

cut to the chase

As the finish line draws near, the front-running Mississippi Braves just can’t seem to put any distance between themselves and Jacksonville. The M-Braves, who conclude their home schedule tonight, have won seven straight games and eight of 10. But the Suns have won four in a row (and eight of 10) and remain only a game back in the Southern League South with six to play. The M-Braves (40-24 in the second half) finish the regular season with five games at Huntsville. Jacksonville (39-25), which plays at Tennessee tonight, ends with a five-game set at home against third-place Mobile (37-27), the first-half champ. The M-Braves are seeking a second straight playoff appearance and fourth in 10 years in Pearl. Steady right-hander Mitch Atkins (5-1, 3.73 ERA) gets the call tonight at 7 against Birmingham. The M-Braves banged out 13 hits in Monday’s 8-3 win. Rich Poythress, recently off the disabled list, had two hits and two RBIs, and Cedric Hunter also drove in two. Kyle Wren and Daniel Castro scored two runs apiece, and hot-hitting Gustavo Nunez picked up two more hits to boost his average to .305. … Tim Anderson, the former East Central Community College standout now with Birmingham, is 8-for-17 in his first four Double-A games with five RBIs and four runs. He was a first-round pick by the Chicago White Sox in 2013. P.S. The Oakland A’s will recall ex-Ole Miss star Drew Pomeranz for a spot start on Wednesday against Houston. Pomeranz was 4-3, 3.21 for the A’s before suffering a broken hand in mid-June. He has been in the minors ever since, putting up a 3-1 mark with a 3.69 at Triple-A Sacramento.

24 Aug

star turns

Take 1: What will Gustavo Nunez do today? The Mississippi Braves infielder has had quite the weekend so far. On Friday night at Trustmark Park, he hit an inside-the-park home run — his first homer of the season — and also scored the game-winning run on a sac fly in the eighth inning. On Saturday night, Nunez hit an 11th-inning, walk-off homer. With the 6-5 win over Birmingham, the M-Braves, winners of five straight, kept a grip on first place, by a single game over Jacksonville, in the Southern League South. The win was also the M-Braves’ 77th of the year, most in a season since the team moved to Pearl in 2005. Nunez, a 26-year-old Dominican signed by Atlanta in the off-season, doesn’t typically garner a lot of attention, but he has had a good year. The switch-hitter, whose walk-off on Saturday came from the left side, is batting .302 with 29 RBIs and 43 runs in 85 games. He has played shortstop, second base and some outfield. This is his eighth pro season. … Take 2: Corey Dickerson’s dream season for Colorado continued on Saturday when he hit a game-tying homer — third deck in right field at Coors Field — in the ninth inning and then slapped a game-winning single in the 13th as the Rockies beat Miami 5-4. Meridian Community College alum Dickerson, in his second MLB season, is batting .322 with 19 homers and 61 RBIs. His homer on Saturday was just the 33rd to reach the third deck at Coors in the ballpark’s 20 seasons. “It was pretty awesome that it went that far,” Dickerson, a lefty hitter, told mlb.com. P.S. Brian Dozier, the former Southern Miss star, has scored six runs in the last two days (three games) for Minnesota to run his American League-leading total to 91. The Twins have put up 38 runs the last two days against slumping Detroit, winning two of the three games. Dozier is batting just .235 but has a .341 on-base percentage. He also has 20 homers and 20 steals, the first 20-20 season by a second baseman in Twins history.