Braves Week 1 Minor League Review

Yeah I am doing a weekly review on Tuesday because that is how my work schedule falls. So I am just going to look at who the best pitchers and hitters were each week for the Braves minor leaguers. I will also try to highlight some guys who we may not talk about but have been performing well. Without further ado here is my first week's review for 2016:

Hitters

Austin Riley - 3B - Rome Braves

           Stats - .318/.348/.636 - 1 HR, 4 2B, 4 RBI, 1 BB, 9 K

In the first week of the season Riley has been exactly what we had hoped. The strike out rate is high so far, but at 19 years old he doesn't appear overmatched early on. I am really high on him and I think he might be one of the best hitting prospects we have had since Freeman and Heyward came up. 

Dansby Swanson - SS - Carolina Mudcats

            Stats - .400/.483/.600 - 5 2B, 4 RBI, 4 BB, 3 K, 2 SB

Swanson's first week as a Brave was a great one. It will be interesting to see how long the Braves can keep him in A ball, and with the issues at SS in Atlanta how long they can keep him out of the majors. The only problem with him playing in Atlanta is there might be someone else in his way.....

Ozzie Albies - SS - Mississippi Braves

             Stats - .346/.393/.385 - 1 2B, 1 BB, 4 K, 1 SB, 1 CS

Albies hasn't started off white hot, but after an 0-4 start to the season he has a hit in every game and has been on base multiple times in every game except tonight's contest. He hasn't shown much power yet, and most likely he won't show a ton, but he has some pop for his size. His eye will almost certainly improve going forward as well. Still this is an excellent start for a 19 year old in AA. There is a very good chance he will be in the majors at 19. I believe the last Brave to do that was Andruw Jones. 

Keith Curcio - CF - Carolina Mudcats

           Stats - .462/.500/.692 - 4 2B, 1 3B, 6 RBI, 3 BB, 2 K, 1 SB

I honestly didn't know much about Curcio until this week when he was tearing the cover off the ball. The 23 year old, drafted in the 6th round of 2014, spent the first part of last year having his way with Sally League pitchers before a promotion to Carolina slowed him down some. That appears to be his M.O. as he did the same thing the year before between Danville and then Rome. He returned to Carolina to start this year and after a week of work he appears to have a handle on things. Curcio is the kind of player many would consider a 'grinder' as he has small stature and lacks tons of tools, but he gets the job done. I feel like he could be a guy that never shows up on prospect lists but could get a few years of play in Atlanta as a very solid 4th outfielder. 

I'll continue tomorrow with the pitchers.....