Braves Cut, G-Braves Add Former First Rounder
Cory Rasmus finished second in saves with the M-Braves in 2012. (Brian Byrd)
On Tuesday afternoon, following their Spring Training game with the St. Louis Cardinals, the Atlanta Braves made 10 cuts to their Spring Training roster. With the World Baseball Classic slowing and minor league camp breaking into exhibition games, the Braves cut their roster to 48.
There was one move that directly correlates with the Gwinnett Braves, pitcher Cory Rasmus was assigned to Triple-A Gwinnett. The former first round pick (36th overall) of the 2006 First-Year Player Amateur Draft out Phenix, AL, was the first player to be assigned to the G-Braves roster this season.
Rasmus, the younger brother of Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Colby Rasmus, has been with the Atlanta Braves organization for seven years. The once highly-touted prospect endured a season-ending injury in 2007, which has slowed his career. However, after struggling as a starting pitcher from 2009-2011, Rasmus was moved to the bullpen last season with Double-A Mississippi and had his best season yet.
In 50 games, he posted a 3-5 record with a 3.68 ERA and seven saves. His strikeout rate was promising, as he fanned 62 in 58.2 innings. He will look to continue his climb to the big leagues as formidable back end guy.
G-Braves Bites:
The Braves also cut the following players, right-handed pitchers Juan Jaime and Aaron Northcraft were optioned to Double-A Mississippi.
While, Pitchers Ryan Buchter (LH), Yohan Flande (LH) and Gus Schlosser (RH), catchers Luis De La Cruz, Braeden Schlehuber and Jose Yepez and infielder Joe Leonard were re-assigned to minor league camp.
Buchter, Flande and Yepez all spent time with the G-Braves in 2012.
With 21 days left before the season opener against the Charlotte Knights at 7:05 p.m. at Coolray Field on April 4, there will be more additions to the G-Braves roster in the next few weeks. For more information on all that is G-Braves baseball, check out the website at gwinnettbraves.com or follow us on twitter @gwinnettbraves.
-JD
2013 Spring Training – Weekly Update
Ernesto Mejia is 1-for-6 in four games in Grapefruit League.
Spring Training is underway and the Atlanta Braves have got off to a slow start, losing three of their first four games. With new faces around camp and early departures for the World Baseball Classic, the Braves are not worried about win-loss records, but concerned with building a continuity to prepare for an exciting summer of baseball.
With several regulars leaving for the WBC, it has allowed for former 2012 G-Braves to make an impact in Lake Buena Vista, FL. Twelve of 15 Braves that wore the G-Braves uniform in 2012 have seen the field this spring.
Joe Terdoslavich made a big splash, hitting a solo-homer on Feb.22 against the Detroit Tigers. His home run was the lone run for the Braves, as they were stymied by seven different pitchers in a 2-1 loss.
Tyler Pastornicky has flourished since Andrelton Simmons left to Taiwan to prepare for the WBC. In his last two games, Pastornicky has picked up two hits and an RBI.
The other three positions players, Ernesto Mejia, Jordan Parraz and Jose Yepez have one hit each through the first four games. Jose Constanza, who is having visa issues in the Dominican Republic, is yet to report to camp.
On the hill, the race for five went from luke-warm to steamy. Sean Gilmartin and Julio Teheran matched each other on Sunday afternoon with two scoreless frames. Both hurlers picked up two strikeouts and allowed one base runner each. Gilmartin gave up a single, while Teheran walked one.
If the race for five was not enough, the bullpen battles are starting to get hot. Cory Gearrin has tossed two scoreless frames, allowing one hit and recording two strikeouts, while Dusty Hughes hurled a perfect frame with one strikeout.
Lefties Ryan Buchter, Yohan Flande and Daniel Rodriguez have struggled through the first few days of camp. Buchter has allowed two runs on three hits in one inning. Flande has given up six runs on seven hits in two innings of baseball. Rodriguez’ control issues continue to give him trouble, walking three and giving up three runs in his lone appearance.
