Atlanta Braves Minor League Awards: Ben's Choices!!
Sep 13, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves shortstop Dansby Swanson (2) throws to first base for an out in the third inning of their game against the Miami Marlins at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Atlanta Braves Minor League Season Awards
As we finished up the season wrap up series yesterday, I thought it a good time to reveal my choices for minor league awards across the system this year. To start with, this is based on personal viewing along with quite a bit of sourced scouting reports from folks I’ve chatted with. First, a number of scheduling comments. You’ve likely noticed that I’ve had a couple of scouting reports per week since the season ended. I’ll have two more this week after having Joey Meneses two days ago. You’ll have at least 2 scouting reports per week through the offseason, and I’ll be sure to highlight any acquisitions that the team makes as well.
We’ll start with the organization’s statistical leaders in the minors, minimum 100 AB or 25 IP to qualify for rate leaders.
Aug 8, 2016; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Atlanta Braves pitcher Rob Whalen (63) throws a pitch during the first inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Player of the Day/Week/Month Award Leaders
Every day on Twitter, I announced a hitter and a pitcher of the day. In my Monday minors wrap, I announced a hitter and pitcher of the week. Last, in my monthly standout posts, I named a player and pitcher of the month. Let’s look at the winners for the year:
Player/Pitcher of the Day
I awarded 62 different players the hitter of the day mention on Twitter this season, including multiple guys on rehab and guys that finished the season in another organization, but probably the most unique was on May 15th when pitcher Chris Ellis won the mention due to his 3-for-3 day with 2 doubles, a run, and an RBI.
As far as leaders, two hitters tied for the most mentions on the season, Dustin Peterson and Keith Curcio with 9. Ray-Patrick Didder and Dansby Swanson were right behind with 8 and Joey Meneses and Rio Ruiz each had 7. Thirty-four total hitters had multiple mentions on the season.
Fifty-one pitchers were awarded the pitcher of the day with the most unique selection likely being Blake Lalli, who on June 21st picked up the win in a 12-inning game for Gwinnett against Indianapolis.
I chose 31 pitchers multiple times on the season. Three pitchers tied for the daily mention lead – Sean Newcomb, Patrick Weigel, and Rob Whalen – with 10 each. Mike Soroka was next behind with 9 mentions. Max Fried and Max Povse had 8 apiece.
Player/Pitcher of the Week
Every Monday, I put out a recap of the games from Thursday through Sunday and included weekly awards. Over the 24 weeks of the season, I gave the weekly award to 19 different hitters, leaving not many duplicates. Joey Meneses had the most player of the week mentions with 3. Dustin Peterson, Rio Ruiz, and Brandon Snyder each had two weekly mentions, with Snyder and Ruiz each winning both of theirs in back-to-back weeks.
Pitchers were a little more clumped together as there were only 16 pitchers selected over the 24 weeks. Rob Whalen led all pitchers with 3 pitcher of the week mentions. Six pitchers had two mentions – Kolby Allard, Brandon Barker, Chris Ellis, Max Fried, Sean Newcomb, and Max Povse.
Player/Pitcher of the Month
Over the six months of the season, I selected six hitters. Dansby Swanson was the selection for April, Brandon Snyder for May, Joey Meneses for June, Mel Rojas for July, Austin Riley for August, and Sean Kazmar for September.
With pitchers, I had five pitchers selected over the six months. Lucas Sims was the April selection, Robert Whalen in May, Max Fried in June and September both, A.J. Minter in July, and Matt Withrow in August.
Mar 3, 2016; Lake Buena Vista, FL, USA; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Sean Newcomb (78) throws a pitch during the first inning of a spring training baseball game against the Detroit Tigers at Champion Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Minor League Team of the Year
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Next: Player and Pitcher of the Year
Mar 7, 2016; Dunedin, FL, USA; Atlanta Braves shortstop Ozzie Albies (87) smiles as he works out prior to the game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Florida Auto Exchange Park. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Player and Pitcher of the Year Selections
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Player of the Year
As I began reviewing my options for the player of the year selection, I narrowed my selections down to three guys, and interestingly, 13 points of OPS separated all three. While Dansby Swanson got plenty of notice, and Dustin Peterson was consistently good for Mississippi, what Ozzie Albies did at 19 years old in 2016 was absolutely amazing, and I had to go with Albies.
Albies came out of the gate struggling on the base paths, but in the end, he had eclipsed 30 stolen bases. He slugged .420 as a 5’9, 160-pound player, which tells you something about the way the man swings the bat. Yet another excellent Curacao product in the Braves system, Albies was likely to be the highlight of the Braves Arizona Fall League roster before the unfortunate elbow injury that led to surgery that could put the start of his 2017 in question. Albies had nearly 50 extra base hits as a “pint-sized” middle infielder, and that’s an incredibly impressive achievement.
Pitcher of the Year
This choice really came down to two choices, Patrick Weigel and Robert Whalen. Whalen pitched at an elite level at a higher level than Weigel, but he was called up in mid-August and Weigel got two extra weeks (and a playoff run) of extra stats. In the end, my choice was Weigel by the slimmest of margins, but I’m a huge fan of both guys. Weigel has drastically changed the perception of him that was out there coming into the 2015 draft in his time with the Braves, and now he’s a legitimate prospect, likely going to sit in the top 20 in most team lists this offseason.
So, those are my selections. Do you agree? Disagree? Feel free to fire off your comments below!!
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