Results tagged ‘ Joe Leonard ’
Game Preview: G-Braves (1-0) vs. Knights (0-1)
The Gwinnett Braves took the opener last night, 5-4. Sean Gilmartin (1-0) was impressive, hurling five innings, scattering six hits and allowing one run. He picked up his first victory of the season and his second as a G-Brave.
Shortstop Tyler Pastornicky got off to a blazing start, going 4-for-4 with two doubles and a stolen base. The Sarosota, FL native looked sharp on the field as well, converting on all five of his chances.
Andrew Russell locked it down for the G-Braves, getting out of a jam in the eighth inning and going on to toss two scoreless frames. The Aussie struck out four of the six hitters he faced. He is now 3-for-5 in save opportunities with the G-Braves.
Tonight, the G-Braves and the Knights will make up Thursday night’s rainout with a doubleheader starting at 5:05 p.m. RHP David Hale (0-0) will square off against RHP Andre Rienzo (0-0) in Game 1, while LHP Daniel Rodriguez (0-0) takes the ball against RHP Tony Pena Jr. (0-0) in Game 2.
Hale was selected by the Atlanta Braves in the third round of the 2009 First Year Player Draft out of Princeton University. The former Tiger has bounced around from starter to reliever, however last season he flourished as full time starter in Double-A Mississippi. In 27 starts, Hale went 8-4 with a 3.77 ERA. He topped the Southern League in starts, while finishing fourth in strikeouts (124).
His opponent, Andre Rienzo has been a coveted Chicago (AL) prospect for a few years. Last season, the hard-throwing righty had to battle a 50-game suspension, forcing him to miss a 1/3 of the season. Upon his return, he dominated across three different levels, going 7-3 with a 2.53 ERA. He limited hitters to a combined .206 batting average. Baseball America ranks him the No. 7 prospect in the Sox organization.
In the night cap, Rodriguez will make his third affiliated appearance of his career. The left-hander spent seven years with the Saraperos de Saltillo of the Mexican League. After signing with the Braves on 8/14/12, Rodriguez made two appearances for the G-Braves, going 0-0 with a 1.50 ERA in six innings. He went 11-5 with a 2.54 ERA with Saltillo last year.
He will go up against Tony Pena Jr. The son of former big league catcher Tony Pena, has bounced around from organizations (ATL, KC, SF, BOS), landing with the White Sox organization in the offseason. Last season with the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox’s, he went 1-9 with a 4.75 ERA. The right-hander began his career as a middle infielder for the Atlanta Braves organization in 2000.
Tonight should be a treat, as the G-Braves look to start the season 2-0 for the first time in Franchise history. Joe Leonard will receive his MiLB Gold Glove award in between games.
Last season, the G-Braves went 5-3 in doubleheaders, sweeping two, splitting one and getting swept once.
Game One Lineups are below:
Charlotte Knights Starting Lineup
Mitchell 8
Sanchez 4
Morel 5
Danks 9
Greene 6
Loman DH
Anderson C
Tolleson LF
Gallagher 3
Rienzo P
Gwinnett Braves Starting Lineup
Constanza 7
Pastornicky 6
Terdoslavich DH
Mejia 3
DeWitt 4
Cunningham 8
Leonard 5
Parraz 9
Yepez 2
Hale 1
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