The players return to action today at 1:05 p.m. at Champion Stadium in Lake Buena Vista, FL against the Washington Nationals.
-JD
2013 Spring Training – Familiar Faces, New Places
Stefan Gartrell (left) slugs home run, while J.C. Boscan (right) takes the field.
With the off-season almost in the books, a new crop of G-Braves is forming at Atlanta Braves Spring Training in Lake Buena Vista, FL. We’ve already taken a look at some of the potential returnees from last year’s club as well as some of the new faces that could impact Atlanta or Gwinnett’s roster. For this post, we’ll check in with 2012 G-Braves who are no longer with the Braves organization.
Catcher J.C. Boscan signed a free agent contract with the Chicago Cubs this off-season. The longest tenured G-Brave spent four seasons with Gwinnett. In 210 games, the right-handed hitting backstop hit .210 with eight home runs and 54 RBI. He is fifth in Gwinnett Braves history in games and fourth in at bats (689) dating back to 2009.
While Boscan spent four years with Gwinnett, shortstop Josh Wilson’s tenure was short-lived, as the slick-fielding infielder wore the G-Braves uniform for one season. Wilson signed a free agent contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks in the off-season. He spent all of 2012 with the G-Braves after spending a part of the last four seasons in the big leagues. In 122 games with Gwinnett, Wilson hit .241 with five home runs and 43 RBI.
The outfield lost three notable players in Luis Durango, Stefan Gartrell and Felix Pie.
Durango signed a free agent contract with the Kansas City Royals. He played all of 2012 with Gwinnett, finishing the season fourth on the team in RBI (45), third in batting average (.289), second in triples (5) and first in stolen bases (46). Durango’s 46 stolen bases led the International League and are second all-time in Gwinnett Braves history.
Pie was another welcomed addition to the club last season, hitting .285 with six home runs and 51 RBI. He led the squad in triples (7) and was a perfect 16-for-16 in stolen bases. Pie signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Gartrell’s tenure with the G-Braves may be the most celebrated from a hitter’s standpoint. In two seasons, the outfielder has made his stamp in the Gwinnett record books. He is second all-time in doubles (50), RBI (146) and runs (134), while coming in third in hits (217), games (238) and at bats (849). His 45 home runs top the charts. Gartrell signed with the Chicago White Sox in the off-season and receive an invitation to Spring Training as a non-roster invitee. The White Sox originally drafted Gartrell in the 31st round of the 2006 draft, but shipped him to Atlanta in a 2011 trade.
On the mound, the G-Braves saw a few hurlers leave for free agency, while two others were involved in big trades this off-season.
Buddy Carlyle moved on to Canada, signing a free agent deal with the Toronto Blue Jays. The right-handed pitcher made his mark with the G-Braves in 2009, posting a 3-1 record with a 1.76 ERA. Last season, he went 5-4 with a 3.43 ERA and 73 strikeouts in 76 innings.
Jair Jurrjens moved on and signed a contract with the Baltimore Orioles. Jurrjens made 17 career starts for the G-Braves from 2010-2012. In 17 games, he went 6-7 with a 4.93 ERA while striking 51 batters in 91.1 innings.
Jair Jurrjens went 4-6 with 4.98 ERA in 14 starts for the G-Braves in 2012.
Tommy Hanson made one rehab start for the G-Braves last season and was the opening day starter for the G-Braves’ inaugural season in 2009. The right-hander was shipped off to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in exchange for reliever Jordan Walden. Hanson was always outstanding with Gwinnett, recording a 4-3 record with a 1.39 ERA and 95 strikeouts in 71.1 innings of work.
Finally, Randall Delgado was a part of one of the blockbuster trades this off-season, as the Braves traded him and four others to the Diamondbacks in exchange for outfielder Justin Upton and infielder Chris Johnson. Delgado, rated one of the top prospects in the Braves organization, spent two stints with the G-Braves in 2011 and 2012. In 12 starts, he went 6-5 with a 4.09 ERA and 76 strikeouts in 66 innings.
