Results tagged ‘ mauro gomez ’
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!
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Constanza Making Huge Splash With Atlanta
Photo courtesy of Kyle Hess
The fifth Gwinnett Brave player to make an appearance in the big leagues this season is Jose Constanza. The former Gwinnett outfielder has been up with the Atlanta Braves before and his presence is always felt. Constanza is batting .400 with four hits in his first 10 at-bats, including two runs scored and one RBI for the Braves this season. However, since re-joining the team two days ago, he is 4-for-7 with two runs scored and an RBI in his two starts.
The Dominican has fired up the Atlanta offense as the Braves had lost eight straight games before the former G-Braves left fielder started a game. Now the Braves have won two straight games since Constanza entered the starting line-up against St. Louis.
For the season with the G-Braves, Constanza batted .288 with 40 hits, 22 runs scored, five doubles, four triples, 15 RBI, eight stolen bases and 53 total bases in just 36 games.
Photo courtesy of Leslie Watts
The highlight of the season for Constanza occurred in April after he was demoted from Atlanta following three games and three pinch-hit appearances with the Major League club. In his first game with Gwinnett, Constanza arrived in Norfolk for the final game of the series and made an immediate impact. He actually drove in the tying run in the ninth inning that completed a seven-run ninth inning comeback. Then, the left fielder delivered the game-winning triple in the 12th inning for an unprecedented Gwinnett victory.
So far, Constanza joins four former 2012 G-Braves players in Major League Baseball; Drew Sutton (Tampa Bay Rays), Cory Gearrin (Atlanta Braves) and J.C. Boscan (Atlanta Braves). Mauro Gomez was traded during the off-season from the Braves 40-man roster, but he did make an appearance with the Boston Red Sox this season.
Jose Constanza is the fifth but certainly won’t be the last Gwinnett Brave to experience big league baseball. The future is very bright inside the Braves organization, especially when you boast a first place club like Gwinnett (32-21) does presently. One way or another, the cream always rises to the top and a handful of G-Braves are pushing the envelope as I speak. Who will be next? Only time and Atlanta’s needs will tell.
Photo courtesy of Kyle Hess
By: Tony Piraro
J.C. Boscan Filling In For McCann With Atlanta
Photo courtesy of Kyle Hess
Yet another Gwinnett Brave has made the ascension to the big leagues during the 2012 season. G-Braves catcher J.C. Boscan was called up on Saturday afternoon by the Atlanta Braves as Brian McCann is dealing with some injuries. Needless to say, Boscan was in the Atlanta Braves starting line-up upon his arrival.
Low and behold, Boscan’s first Major League at-bat of the season came against none other than the Washington Nationals flamethrower Stephen Strasburg. The Nats righty actually allowed an RBI groundout to Boscan in his first plate appearance. Sunday night, Boscan found himself facing another ace of most staff’s in baseball in the form of Gio Gonzalez.
G-Braves second baseman Drew Sutton was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates last week, then in turn was dealt to the Tampa Bay Rays later that night. Joe Maddon waisted little time playing Sutton, as he got the start in his second game with the Rays. The former G-Brave didn’t disappoint going 2-for-4 in his first two games, while accumulating three RBI over that span. Currently, Sutton is batting .500 with Tampa Bay (6-for-12) so far this season and recorded hits over the weekend against Jon Lester and Josh Beckett.
Photo courtesy of Karl Moore
Cory Gearrin was the first Gwinnett Brave to receive the call to the big leagues this season. The G-Braves closer who leads the team with six saves was called up for the demotion of Jair Jurrjens, but was sent back down after the Braves activated Tim Hudson.
The fourth G-Brave to play in the Major League’s this season is by default from a Gwinnett perspective. Mauro Gomez was traded by the Atlanta Braves organization to the Boston Red Sox prior to the start of the season. Gomez didn’t waist much time in Triple-A Pawtucket, as he was called up to Boston for two games. The former Gwinnett slugger received just two at-bats and failed to get a hit in both plate appearances.
The first place G-Braves are boasting a wealth of talent and it’s only a matter of time before more Gwinnett players are ready for their ascension to the big leagues. These four players are just the beginning of what should be a long list moving forward.
By: Tony Piraro
Stefan Gartrell Named IL Batter of the Week
Photo courtesy of Karl Moore
The Gwinnett Braves outfielder/designated hitter Stefan Gartrell has been named the International League Batter of the Week for April 30-May 6, 2012. Gartrell is the first G-Braves player to win the IL’s weekly award this season. LeHigh Valley’s Scott Elarton was named the IL Pitcher of the Week.
Stefan Gartrell has been on fire as of late, batting .400 over his last five games, including three home runs and eight RBI. He registered an .850 slugging percentage, as he becomes the first G-Braves hitter to receive the award since Mauro Gomez did so during the week of August 29, 2011. Gartrell was batting .165 as of last week, and has risen his average to .211 in a matter of days.
The last time Gartrell won the Batter of the Week award in minor league baseball was for the week of June 22, 2009. The slugger was then in the Southern League playing for the Chicago White Sox Double-A affiliate, Birmingham Barons.
Gartrell and the Gwinnett Braves (19-10) host the Buffalo Bisons (17-13) for the start of a four-game series at Coolray Field on Monday. G-Braves right-hander Julio Teheran (2-1, 3.66) will oppose Buffalo righty Chris Schwinden (2-2, 2.05), first pitch scheduled for 7:05 PM. Listen to the broadcast on WDUN 550 AM and 102.9 FM with Tony Schiavone calling the play-by-play.
Monday is “Kids Eat Free Monday” where all kids 12 and under will receive a voucher for a free hot dog, bag of chips and a small soda.
Tickets for all Gwinnett Braves home games are on sale now at the Coolray Field Box Office. Call (678) 277-0340 or visit gwinnettbraves.com for more information.
By: Tony Piraro
