Braves Release 30 Minor Leaguers (Context, Analysis)
The Braves joined a large group of major league organizations that released minor leaguers over the past week. The initial total was 30.
Baseball America’s JJ Cooper reported the list of 30. He added the context that the Braves did not release any minor leaguers since March, so the typical period of time when a group release occurs around spring training was passed over. The 30 is a normal number for that late-spring period.
However, it should be noted that some teams released far more than a typical number for that period. Also, this is an initial list and doesn’t mean it will be the end of minor league releases. We should have a clearer picture when everything is sorted out at the major league level between June and July.
Thirdly, it’s interesting to consider whether some of these players would not have been in the organization in a few months anyway, thus saving the team a drop in the bucket compared to what it means to the players during this time. I won’t speculate on this, but it’s a real question for a lot of orgs in baseball right now.
From strictly a player evaluation standpoint, the theme with this list is non-prospects. None of the 30 is on my pref list as a prospect in the system. Are there some tools in here? Yes. But I didn’t see any of them reaching the majors.
RHP Shairon Bennett - Big-framed 18-year-old international signing who never played stateside and only logged two pro appearances.
LHP Nestor Bermudez - 18-year-old Venezuelan signing with four pro innings in the Dominican Summer League.
RHP Walter Borkovich - Undrafted free agent spent three years in the system. Big frame and good numbers. Reached Triple-A Gwinnett. But lacked the stuff to go higher.
C Denzel Bryson - Signed out of Aruba and debuted stateside in the Gulf Coast League but only had four hits in 27 games at 18 years old.
RHP Alex Camacho - One of the more interesting names on the list. Huge frame that you dream on but was low-90s and didn’t get a lot of innings in 2019. Already soon to be 24. Would get another opportunity in normal circumstances but we’ll see.
LHP Carlos Caminero - Dominican lefty with length and some stuff but control was an issue. Did enough to make it stateside in 2019 but is already 22.
SS Nelson Celesten - Smaller utility type who signed at a later age and didn’t hit in his only season in the DSL.
C Brandon Chapman - Undrafted system depth. Got a couple years in short-season ball.
1B Braxton Davidson - Undoubtedly the name everyone notices. Former first-rounder who’s always had lots of power projection and is a good athlete for a corner. Good lefty swing. Swing-and-miss greatly hindered his value. Extremely passive eye and fell behind in counts. Just wasn’t getting anywhere in Florida. Turns 24 in June and would probably get another opportunity in normal circumstances. He could at least play independent ball.
RHP Luis De Jesus - Has stuff and did enough to make it to Danville but just couldn’t find the zone. Extreme walk totals.
RHP Carlos De La Cruz - Signed at an older age and performed well enough to make it stateside but lacked swing-and-miss stuff.
OF Randi De La Cruz - Another 18-year-old who didn’t perform in the DSL after a couple chances.
RHP Luis Diaz - Spent a couple years in the DSL with decent numbers but high walk totals. Already 20.
RHP Caleb Dirks - Former 15th-round pick who gave the Braves five good years in the minors as a reliever, including all of 2017 at Gwinnett. Remained system depth and never got a 40-man call. He’ll soon turn 27.
LHP Jose Manuel Fernandez - Signed with the Braves in January on a minor league deal and was to be system depth at Mississippi. Never pitched for the system.
1B Ray Hernandez - Former 29th-round senior sign. Big first baseman with pop but struggled to hit at Danville at 22 years old.
RHP Greg Leban - 31st-round pick just last June and only threw 22 pro innings. Quick hook but he’s already 24.
LHP Ramon Linares - Don’t know the reason behind this one. 18-year-old lefty threw well in his limited DSL stint. Let go after that one assignment.
3B Yerangel Medina - Big corner slugger didn’t perform in a couple DSL stints.
RHP Jose Olague - Spent all of 2019 in Rome’s rotation and threw a starter’s workload. Average size and fringy stuff. Lacks a swing-and-miss pitch but fills the zone exceptionally well. Only 21.
C Hagen Owenby - Former 12th-rounder filled in behind the plate but was best at first base. Some raw power but plate discipline held it back. Reached as high as Florida. Turns 25 in July.
OF Joel Reyes - Strong kid with athleticism but didn’t perform in several chances.
LHP Orelvis Rijo - Projectable lefty performed decently in his limited DSL sample but was let go anyway.
3B Jordan Rodgers - Sixth-rounder out of Tennessee. Initially followed him out of the draft for his hit and defensive versatility. Showed glimpses but couldn’t maintain it at Florida. Already 25.
C Randy Ruiz - Smaller catcher with fringe tools. Showed an eye at the plate. Quick hook after one DSL stint.
RHP Ryan Shetter - Ninth-rounder out of Texas Tech in 2018 performed well at Rome last year. Solid size but fringe stuff. Was on the path to system depth.
C Zack Soria - 18th-rounder in 2017. System depth as a catcher.
RHP Leonardo Vargas - Average-sized righty performed well in a couple brief DSL assignments and is only 19 but got the hook anyway.
1B Brendan Venter - 18th-rounder in 2018 out of Auburn. Drafted for his solid raw power. Lumbered a bit in the field and his hit tool held back the pop, but he could hit the ball a long way. Seems like a decent indy ball pick.
OF Christian Zamora - Drew some attention for his size and power projection after signing out of Cuba. Never hit nearly enough in a couple stateside assignments. Very raw eye and hit tool. Still only 18 and could get another opportunity.