The lists of other G-Braves that have found a new home are as followed:
Lyle Overbay- Boston Red Sox (Free Agent)
Rusty Ryal- Los Angeles Dodgers (Free Agent)
Miguel Batista- Colorado Rockies (Free Agent)
Erik Cordier- Pittsburgh Pirates (Free Agent)
Peter Moylan- Los Angeles Dodgers (Free Agent)
Adam Russell- Baltimore Orioles (Free Agent)
First-year Gwinnett Braves manager Randy Ready will lead the 2013 edition of the Gwinnett Braves for the first time on Thursday, April 4 as the club opens the season at Coolray Field with a 7:05 PM game against Charlotte. For tickets, merchandise and more information, visit GwinnettBraves.com.
-JD
Spring Training 2013 – New Faces
Jordan Schafer with the Gwinnett Braves in 2010.
Filling out a 25-man MLB roster is always tricky. Most teams try to build within the minor league system, adding a few pieces via free agency or trades. However, Spring Training allows for 40-man extras and non-roster invitees to come in and win over the staff.
This season, the Atlanta Braves roll into camp with 19 non-roster invitees in addition to the 40-man roster. Most of the players have been with the Braves organization for a few years, but there are several new faces trying to make an impression on the organization.
Pitchers David Carpenter and Wirfin Obispo are two of those faces coming to Braves camp for the first time.
Carpenter signed a contract and the off-season and was placed on the 40-man roster. Last season, he split his time with the Houston Astros and Toronto Blue Jays organizations. He made 33 appearances in the Major Leagues, recording a 0-2 record with an 8.07 ERA. The 27-year old right-hander has made over 60 appearances in the Majors and can add depth to the back end of the pen.
Obispo’s resume is not as deep, but he has been around since 2004. The right-hander started his career with the Cincinnati Reds in 2004. After the 2005 season, Obispo spent five years in Japan, playing for the Japanese Central and Pacific Leagues. He returned to the states in 2012, posting a 5-3 mark with 3.00 ERA through two different levels (Double-A Pensacola & Triple-A Louisville).
He will probably be throwing to two new catchers in camp. Luis De La Cruz and Matt Pagnozzi will make their first appearances with the Atlanta Braves. De La Cruz comes from the St. Louis Cardinals organization. Last season, he spent the majority of the season with the High-A Palm Beach Cardinals. He made a brief appearance in Triple-A Memphis, but did most of his damage in the High-A level. In 67 games, he hit .300 with one home run.
Pagnozzi comes to the Braves after spending the majority of his career with the Cardinals organization. He has been a part of four different organizations (Cleveland, Colorado, Pittsburgh and St. Louis), while spending some time in the Major Leagues with the Cardinals, Pirates and Rockies. In 33 MLB games, he has hit .310 with one home run and 13 RBI. Last season, he spent the year with the Triple-A Columbus Clippers.
On the diamond, Blake DeWitt and Ramiro Pena will compete for a backup spot. DeWitt comes from the Chicago Cubs organization, spending the last two seasons with the Cubs. DeWitt scuffled with the Pirates organization after two stellar seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers. However, the left-handed hitting infielder provides great versatility on the diamond and can be a valuable asset off the bench. In 346 MLB games, DeWitt has recorded a .257 batting average with 21 home runs and 135 RBI.
While DeWitt adds versatility on the corners and second base, Pena can play both middle infield spots and the hot corner. The switch-hitting Pena comes from the New York Yankees, where he spent his whole career. After making great strides in 2010 and 2011, cracking the big league roster, Pena spent all of 2012 with the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees.
Finally, Jordan Schafer returns to the Braves for another opportunity to make the MLB roster. After being sent away to Houston in the Michael Bourn deal, Schafer hopes to regain the form that made him one of the most coveted young players in the game. Schafer adds excellent versatility, as he can play all three outfield spots. Last season, he hit .211 with four home runs and 27 stolen bases. Schafer, a G-Brave from 2009 to 2011, will compete with Jose Constanza, Evan Gattis and Reed Johnson for one of the bench spots.
