Minor League Preview - June 26

Here's a look at today's minor league system in the Braves' organization.

RICHMOND

The Braves start an eight-game road trip today in Louisville against the Bats. Right-hander Blaine Boyer (0-0, 5.40) gets his fourth start of the season for Richmond. He’ll face righty Tom Shearn (3-5, 4.54).

Richmond is glad to get on the road. The Braves just lost three of four to second place Durham at the Diamond in Richmond. They are 25-14 on the road and just 18-18 at home. Overall the Braves are now 43-32 and its lead in the International League South Division has dropped to 4.5 games over the Bulls.


MISSISSIPPI

It’s game three of the series against Montgomery tonight at Trustmark Park in Pearl. The Braves will send right-hander Charlie Morton (4-3, 3.54) to the mound against Biscuits right-hander Wade Davis (0-0, 1.42). Davis is yet another solid prospect for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. He was rated as their seventh best prospect by Baseball America before the season.

The Braves are 4-4 in the second half of the season, three games back of the Jacksonville Suns in the Southern League’s South Division.


MYRTLE BEACH

After scoring 15 runs on 24 hits last night, the Pelicans wrap up the series with the Hillcats in Lynchburg tonight starting at 7:05. Sergio Valenzuela (0-0, 4.50) goes for Myrtle Beach against Clayton Hamilton (2-5, 6.04). Chris Vines (0-1, 12.96) will also get some innings for the Pelicans.

The Pelicans are in first place with a 3-2 record so far in the second half of the season, a half game up on Kinston in the Carolina League’s Southern Division.


ROME

The Braves start a quick two-game series in Columbus tonight at Golden Park. Right-hander Tommy Hanson will get the start for Rome. It’ll be the first start since Hanson went on the disabled list with back spasms. He last pitched against the Catfish on June 11th (1 ER in 3.2 IP before leaving with the injury). The last time Hanson pitched in Columbus was on June 5th and he had a no-hitter for 6.1 innings pitched. Hanson is now second in the league in strikeouts with 84, two behind the league leader Heath Rollins of the Catfish.

Rome has lost two in a row and is now 1-3 in the second half of the season, 2.5 games back of Augusta in the Sally League’s Southern Division.


DANVILLE

The Braves go for their third win in a row tonight at Johnson City starting at 7:00. Cole Rohrbough should get some innings for the Braves. Danville is now 3-2 on the young season, two games back of Bluefield in the Appy League’s East Division.


GCL BRAVES

The GCL Braves are in Lakeland today to take on the GCL Tigers at 12:00 noon. The Braves are 1-5 on the season, 4.5 games out of first place.



Bill Shanks is the author of Scout's Honor: The Bravest Way To Build A Winning Team, a look inside the Braves‘ traditional scouting and player development philosophies. He can be heard on 680 the Fan in Atlanta and 105.5 the Fan in Macon. Email Bill at .