Minor League Preview - April 8

Here's today's look around the Braves' minor league farm system.

RICHMOND

The Braves play game two of the series with Buffalo tonight at the Diamond in Richmond. Left-hander Jo Jo Reyes is back in Triple-A and will make his first start of the season. Matt Ginter will pitch for Buffalo. First pitch is 7:00 pm. The Braves are 2-2 so far this season. Through the first week of the season Barbaro Canizares remains the Braves’ hottest hitter with a .471 average and 6 RBI. The Braves have only one home run so far this season, by shortstop Brent Lillibridge.


MISSISSIPPI

The Braves are off today after being swept by the Huntsville Stars in the first series of the season. They’ll open up the home schedule Wednesday night at Trustmark Park with the Mobile BayBears coming to Pearl to start a five-game series. Lefty Dan Smith will be on the mound for the Braves, who are 0-5 on the season. Mississippi is hitting only .186 as a team through the first five games.


MYRTLE BEACH

The Pelicans got a game-winning hit from center fielder Gorkys Hernandez Monday night to beat the Wilmington Blue Rocks 5-4. Chris Vines pitched well in relief of Ryne Reynoso, allowing only one hit in five innings with five strikeouts in 3.2 innings. Now the Pelicans (3-1) move on to Potomac to play the Nationals. Game time is 7:05. Gonzalo Lopez is scheduled to make his first start of the year for the Pelicans.


ROME

Cody Johnson and Jason Heyward showed why they are two of the top two prospects in the game Monday night. Both had two-run home runs to help the Braves beat the Columbus Catfish 8-6 at State Mutual Stadium. Heyward is hitting .412 so far this season, while Johnson now has two home runs on the year. The Braves are now 2-3 on the season and send lefty Jeff Locke to the hill tonight for his second start of the season.



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 .