The competition for spots officially begins today, as the Braves started their first full practice at Champion Stadium in Lake Buena Vista, FL.
With Spring Training underway, G-Braves baseball is around the corner. Don’t miss your chance to catch the action at Coolray Field, as the future Braves stars of tomorrow start here. The Gwinnett Braves open the season on Thursday, April 4th at 7:05 p.m. against the Charlotte Knights at Coolray Field. For more information on the G-Braves, visit Gwinnettbraves.com, facebook.com/GwinnettBraves1 and twitter.com/GwinnettBraves.
-JD
2013 Spring Training – Competing to Make the Team
Ernesto Mejia led the G-Braves with 24 home runs in 2012.
The 2013 Gwinnett Braves will see a lot of turnover as a majority of the team has moved on to different clubs. However, there is a great deal of players still connected to the Braves organization. Here’s a look at some 2012 G-Braves heading to Atlanta’s Major League camp this year.
Former International League hitting champion Jose Constanza remains in the fold. The 5’9” outfielder remains on the Braves 40-man roster after leading the IL in hitting with a .314 batting average. Since being acquired through free agency in 2010, Constanza has been a solid pick up. In 174 games, he hit .318 (212-for-667) with two home runs and 52 RBI. He reports to MLB Spring Training fighting for one of the final Braves’ roster spots.
Constanza will not be alone fighting for a roster spot, as Ernesto Mejia looks to lock up one of the bench spots. The infielder came into his own last season, hitting .296 (152-for-514) with 24 home runs and 92 RBI. He was awarded the IL Rookie of the year and was added to the Braves’ 40-man roster at the end of the season.
Jose Constanza led the IL in hitting with a .314 batting average in 2012.
While Constanza and Mejia head to camp as part of the 40-man roster, three former G-Braves will look to come out of nowhere and steal a spot on the roster.
Joe Terdoslavich, Jordan Parraz and Jose Yepez will push the veterans for a bench spot. Terdoslavich struggled in his first stint with the G-Braves in 2012, hitting .180 with four home runs and 20 RBI. He committed 22 errors in 53 games, but he turned it around after being sent down to Double-A Mississippi. He finished his second full season (third with organization) hitting .315 with five home runs and 51 RBI.
Parraz was solid as a utility outfielder last season. In 34 games, he hit .288 (34-for-118) with six doubles, two home runs and 19 RBI. His 2012 campaign was significantly shortened by a pair of hand injuries.
Yepez will head to his second straight Spring Training, as he hopes to win the backup spot on the MLB roster while Brian McCann is out with an injury. Yepez played in 79 games for the G-Braves, hitting .264 with three home runs and 30 RBI.
With the Atlanta Braves offseason deal of Randall Delgado, an immediate spot in the rotation has opened up. Both Sean Gilmartin and Julio Teheran will go to Spring Training battling for the fifth and final spot in the rotation.
Teheran, who was IL Player of the Year and Atlanta Braves Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2011, is the front-runner for the rotation spot. In two seasons with the G-Braves, Teheran is second all-time in wins (22) and boasts the club’s best ERA (3.75).
Teheran will have to be careful, as Gilmartin is eager to win the final spot after completing his first full season with the organization. In 20 starts with Double-A Mississippi, he went 5-8 with a 3.54 ERA, while going 1-2 with a 4.78 ERA in seven starts for Gwinnett.
While Teheran and Gilmartin battle for a rotation spot, Cory Gearrin, Dusty Hughes and Anthony Varvaro will try to fit in the Atlanta bullpen. Gearrin has been outstanding, appearing in an all-time high 126 games for the G-Braves. Last season, he went 3-3 with a 2.30 ERA and 9 saves in 39 games for Gwinnett. He was even better in Atlanta, hurling 20 innings, allowing four runs (1.80 ERA) in 22 games for the Braves.
