NORTH PORT, Fla. — As Terry Pendleton ready to function the supervisor of the Braves prospect group that performed the Tigers prospect group in a Spring Breakout sport on Sunday afternoon, he stated followers must be affected person with John Gil and Luis Guanipa, a pair of youngsters who’ve skilled only one full season on the skilled stage.
“Each of them are younger puppies, however you’ll proceed to see them progress,” Pendleton stated. “In the event that they proceed to develop the best way they’ve, I feel you will note them within the massive leagues.”
Gil, who ranks because the Braves’ No. 14 prospect, and Guanipa, who ranks No. 15 on the identical listing, had been the 2 highest ranked Braves place participant prospects to take part on this 12 months’s occasion. Each ought to start this season the place they ended final season, with Single-A Augusta.
Each prospects produced a close to .800 OPS within the Florida Complicated League earlier than receiving a promotion. With the elimination of short-season Rookie-level groups, they made the soar to the Single-A ranks and struggled. Guanipa had a .450 OPS in 32 video games and Gil had a .552 OPS over 39 video games.
This was a humbling expertise for Guanipa, who acquired a $2.5 million signing bonus. Gil has efficiently performed the underdog function since receiving a much more meager $110,000 signing bonus.
“We knew what we had been sending there,” Pendleton stated. “We knew it was going to be children that weren’t going to get crushed by this. Some children lose confidence and so they’re accomplished. It’s a must to be actual delicate with sure children. You’ll be able to’t ship them there understanding that in the event that they fail or do not succeed, they’re accomplished. These two children will combat you, too, till they’ve acquired nothing left, you understand? We knew they might bounce again if that they had success or did not have success.”
Gil began at shortstop on Sunday and went 1-for-3 with an infield single. He exited underneath his personal energy after seemingly pulling a left leg muscle whereas trying to beat out a grounder within the sixth. Guanipa batted ninth and went 0-for-2 with a strikeout whereas enjoying middle area.
Three of Sunday’s pitchers ranked among the many Braves’ Prime 12 prospects. Here’s a have a look at how they did:
RHP JR Ritchie (Braves No. 8 prospect): The 21-year-old right-hander’s dad and mom had been among the many family and friends members who flew from the Seattle space to see him begin this sport. They had been handled to seeing him work an ideal first inning towards three gamers from MLB Pipeline’s Prime 100 Prospects listing — Max Clark (No. 6), Kevin McGonigle (No. 28) and Thayron Liranzo (No. 81).
Ritchie ended the primary inning by hanging out Liranzo with a 97 mph fastball. The younger hurler, who was taken with the thirty fifth general choice within the 2022 MLB Draft, allowed two runs, surrendered 5 hits and recorded a pair of strikeouts in three innings of labor. He missed a lot of the 2023 season after present process Tommy John surgical procedure.
“It was a fantastic expertise throughout,” Ritchie stated. “I cherished it and I felt nice. It was every little thing I believed it will be.”
RHP Garrett Baumann (Braves No. 9 prospect): The 6-foot-8 pitcher towers over Isaiah Drake, his 6-foot roommate final 12 months. Drake playfully acquired underneath Baumann’s pores and skin within the dugout final 12 months. The tall pitcher responded with a powerful efficiency over the rest of that outing.
“He wasn’t completely satisfied about what [Drake] did, so I requested him a query,” Pendleton stated. “’Why don’t you’re taking that to the mound with you?’ You possibly can inform what he has to supply. At occasions, it appeared like he wasn’t certain of himself. I stated, ‘Hey we have to see that bulldog on the mound.’”
Baumann’s inexperience and nerves had been on show as he walked 5 of the ten hitters he confronted on Sunday. He flashed his potential with a 98 mph fastball that he’ll attempt to harness as he possible begins the upcoming season with Excessive-A Rome.
RHP Didier Fuentes (Braves No. 12 prospect): The 19-year-old hurler was added to Atlanta’s roster Sunday and he took benefit of the possibility to shine. He flashed an higher 90s fastball whereas recording three strikeouts in a scoreless seventh and added two extra strikeouts in a scoreless eighth. He completed his outing with two strikeouts in a scoreless ninth, ending his day with a game-high 7 Okay’s.
