Braves first baseman Kala Kaaihue was promoted to Double-A Mississippi, after the 22-year-old batted .298/.410/.583 at high Class A Myrtle Beach.

Signed as a nondrafted free agent out of Iolani HS in Honolulu in 2005, Kaaihue has huge power to all fields. The 6-foot-2, 230-pound first baseman blasted 22 home runs for the Pelicans, leading Myrtle Beach manager Rocket Wheeler to compare him to a former big leaguer . . . with big power.

“He’s like a baby Andres Galarraga,” Wheeler said. “He’s hit balls out of every park we’ve been to this season and to all fields. He’s not just a straight pull power guy because he’s got an advanced approach to use the whole field anyway. He’s stuck with that appraoch and now we’re seeing it with more power. The power’s on the come.”

And so is the defense. For a big-bodied first baseman, Kaaihue moves well with above-average range and soft hands. While he’s committed seven errrors this season and his footwork needs some more polish, Wheeler called him the best defensive first baseman in the Carolina League.

“He’ll surprise you,” Wheeler said. “You might think because of his size, that he just lumbers around. But he’s got some quickness and he seems to catch everything. He’s much more than just a big target defensively.”