Hughes looks to crack the MLB team for the first time in his career. Having big league experience with the Kansas City Royals, Hughes knows what it takes to make the big team. The lefty had a solid 2012 in Gwinnett, posting a 3-2 record with a 3.31 ERA.
Varvaro rounds out the list of Spring Training invitees. He pitched well for Gwinnett before moving up to the big leagues. In 44.1 innings, the right-hander posted an 0-2 record with 2.23 ERA.
Ryan Buchter, Yohan Flande and Daniel Rodriguez also received invitations to camp. They will get an opportunity to win one of the 12 spots on the staff, but will have a tough hill to climb as all three have no MLB experience. Flande will go in with the most upside, as he spent all of last two seasons with the G-Braves. In 2012, he was 6-11 with a 4.21 ERA.
The bullpen may be a bit crowded with the acquisition of Jordan Walden from the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, but these six arms are up for the task.
While plenty of former G-Braves will look to make an impression on the Braves as full practices start tomorrow, there’s plenty of new faces in camp this year. The next edition of the G-Blog will take a look at those new players, some of which could be heading to Gwinnett in 2013.
Teheran Makes MLB.com Top 100
Teheran No.31 in MLB.com Top 100 (Leslie Watts / Gwinnett Braves)
Justin Upton’s press conference was not the only news in Braves Country, as last night MLB.com announced its Top 100 prospect list, placing one Atlanta farm hand on the list.
Julio Teheran came in at No.31, according to MLB.com draft and prospect expert Jonathan Mayo. The right-hander makes the list for second straight season after coming in fourth last year.
After a banner year in 2011 with the Gwinnett Braves, capturing the International League’s Most Valuable Pitcher award, International League Rookie of the Year award and Atlanta Braves’ Minor League Pitcher of the Year award, Teheran was ranked the top right arm in the minors, according to Mayo. He dropped in on the countdown at No.4, ranking behind the Rays’ Matt Moore and Rookies of the Year Mike Trout (Angels) and Bryce Harper (Nationals).
His quick ascension to the top sparked attention from the all levels as he received an invitation to MLB Spring Training. During camp, he struggled through mechanical issues and lost out on the fifth spot to Randall Delgado.
He did not fare well in his second stint with the G-Braves. In 26 starts, he went 7-9 with a 5.08 ERA and 97 strikeouts in 131 innings. However, his numbers in 2011, 15-3 with a 2.55 ERA and 122 strikeouts in 144.2 innings, helped make Delgado dispensable for the Atlanta Braves this offseason, as they traded him away in a package to get Justin Upton.
Despite not ranking in MLB.com top 10 right-handed pitchers this season after being the top guy last year, the Braves Front Office believes he can flourish within the organization in 2013. He heads to Spring Training as the front-runner for the fifth and final spot in the Atlanta rotation.
The 22-year old looked great in the Dominican Winter League, posting a 3.23 ERA in seven starts for Licey. He allowed just two hits while completing 16.2 scoreless innings over his final three starts.
Teheran and the rest of the Atlanta pitchers will report to Spring Training in a few weeks, as baseball season is right around the corner. Don’t miss your chance to catch the action at Coolray Field, as the future stars of tomorrow start here. Gwinnett Braves open the season on Thursday, April 4th at 7:05 p.m. against the Charlotte Knights at Coolray Field. For more information on the G-Braves or Coolray Field, visit the website at Gwinnettbraves.com, facebook.com/GwinnettBraves1 and twitter.com/GwinnettBraves.
-JD
Medlen Withdraws From Classic
Atlanta Braves right-hander and former Gwinnett Brave, Kris Medlen announced that he has withdrawn his name from the World Baseball Classic tournament.
Medlen, who is expecting his first child in the next few weeks, decided that time was not in his favor, so on Friday afternoon at Coolray Field in front of a handful of Braves fans, he announced that he would no longer participate in the classic.
