Braves prospects show promise in Spring Breakout
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- As Terry Pendleton prepared to serve as the manager of the Braves prospect team that played the Tigers prospect team in a Spring Breakout game on Sunday afternoon, he said fans should be patient with John Gil and Luis Guanipa, a pair of teenagers who have
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- As Terry Pendleton prepared to serve as the manager of the Braves prospect team that played the Tigers prospect team in a Spring Breakout game on Sunday afternoon, he said fans should be patient with John Gil and Luis Guanipa, a pair of teenagers who have experienced just one full season at the professional level.
“Both of them are young puppies, but you will continue to see them progress,” Pendleton said. “If they continue to grow the way they have, I think you will see them in the big leagues.”
Gil, who ranks as the Braves' No. 14 prospect, and Guanipa, who ranks No. 15 on the same list, were the two highest ranked Braves position player prospects to participate in this year’s event. Both should begin this season where they ended last season, with Single-A Augusta.
Both prospects produced a near .800 OPS in the Florida Complex League before receiving a promotion. With the elimination of short-season Rookie-level teams, they made the jump to the Single-A ranks and struggled. Guanipa had a .450 OPS in 32 games and Gil had a .552 OPS over 39 games.
This was a humbling experience for Guanipa, who received a $2.5 million signing bonus. Gil has successfully played the underdog role since receiving a far more meager $110,000 signing bonus.
“We knew what we were sending there,” Pendleton said. “We knew it was going to be kids that weren't going to get crushed by this. Some kids lose confidence and they're done. You have to be real sensitive with certain kids. You can't send them there knowing that if they fail or don't succeed, they're done. These two kids will fight you, too, until they’ve got nothing left, you know? We knew they would bounce back if they had success or didn't have success.”
Gil started at shortstop on Sunday and went 1-for-3 with an infield single. He exited under his own power after seemingly pulling a left leg muscle while attempting to beat out a grounder in the sixth. Guanipa batted ninth and went 0-for-2 with a strikeout while playing center field.
Three of Sunday’s pitchers ranked among the Braves’ Top 12 prospects. Here is a look at how they did:
RHP JR Ritchie (Braves No. 8 prospect): The 21-year-old right-hander’s parents were among the friends and family members who flew from the Seattle area to see him start this game. They were treated to seeing him work a perfect first inning against three players from MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 Prospects list -- Max Clark (No. 6), Kevin McGonigle (No. 28) and Thayron Liranzo (No. 81).
📩 SUBSCRIBE TO THE BASEBALL TRAVELER NEWSLETTER
Ritchie ended the first inning by striking out Liranzo with a 97 mph fastball. The young hurler, who was taken with the 35th overall selection in the 2022 MLB Draft, allowed two runs, surrendered five hits and recorded a pair of strikeouts in three innings of work. He missed most of the 2023 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery.
“It was a great experience all around,” Ritchie said. “I loved it and I felt great. It was everything I thought it would be.”
RHP Garrett Baumann (Braves No. 9 prospect): The 6-foot-8 pitcher towers over Isaiah Drake, his 6-foot roommate last year. Drake playfully got under Baumann’s skin in the dugout last year. The tall pitcher responded with an impressive performance over the remainder of that outing.
“He wasn’t happy about what [Drake] did, so I asked him a question,” Pendleton said. “'Why don’t you take that to the mound with you?' You could tell what he has to offer. At times, it seemed like he wasn’t sure of himself. I said, ‘Hey we need to see that bulldog on the mound.'”
Baumann’s inexperience and nerves were on display as he walked five of the 10 hitters he faced on Sunday. He flashed his potential with a 98 mph fastball that he will try to harness as he likely begins the upcoming season with High-A Rome.
RHP Didier Fuentes (Braves No. 12 prospect): The 19-year-old hurler was added to Atlanta’s roster Sunday and he took advantage of the chance to shine. He flashed an upper 90s fastball while recording three strikeouts in a scoreless seventh and added two more strikeouts in a scoreless eighth. He finished his outing with two strikeouts in a scoreless ninth, finishing his day with a game-high 7 K's.
Supervising Club Reporter Mark Bowman has covered the Braves for MLB.com since 2001.
