By: Tony Piraro

Currently, the Atlanta Braves organization is impressing at nearly every level throughout their minor league system. Two leagues are set to get underway in the middle of June, therefore the Danville Braves (Rookie) and Gulf Coast League Braves (Rookie) have yet to begin their respective seasons. As for the rest of the Braves affiliates, life is good, especially after the top prospects got the rare opportunity to play the Atlanta Braves in the April 3 Inaugural Exhibition Game hosted at Coolray Field.

Photo courtesy of Melinda Pease

Atlanta Braves (16-11, 2nd place)

The big club has been playing some outstanding baseball since a rough start to begin the season. Chipper Jones has returned from the DL and is playing at his usual, high-level. Speaking of returning injured players, Tim Hudson has made two starts for Atlanta after spending some time in Rome and Gwinnett. All in all, the former G-Braves stars have begun to take over the Atlanta ballclub, such as: Freddie Freeman, Jason Heyward, Martin Prado, Tyler Pastornicky and Craig Kimbrel. The Braves only trail the upstart Bryce Harper-led Washington Nationals by two games in the NL East standings, but I can see that changing as quickly as the Nats luck has been changing of late.

Photo courtesy of Melinda Pease

Gwinnett Braves (18-9, 1st place)

With the best record in the International League (18-9) the G-Braves are focused on being consistent. Gwinnett currently has the No. 1 ranked pitching staff in the IL with a team ERA of 2.78 and their hitting is starting to heat up, especially Stefan Gartrell (pictured above). The G-Braves outfielder/designated hitter has been a monster as of late, crushing a home run in each of his last three games including six total hits during that span. Gartrell is now batting .209 with four homers and 14 RBI, which is saying a lot considering he was batting .165 before the G-Braves 8-game road trip last week.

Photo courtesy of Kyle Hess