Medlen, who began the season in the bullpen in 2012, was arguably the most dominant starting pitcher in the MLB down the stretch. He posted a 9-0 record with a 0.97 ERA, 84 strikeouts, 10 walks in 83.2 innings.
The 27-year old was disappointed in withdrawing his name, as he was one of few American players to take the plunge and commit early in the process. However, he admitted that he may have jumped the gun a little bit early and did not account for the birth of his child falling near his departure date.
Medlen will leave Team USA in a bind, as they will go into the classic with only three starting pitchers. R.A. Dickey, Derek Holland and Ryan Vogelsong will anchor the staff, as Team USA will try to win their first WBC title.
Despite Medlen’s disappointment of withdrawing late in the game, he has received support from the Braves organization, USA Manager Joe Torre and fellow players throughout the MLB.
“You only have your first kid once,” said Atlanta Braves Manager Fredi Gonzalez at the same Coolray Field event.
Medlen will return to his regular routine, preparing for Spring Training after the birth of his child.
The right-hander is a permanent mainstay in Gwinnett Braves history, as he was the first G-Braves pitcher to record a victory. To read more about his climb to the MLB and his history with the Gwinnett Braves, click here.
As Medlen prepares for the season, so do the Gwinnett Braves. They kick off the season Thursday, April 4th at 7:05 p.m. against the Charlotte Knights at Coolray Field. For more information on the G-Braves or Coolray Field, visit the website at Gwinnettbraves.com, or through or social media outlets at facebook.com/GwinnettBraves1 and twitter.com/GwinnettBraves!
-JD
Ready Holds Presser, Fredi Fields Questions
Randy Ready fields questions (Credit: Sherik Hodge)click photo to access video
The Gwinnett Braves held a press conference on Thursday afternoon to introduce their new Field Manager Randy Ready.
In front of local media and front office staff, Ready officially took over as the new skipper of the Gwinnett Braves. Ready will replace Dave Brundage, who left the organization after six seasons with the Braves. Brundage will oppose his former squad, as he has taken over as Field Manager for the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs of the International League.
North Johnson, Fredi Gonzalez and Randy Ready pose for picture (Credit: Sherik Hodge)
Ready, who last served as the minor league hitting coordinator for the Texas Rangers, has managerial experience, spending six seasons with the San Diego Padres organization. He posted a career 489-466 record, while leading the San Antonio Missions, Double-A affiliate, to a Texas League championship in 2007. After the 2008 season, Ready earned the Pacific Coast League’s “Best Manager Prospect” by Baseball America for his work with the Portland Beavers, Triple-A affiliate.
Ready was eager to take over the podium, fielding questions from various reporters, while smiling from ear-to-ear. The thirty minute conference was light hearted and fun, as all looked ready to start the season. Ready will head to Spring Training as soon as pitchers and catchers report to Lake Buena Vista, FL in the middle of February.
Prior to the press conference, Ready joined Jim Powell, play-by-play announcer of the Atlanta Braves and Braves Manager Fredi Gonzalez for a special luncheon. Various season ticket holders and potential clients gathered in the Home Plate Club of Coolray Field for a Q&A with Powell and Gonzalez. The trade news in Atlanta took over the majority of the discussion, as Gonzalez fielded questions about his new left fielder, Justin Upton, while talking about some of the departures from his current club..
Gonzalez answers questions (Credit: Sherik Hodge)click photo to access video
All in all, it was a great day to be at Coolray Field. With the beginning of the season approaching, Ready is up for the job. Gwinnett kicks off the season Thursday, April 4th at 7:05 p.m. against the Charlotte Knights at Coolray Field. For more information on the G-Braves or Coolray Field, visit the website at Gwinnettbraves.com, or through our social media outlets at facebook.com/GwinnettBraves1 and twitter.com/GwinnettBraves!
-JD
All Things Five
Hard to believe, but the 2013 International League season (and our home opener at Coolray Field) is just 85 days away! With April 4 quickly approaching, we’re starting to lift the curtain on some of the things you can expect to see for the upcoming season of Gwinnett Braves Baseball.