PaddleHeads Retain Schlact as Manager in 6 Year Contract Extension
Missoula, MT. – The Missoula PaddleHeads Professional Baseball Club took on a new challenge during the 2021 season its first season as an independent franchise. It could not have been a more successful first season taking on the new format as the PaddleHeads would take home the 2021 Pioneer League
PaddleHeads Senior Director Named 2021 Executive of the Year
Missoula, MT.- The Missoula PaddleHeads Professional Baseball Club has been acknowledged in a multitude of separate ways for their success on the field in 2021. After claiming the Pioneer League Championship in September, four PaddleHeads players were acknowledged as league All-Stars, and first year skipper Michael Schlact was named the
PaddleHeads Players & Coaches Receive Postseason Awards in Pioneer League
Missoula, MT.- The Missoula PaddleHeads Professional Baseball Club was dominant in all facets of the game during the 2021 Pioneer League Season on their way to the franchise’s first league crown in six years. Proof of that was not hard to find as Missoula lead the league in numerous offensive,
Missoula Begins 2022 Title Defense on May 25 Against Billings
Missoula, MT.- The Missoula PaddleHeads Professional Baseball Club is still basking in the glow of their 2021 Pioneer League Championship, but that does not mean it is not time to start getting excited for Missoula’s title defense in the summer of 2022. To add to that excitement, the Pioneer League
Ellis & Klages-Johns Promoted to New Positions in PaddleHeads Front Office
Missoula, MT.- The Missoula PaddleHeads Professional Baseball Club may have just clinched a 2021 Pioneer League Championship, but that does not mean they are not already hard at work in preparation for their title defense in 2022. The players on the field were able to accomplish many noteworthy things in
PaddleHeads Pummel Hawks to Claim 2021 Pioneer League Championship
Boise, ID.- The Missoula PaddleHeads left nothing to doubt in the deciding game of the Pioneer League Championship Series on Wednesday evening opposite the Boise Hawks running away with a 14-1 victory. It truly was a fitting ending to what was a special season of baseball in the Garden City
Boise Scores 4 in Eighth to Edge Missoula 5-4
Boise, ID.- Game 2 of the Pioneer League Championship Series came down to the wire on Wednesday night as the Boise Hawks fought to keep their season alive opposite the Missoula PaddleHeads. Missoula would lead for the game’s first 7 innings and would see their lead grow to 3 going
Missoula One Win Away from League Title After 8-2 Win Over Boise
Missoula, MT.- The Missoula PaddleHeads took on the Boise Hawks in game 1 of the Pioneer League Championship Series on Monday night from the Garden City. The night began with both teams lined up on both baselines with the league championship trophy on display. This set the tone for the
Missoula Cruises by Idaho Falls Earning Spot in League Championship Series
Missoula, MT.- The Missoula PaddleHeads squared off with the Idaho Falls Chukars on Saturday evening in a one game playoff from the Garden City. Both teams knew what was on the line going in. A win would clinch a league championship berth, a loss would be the end of the
Missoula Sends Fans Home Happy with Walk-Off Win in Season Finale Friday
Missoula, MT.- The Missoula PaddleHeads put a bow on the regular season on Friday night in the series finale opposite the Billings Mustangs. Despite knowing what was looming in the one game playoff Saturday, Missoula would come out strong in the early innings to jump out to a lead. The
PaddleHeads Eliminate Mustangs from Playoff Contention with Win
Missoula, MT.- The Billings Mustangs had the lead in the early going in game 2 of a 3-game set opposite the Missoula PaddleHeads in the Garden City. The Mustangs were in a must-win situation needing 2 wins in their final two games opposite the PaddleHeads to clinch a playoff berth.
PaddleHeads Hold Off Mustangs in Knock Out Victory Wednesday
Missoula, MT.- The final regular season series of 2021 began Wednesday with the Missoula PaddleHeads squaring off with the Billings Mustangs. The objective for Billings going into the series was simple. The Mustangs need to win a pair of games to clinch the second half pennant in the Northern Division.
