Spring Training Weekend Wrap-up 3.14–15.15
By Jacob Mayer
Several players who could patrol the diamond at Coolray Field for the Gwinnett Braves in 2015 finished the weekend with standout performances at the plate, as the Atlanta Braves split a pair of games against the Toronto Blue Jays and Houston Astros. They also made their two largest rounds of roster cuts.
The Braves chopped their Spring Training roster by 13 players with cuts made Saturday and Monday.
Top prospect Jose Peraza headlined the six players cut Monday. Atlanta optioned him to Gwinnett and sent right-handed pitcher Tyrell Jenkins to Double-A Mississippi. Right-hander Mauricio Cabrera and left-hander Yean Carlos Gil were optioned to Advanced-A Carolina. Left-handed pitcher Brady Feigl and catcher Jose Yepez were reassigned to Minor League camp.
The Braves reassigned seven players Saturday, including right-handed pitcher Jason Hursh, catchers Matt Kennelly and Chris O’Dowd, infielders Daniel Castro and Rio Ruiz, and outfielders Cedric Hunter and Mallex Smith.
Potential G-Brave returnee Joey Terdoslavich, winner of the 2014 G-Braves’ “Fan Favorite Player” award, belted his first home run of the spring with a three-run shot in the seventh inning Sunday against the Blue Jays in a 10–5 loss at Champion Stadium in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. He drove in possible G-Braves infielders Pedro Ciriaco and Peraza after Ciriaco led off the frame with a single and Peraza entered as a pinch runner for infielder Alberto Callaspo.
Terdoslavich struck out in his only other at-bat in the ninth inning. Ciriaco finished the game 2-for-5 with a strikeout, and Peraza grounded out to first base in the ninth inning for his only at-bat of the game. Center fielder Todd Cunningham went 2-for-4 with a run-scoring double in the sixth inning and threw out a runner at home plate to end the third.
Other potential G-Braves position players’ Sunday stats vs. Toronto:
Braeden Schlehuber ©, 0-for-3.
Jesus Flores (C, pinch hit), 0-for-1.
John Buck (1B) 0-for-1.
Phil Gosselin (SS-LF), 0-for-1.
Right-hander Ryne Harper was the only pitcher the Braves’ threw against Toronto who projects to spend time in Gwinnett this season. He recorded the final two outs of the fourth inning despite throwing a wild pitch and giving up two hits, including a two-run home run to outfielder Jose Bautista.
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Atlanta topped the Astros 6–5 Saturday at Champion Stadium. Left-handed starter Wandy Rodriguez (W, 2–0) picked up his second win of the spring by going four innings with two hits allowed, three walks and two strikeouts.
Other possible Gwinnett pitchers’ stats from Saturday:
RHP Chien-Ming Wang, 0.1 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, K.
RHP Justin Jackson (S, 1), 1.0 IP, H, ER.
Second baseman Jace Peterson led potential G-Braves hitters at the plate Saturday, going 1-for-1 with a walk and a run scored.
Other possible G-Braves position players’ stats from Saturday:
Gosselin (2B-SS), 0-for-2, R.
Cunningham (RF-LF), 0-for-2.
Terdoslavich (1B), 0-for-3, 2 K.
Kelly Johnson (3B), 0-for-4, 3 K.
Eury Perez (LF), 0-for-3, 2 K.
Yepez (DH), 0-for-3, K.
Peraza (2B), 0-for-1.
Flores (C, pinch hit), 0-for-1.
Atlanta travels to face the Astros for a 1:05 p.m. game Monday in Kissimmee, Fla.
-JM
