“I wasted time, and now doth time waste me;
For now hath time made me his numbering clock:
My thoughts are minutes; and with sighs they jar
Their watches on unto mine eyes, the outward watch,
Whereto my finger, like a dial’s point,
Is pointing still, in cleansing them from tears.
Now sir, the sound that tells what hour it is
Are clamorous groans, which strike upon my heart,
Which is the bell: so sighs and tears and groans
Show minutes, times, and hours.”

Richard II Act 5 Scene 5

And so the minor league season, like its brother, comes to an end (the last game for our teams were played Sunday).

So, how did we do?

Overall the teams finished at exactly .500, although none of our full season affiliates made the playoffs. This marks the first time since 2017 that we didn’t have an overall losing record. Our system has long been structured to produce stars, not everyday guys and that still shows.

On the development front we had a great season at the A-ball level and those guys will percolate upwards next year. At the upper levels we continue to produce pitchers with potential (Ritchie and Murphy being the current exemplars) and have little to no hitting. Despite this, there are several players poised to get to Atlanta next season and I thought I should highlight them.

Hitters? In this Place?

Several guys may make the show and could even turn into key pieces. The team desperately needs 3 positional upgrades next year: 2nd, short and left, as well as upgrades at reserve outfield and utility. Guys who may be in our plans:

Patrick Clohisy is a very fast man who had the best month of his life in August when he hit well over .400 at Gwinnett while tying his career homers total during the month. In reality, he is a great 5th outfielder who gives you plus defense, double plus speed and plus on-base ability. He is going to spend a decade in the majors so we might as well use him!

We saw a lot (too much??) of Jim Jarvis already but he is an ideal utility guy. I never want to see him as the starter at short again, but as a fill in or even as a regular at 2nd he is fine and cheap for 3 more years.

Sadly, that exhausts our AAA hitter depth…

At AA we have 3 guys who will likely get chances next year.

Alex Lodise is a guy I was down on but the organization loves. I’m beginning to understand why. What started as a guy who couldn’t make contact at A- (really, a 38% strikeout rate in April/May) turned into a balanced hitter with power. Over a 6 week stretch from July to the end of August he only k’ed at a 16% rate while slugging close to .600. Scouts tell me the Braves grade his defense as elite as well. He has a great attitude and work ethic and could be starting in Atlanta as soon as next summer. He still has holes in his swing up and low outside but who doesn’t?

John Gil moved to 2nd to accommodate Lodise. He needs at least half a season more in the minors mainly to work on the D as he has possibly the worst turn on the deuce that I have ever seen. With Ozzie both injury prone and declining I can see a 2nd half role for him on the team.

Then there is the mystery man, Jordan Groshans. He is already 26 and had a career high of 9 homers coming into 2026. Still, he was once the #12 overall pick in the draft and put up a 932 OPS with 30 homers while playing excellent defense at 3rd. While there is no apparent place to play him, if Riley starts 2027 cold…

What, More Pitchers?

I also want to highlight some guys who could show up on the mound.

Herrick Hernandez is a lefty with filthy stuff who is just one command adjustment from being lights out in the bullpen. A lefty, Hernandez strikes out almost 11/9 but also walks 5. Cut that to under 4 and you have a gem.

Cedric De Grandpre is a cold weather arm that then needed TJ surgery so is only getting a shot at 25. He has a mid rotation upside.

Dru Hackenburg was our 2nd round pick 3 years ago and has a motley record but the scouts are universal in their praise. He has the occasional 12k/0 walk performance that makes me want to believe too. I’m guessing long relief.