At the start of the season I decided to make a concerted effort to follow our A+ farm team, the Rome Emperors as it not only looked like the most prospect-laden of our minor league affiliates but also would regularly visit 4 parks – Asheville, Greenville, Hickory and Spartanburg – within good to decent driving distance. I made it to 17 games (plus 3 at Augusta, 2 at Columbus and 1 in Gwinnett). The season ended last Sunday.

Team overview: 

The hitting prospects looked considerably ahead of the pitchers to open the year. After the draft and 2nd half promotions the opposite was the case. As an always unbalanced team, they never got on any runs and ended a little under 500 (the worst record of our full-season teams, sigh). They did win 14 of the 17 I attended, so it might be my fault ?

Team and league trends were interesting this year. Power, particularly homeruns, were way up this season. Both Asheville and Greensboro made what seemed like slight ballpark modifications but each became a better hitters park, or in Asheville’s case, a hitters paradise. This means we are not entirely certain of some of the offensive breakouts but we can still evaluate based on what happens between the lines and that looked pretty special in some cases.

The other big change is that the Braves as an organization decided to take advantage of the changes to the basepaths and pitcher disengagements instituted at A+ 3 seasons ago but largely ignored in our farm until now. Several guys were given complete freedom to run this year and they took advantage. 

The Players:

I’m listing them in the order they appeared in our offseason prospect list. Not all of them were here at the same time ?

#2: Cam Caminiti, P.

Cam didn’t appear as dominant until just before promotion to AA largely because he was focusing on improving 2 pitches rather than focusing on results. The results were good anyway with a 93k’s in 83 innings but more hits and walks than he will have going forward. 

#7: Tate Southesene, IF

Tate started the season at Augusta and finished up in Columbus but had a nice run at Rome in between, putting up an 807 OPS (123 OPS+). He mainly played 2nd and looked good there.

#8; Briggs MacKenzie, P

MacKenzie started in extended ST and only got 9 innings here before the elbow injury but looked good. I didn’t get to see him in person, dammit.

#10” Luke Sinnard, P 

Went 36/11 on k/bb and looked better than this league for his 8 starts. He will likely go to the AFL again and might just crack Atlanta in 2027 assuming we have a season.

#12: John Gil, SS

Set a new high in homers with 12 while playing well at short and third. He has done even better at AA but we will discuss that in the offseason.

#13: Alex Lodise, SS

Initially, my scepticism was warranted as he had prodigious strikeout numbers down in Augusta but performed much better after promotion to Rome and later Columbus. He has intriguing power and plays much better defense at short than I had thought. It would not shock me to see him given a real chance next spring to win the job in Atlanta.

#15: Owen Carey, RF

He missed almost half the season with injury but mashed when available. If we don’t lock up Ronnie in a couple of years this is likely the guy and he will be a good one.

#16: Eric Hartman, OF

Breakout player of the year even if the power is a little suspect. Having his troubles in AA but he just turned 20 so that is expected.

#17: Cody Miller, 3B

Stinker of the year. Whiffed at a 40% clip and earned a demotion back to A-, where, to his credit, he is working with the coaches and doing much better. A wasted year. has real power if he can make contact.

#18: Dixon Williams, UT

Had a great run early in the season, disappeared for a month, and came back strong. Being groomed as a super sub with 70-grade speed and more pop than you would think (22 taters at Rome).

#19: Jeremy Reyes, P

Stinker of the pitching staff. 6.34 ERA and is back at Augusta.

#21: Conner Essenburg, OF

Breakout player version 2. After demolishing low A he came up to Rome and put up a 32/28 k/bb with good power. That’s a 22% walk rate. Me likey. Also played a good centerfield which was unexpected.

#22: Isaiah Drake, OF

While the surface numbers were good, a look at the details is jarring as 8 of his career-high 12 homers came in 2 series in hitters paradise. Still on track to be a good 5th outfielder.

#23: Cedric De Grandpre, P

Managed a 12.8 k/9 strikeout rate while getting rid of the rust from 2024s Tommy John. looks like a 3-4 in the show soon.

#24: Landon Beidelschies, P

Stinker pitcher #2, at least he has improved as the season wore on. 

#28: Luis Guanipa, OF

Sloughed off 2 seasons of injury misery to show off the tools that got him the big bonus. Still needs work on pitch recognition but the rest of his game is fantastic.

#34; Ethan Bagwell, P

Made progress towards becoming a third starter for a good team. Needs to find 2 mph to really take off.

Down in Atlanta, some new kid at short had a big day by hitting 2 seeing-eye singles and getting a couple of RBIs for his trouble. On the mound the good Perez was magnificent if a bit lucky on the hard hit balls. Win baby!