Nevarez Goes Deep to Highlight 4 RBI Afternoon in Win Monday
Great Falls, MT.- The Great Falls Voyagers would jump on the board first in the opening inning of action Monday in the rubber match of a 3-game set at Centene Stadium opposite the Missoula PaddleHeads. The Voyagers were looking to end their home slate on a high note to win
O’Conner Tallies 3 Hits in 8-5 Victory Over Great Falls Sunday
Great Falls, MT.- The Missoula PaddleHeads found themselves in another tightly contested game late opposite the Great Falls Voyagers on Sunday. The score was deadlocked at 5 after the Voyagers tied the game with a rally in the seventh. The PaddleHeads attack would come alive however in the next frame
Great Falls Score 3 in Eighth to Sneak Past Missoula
Great Falls, MT.- A tightly contested affair between the Missoula PaddleHeads, and Great Falls Voyagers came down to the wire. Both teams led at one point with the largest lead being only 3. Trailing by that margin in the top of the ninth, the PaddleHeads would load the bases bringing
Missoula Completes Sweep Over Great Falls in 8-5 Victory Friday
Missoula, MT.- The Missoula PaddleHeads took the field on Friday night in search of a 3-game sweep of the Great Falls Voyagers at Allegiance Field at Ogren Park. Thanks to timely hitting, and more solid pitching, Missoula would begin a holiday weekend on the right foot by a final tally
PaddleHeads add Fireworks Extravaganza to Season Finale
As the 2021 Pioneer League season inches towards its conclusion, baseball fans in the Garden City have yet another reason to celebrate as the PaddleHeads have announced the regular season finale on September 10, will include a post-game Fireworks Extravaganza! The addition of the September 10 fireworks display adds two
Missoula Scores 7 in Seventh to Highlight 12-9 Victory Over Great Falls Thursday
Missoula, MT.- The Great Falls Voyagers would quickly draw first blood in the top of the first inning looking to erase the memories of a late inning loss the night before opposite the Missoula PaddleHeads in game 2 of the series Thursday. The Voyagers would get off to a solid
Missoula Erases Deficit in Ninth in Dramatic Victory Over Great Falls
Missoula, MT.- Game 1 of a 3-game set featuring the Missoula PaddleHeads, and Great Falls Voyagers would be a game highlighted by outstanding pitching throughout. The PaddleHeads would get off to a good start getting on the board in the first, however that would tell the story offensively for a
Missoula Offense Held in Check in Loss Monday to Ogden
Ogden, UT.- The Missoula PaddleHeads would be on the board first in the series finale opposite the Ogden Raptors on Monday night at Lindquist Field. It would be the fourth time the PaddleHeads drew first blood in the series as Missoula was in search of their sixth win in as
Only 6 Opportunities Left - Don't Miss These Promotions
As the 2021 Pioneer League season inches towards its conclusion, baseball fans in the Garden City have only 6 opportunities left to catch a PaddleHeads regular season game. Heading into the second to last homestand of 2021, the playoff bound PaddleHeads are set to square off with the Great Falls
Newman Homers Twice in PaddleHeads Victory Over Raptors
Ogden, UT.- The Missoula PaddleHeads were held in check for most of the day Sunday in game 5 opposite the Ogden Raptors. Domingo Pena was solid on the hill to continue the recent trend of solid starting pitching for Missoula but received little run support. After the Raptors tacked on
Gatewood Tallies 3 Hits in 6-2 Victory Over Raptors Saturday
Ogden, UT.- Early offense, and stellar starting pitching set the tone for the Missoula PaddleHeads in 3 straight wins opposite the Ogden Raptors over the first 3 games of action. Saturday’s contest would start a little differently as Missoula was held off the board for the first time in series
Missoula Attack Supports Stellar Outing from Wenzel in Victory
Ogden, UT.- The Missoula PaddleHeads would follow a similar script from the previous 2 games in game 3 of the series opposite the Ogden Raptors on Friday night. For the third consecutive evening, the PaddleHeads would bring runs across in the top of the first as RBI singles from Clay
Nevarez Drives in 3 to Highlight 7-2 Victory Over Ogden Thursday
Ogden, UT.- The Missoula PaddleHeads held the lead from the opening moments till the final out in a game 1 victory over the Ogden Raptors Wednesday. For the second consecutive night, Missoula would tack on a pair in the top half of the first and would never give up the