The first major announcement occured this morning with the launch of the Fifth Season campaign and logo (pictured left). Celebrations of the anniversary season include a new alumni Bobblehead Series and brand new 5-Pack Plans. The series of five bobbleheads features G-Braves who have gone on to stardom in Atlanta, including Brandon Beachy, Jason Heyward, Freddie Freeman, Craig Kimbrel and Kris Medlen. Conveniently, you can purchase tickets to all five bobblehead giveaway nights in the Bobblehead Pack, one of the four 5-Pack Plans that were rolled out in today’s announcement.
The 5-Packs also include a Fireworks Pack (all five dates are Friday Fireworks nights), a Best 5 Games Pack (our most popular games including Opening Night on April 4 and July 4) and a Silver Sluggers Pack (five day games). Reinforcing the five theme, each 5-Pack starts at just $50. You can get more details and buy online as well by visiting gwinnettbraves.com/5pack.
To add to the excitement of Season Five, gwinnettbraves.com is hosting a look back at some of the great players that have played for the G-Braves in the team’s first four seasons. Expect to read up on guys like Barbaro Canizares (this week’s feature), Matt Young, Todd Redmond and Mauro Gomez in addition to the likes of Freeman, Kimbrel and others. A new “5th Season Friday” feature will debut each Friday through the end of March.
Is that enough fives for you yet? Me neither. As if the baseball gods had a hand in it, the G-Blog was announced as the 55th most visited ProBlog on the MLBlogs Network for the past year. Fifth place would have been more fitting, but it’s an honor to finish near the middle of the Top 100 in our first year. You can check out the entire list over at mlblogs.mlblogs.com.
Give yourself a high-5 for reading this post and head over to gwinnettbraves.com for more on the 2013 season!
-DL
Meet Randy Ready
It’s admittedly been some time since we’ve posted here at the G-Blog, but rest assured, there’s plenty going on in the Coolray Field offices since September. We’re working on preparing a tremendous fifth season of Gwinnett Braves baseball, and will have details on what you can expect to see in 2013 sometime after the holidays. Right now, you can prepare yourself for next season by purchasing 2013 Season Tickets or a Holiday Pack.
For preparations on the field, a major announcement was made on November 12 when Randy Ready (pictured left) was confirmed as the new manager of the G-Braves. Ready is just the second manager in club history (since 2009), replacing Dave Brundage, who took the managerial post with Lehigh Valley.
If you haven’t already read up on Ready, here’s a few details. The 52-year-old Dallas, Texas native is joining the Atlanta Braves organization for the first time after spending last year as the minor league hitting coordinator for the Texas Rangers. Prior to 2012 he was the Major League hitting coach for the San Diego Padres from 2009 to 2011. He’s managed a total of eight seasons in the minors, mostly in the Padres system, compiling a 489-466 record. Ready led Double-A San Antonio to a Texas League Championship in 2007 and was elected to the Texas League Hall of Fame shortly after. In 2008, he managed Triple-A Portland of the Pacific Coast League and was named the PCL’s “Best Managerial Prospect” by Baseball America. On top of his coaching career, Ready also played parts of 13 seasons in Major League Baseball with the Milwaukee Brewers, San Diego Padres, Philadelphia Phillies, Oakland Athletics and Montreal Expos.
Our friends over at WDUN talked with Ready by phone last week and have shared the audio clip with us. In the interview, he weighs in on the 2012 G-Braves club, his thoughts on player development and winning at the minor league level, joining the Atlanta Braves organization, how his Major League career has prepared him to manage and more.
Listen Here: Randy Ready WDUN Interview (11.21.12)
Ready’s 2013 Gwinnett Braves club hits the field on Thursday, April 4 for a 7:05 PM game at Coolray Field. That’s still a long ways off, but you can continue to keep up with everything G-Braves by checking out GwinnettBraves.com, facebook.com/GwinnettBraves1 and twitter.com/GwinnettBraves!
-DL
