Weekly Preview (May 11-16): Rome Boasts Fun Roster, Carter Starts Strong, De La Cruz Recalled

It’s easy to look up prospect rankings and see which minor league affiliates have more talented rosters than others.

But if you follow the minor leagues closely and regularly attend games, you also know that some teams are simply more fun to watch than others. A lot of this is random chance, such as getting a group of college mashers on the same squad or raw, toolsy kids grouped together. Some mesh well, have fun and are aggressive in their style of play. Some can go through the motions and struggle their way through a season. I’ve seen it all.

Rome is shaping up into one of those teams that is simply fun to watch. While focusing on them for the first week of the season, I found myself sitting back and enjoying their style of play. They slash the ball around the field, are aggressive on the basepaths and really congratulate one another.

The appeal starts with Michael Harris, who has generated more buzz than any Braves prospect in a while. He’s a good dude who works hard, keeps his head down and seems to get better every day. He can hit to all fields with impact, works the zone and can fill the gaps, while he covers center field well and has a cannon arm.

Bryce Ball excites in a different way by mashing the ball from a huge, powerful frame, but he also works the count and covers the zone very well for his size and profile. Jesse Franklin is a great athlete who can hit the occasional long homer but also runs well and makes exciting plays in the corner outfield. Logan Brown is a reliable catcher and performer at the plate who has major league spring training experience.

The product is even more impressive when guys like Jared Shuster, Bryce Elder, Ricky DeVito, Kasey Kalich and Indigo Diaz are on the mound.

But the appeal goes beyond the higher-ranked prospects on the team. Andrew Mortiz, Cody Milligan, Shean Michel, Jose Bermudez and Kevin Josephina are all exciting players to watch, guys who can slash it around the field and run well. If you watch a Rome game, you’re likely to see guys flying first to third, stealing bases and covering the outfield at a high level. They show emotion after sliding into third base or congratulating a teammate crossing home.

Through Saturday, Rome was tied for second in High-A East with nine stolen bases and had yet to get caught. It’s also not surprising that the Braves only had two home runs through their first five games but were tied for third with nine doubles. They are just as good at hitting the gaps as they are at covering them defensively.

Harris and Ball could move up a level at some point if they perform, but many of these players should remain with Rome for the majority of the season. I recommend this team as one to watch to simply see an exciting product.

Schedule

Triple-A Gwinnett
May 11-16: vs. Louisville (Reds)
May 11-14 at 7:05 p.m., May 15 at 6:05, May 16 at 1:05

Double-A Mississippi
May 11-16: at Biloxi (Brewers)
All games at 7:35 p.m. EDT except May 16 at 2:05

High-A Rome
May 11-16: at Greensboro (Pirates)
May 11 & 13-15 at 6:30 p.m., May 12 at noon, May 16 at 2

Low-A Augusta
May 11-16: at Myrtle Beach (Cubs)
May 11-14 at 7:05 p.m., May 15-16 at 6:05

Prospects to Watch This Week

Triple-A Gwinnett
If the rotation holds, Tucker Davidson will make his second start Thursday. He kicked off his 2021 season in dominating fashion last week at Charlotte, tossing seven innings of one-run ball on three hits and two walks with six strikeouts. It’s a strong boost of confidence for the 25-year-old after a rough major league debut near the end of the 2020 season.

Double-A Mississippi
Mississippi has had impressive individual performances so far. Victor Vodnik accepted his initial Double-A challenge by throwing four scoreless innings with five strikeouts Saturday. He currently lines up to throw again Saturday at Biloxi. Shea Langeliers also accepted his assignment challenge the same night by hitting two homers and notched three extra-base hits between Friday and Saturday. Let’s see if he can keep it going.

High-A Rome
Cody Milligan has been on fire through the first week, sparked by three-hit games in each of his first two nights of the season. He totaled seven hits, three walks, five RBIs and two stolen bases in his first five games. The 2019 ninth-rounder is a slashing left-handed hitter who goes for the gaps and uses his legs. He plays a mostly steady defense at second base.

Low-A Augusta
I gave Willie Carter a note in the outfield section of the backfields preview series, and I’m glad I did. Carter entered Sunday with five hits in his first three games, including two doubles, a home run, three walks and five RBIs. He’s already 24, so he’s likely to perform in Low-A and needs to move up soon, but this isn’t just an age thing. Carter has some of the best bat speed in the system, produced by hands and wrists that are amazingly strong and quick. He hits massive home runs with a short, compact stroke. The overall profile feels similar to Trey Harris, and Carter is a 34th-round pick, which would be another outstanding find by the scouting department.

Transactions

5/8: Jasseel De La Cruz recalled to Atlanta.
De La Cruz got his first call last year but didn’t appear in a game. He’s likely to make his debut in the bullpen this time, with the Braves sorely needing relief options. De La Cruz already possesses perhaps the best stuff in the Braves bullpen, pumping fastballs up to 99 with hard, boring action, and pairing with a sharp, biting slider. The arm action is long and violent, and he faces bouts of wildness, but De La Cruz has real late-innings potential and deserves a chance now.

5/8: Victor Arano recalled to Atlanta
5/8: Sean Kazmar Jr. optioned to Triple-A
5/7: Edgar Santana optioned to Triple-A
5/7: Carl Edwards Jr.’s contract selected by Atlanta
5/6: Trevor Kelley placed on temporarily inactive list at Triple-A
5/6: Ender Inciarte rehab assignment at Triple-A
5/5: Sean Newcomb optioned to Triple-A
5/5: Chris Martin rehab assignment at Triple-A