Pair of Braves pitchers dominates in Double-A doubleheader
If Wednesday night's Mississippi doubleheader is any indication, the future on the Braves' hill looks scary good. As in the opposition should be scared. Two of Atlanta's top three prospects, Hurston Waldrep and Spencer Schwellenbach, dominated their respective starts en route to the Double-A Braves' sweep of visiting Biloxi at
Double-A mound an unlikely sanctuary for Miss Mississippi candidate
This is an excerpt from the latest edition of the Ben's Biz Beat Newsletter, bringing Minor League Baseball business and culture news to your inbox each and every Thursday. Check out the full newsletter HERE. For David Kerr, working in Minor League Baseball means keeping the following mantra in mind:
Here are the top 10 closer prospects in the Minors
The role of the reliever continues to evolve in baseball, but there’s still something to be said about closers. They’re the ones who get the entrance music and the light show just for coming out of the bullpen in the biggest of spots. (Think of what Edwin Díaz has done
Smith-Shawver's fastball finding another gear at Triple-A
This story was excerpted from Mark Bowman’s Braves Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
A new MiLB club played its first game last night, and you've got to see its celly
Fans of the Braves' High-A affiliate in Rome, Georgia, got to see a brand new franchise take the field at AdventHealth Stadium in Friday's 4-0 season-opening victory -- and with that, a brand new on-the-field celebration. Previously known as the Rome Braves, the club unveiled its new identity as the
Fans' Guide to MiLB Opening Day
Triple-A Opening Day arrived across the country -- from Syracuse to Sacramento and many stops in between -- last Friday. Now the Double-A, High-A and Single-A levels will begin play. In other words, the season is in full swing. As is tradition around these parts, let’s get you ready for
Here's where the Braves' Top 30 prospects are starting the season
With the Minor League season opening this week, here's where the Braves’ Top 30 prospects are projected to start: 1. AJ Smith-Shawver (MLB No. 65), RHP -- Gwinnett (Triple-A) 2. Hurston Waldrep (MLB No. 86), RHP -- Mississippi (Double-A) 3. Spencer Schwellenbach, RHP -- Rome (High-A) 4. JR Ritchie, RHP
These are Braves to keep an eye on down on farm
ATLANTA -- An incredibly fruitful farm system has given the Braves a chance to thrive throughout this decade with the likes of Ronald Acuña Jr., Austin Riley, Ozzie Albies, Michael Harris II and Spencer Strider. Each of these homegrown products have helped the Braves construct what has been one of
Young Braves speedster Drake shows off in Spring Breakout
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Spencer Strider, Michael Harris II and AJ Smith-Shawver each recently experienced a meteoric rise to Atlanta. So as many of the Braves prospects participated in Spring Breakout on Saturday at JetBlue Park, there was reason to wonder which of these future stars might be the next
Tweaked changeup boosts No. 1 prospect’s equity
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Spring Breakout to introduce Braves fans to Schwellenbach
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- Spencer Schwellenbach’s collegiate experience as a pitcher consisted of spending one season as the University of Nebraska’s closer. But it took him just one professional season to make the Braves feel even better about selecting him in the second round of the 2021 MLB Draft. Many
'You never have enough pitching': Smith-Shawver, Waldrep blossoming
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- The Braves' formidable lineup should be set for the next several years. They have deals with Ozzie Albies, Ronald Acuña Jr., Michael Harris II, Sean Murphy, Matt Olson and Austin Riley that extend at least through 2027, including club options. All of them except Harris were
This Braves prospect went from overlooked to must-see
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Smith-Shawver's goal for '24: 'Keep getting better'
TAMPA -- For a prospect, it might be hard to imagine a better year than AJ Smith-Shawver had in 2023, which he began with High-A Rome and finished in the National League Division Series as a 20-year-old. But this spring, Smith-Shawver said his main goal is to “keep getting better”
Here's the Braves' Spring Breakout roster
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- Nacho Alvarez Jr. and Drake Baldwin have made strong impressions as they have both experienced their first big league camp this year. Their talents will be spotlighted when they team up with other Braves prospects to play against a team of Red Sox prospects during MLB's
Jose Perdomo highlights
Mario Baez highlights
Blake Burkhalter highlights
'Holy cow, he's growing up': Smith-Shawver dazzles again
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- AJ Smith-Shawver entered last season looking to earn a promotion to the Double-A level. The heralded prospect catapulted himself to the Majors by the end of May. Smith-Shawver might not begin the upcoming season as part of Atlanta’s rotation. But as he completed a scoreless effort
Here are the Braves’ 2024 Top 30 prospects
They say you can never have enough pitching. The Braves are trying to make sure they do. The top five in their new Top 30 are all right-handed pitchers. Ten of the top 15, with just one lefty, make their living on the mound. And unlike last year, when they
Smith-Shawver brings 99 mph spring heat vs. Phillies
CLEARWATER, Fla. -- AJ Smith-Shawver is looking to build on his fast track from High-A to the Majors last season. And despite allowing home runs to J.T. Realmuto and Alec Bohm during his first start in Atlanta's 7-7 tie with Philadelphia on Wednesday afternoon at BayCare Ballpark, that’s still the
Youthful gamble paying off for Smith-Shawver
This story was excerpted from Mark Bowman's Braves Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
Top 100 prospect Waldrep hyped for Spring Breakout
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- Hurston Waldrep's first Spring Training experience will include the opportunity to represent the Braves in their Spring Breakout game. “It’s pretty cool,” Waldrep said. “You get to face guys you played in college or saw in college. To hear your name in the same sentence as
$5 million Braves prospect draws Miggy comp
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Braves to land No. 3 international prospect
The Braves are adding one of the purest hitters in this year’s international market to their organization. Atlanta agreed to terms with shortstop Jose Perdomo, MLB.com’s No. 3 international prospect, for $5 million as the 2024 signing period opened on Monday. The Braves, who have a $5.284 million signing pool,