Majors: Organization Reports: Atlanta Braves: 2008

Fall Wrap-up
Nov. 26, 2008
Righthander Tommy Hanson was deemed off-limits during the negotiations with the Padres for Jake Peavy, but several other hurlers could be changing organizations due to the depth displayed during instructional league. [...] Continue Reading »

Brave Face
Nov. 17, 2008
Suffice it to say that no one should ever question the toughness of Cole Rohrbough. [...] Continue Reading »

Rotation Bound
Oct. 30, 2008
Kris Medlen served strictly as a reliever through his first 78 professional appearances. That scenario changed on June 5, when the Braves moved the righthander to the Double-A Mississippi rotation. [...] Continue Reading »

Home Cooking
Oct. 20, 2008
There are times when Kala Ka'aihue gives every indication of being the next great power-hitting first baseman at the major league level. And there are other occasions, often early in the season, when the Hawaiian looks like little more than an organizational player stuck in the middle of the minor leagues. [...] Continue Reading »

Worst To First
Oct. 3, 2008
One of the more remarkable turnarounds this season occurred in the Southern League. [...] Continue Reading »

Braves Final Report
Sep. 22, 2008
Jason Heyward shines in 2008 in Braves system. [...] Continue Reading »

Immediate Impact
Sep. 4, 2008
The Braves may have gone with pitching early in the 2008 draft, but the depth generated during the process could come from the middle rounds. [...] Continue Reading »

Young At Heart
Aug. 26, 2008
Outfielder Matt Young may not have the deepest set of tools in professional baseball, but the versatile defender is loaded with intangibles that enable him to succeed. [...] Continue Reading »

Turning The Page
Aug. 13, 2008
While critics were quick to criticize the Braves' haul upon trading first baseman Mark Teixeira just prior to the July 31 deadline, the Atlanta brass was quietly content with the package of first baseman Casey Kotchman and righthander Stephen Marek. [...] Continue Reading »

Hanson Leads Turnaround
Jul. 28, 2008
Double-A Mississippi opened the Southern League season with a 2-15 record and spent most of the campaign's first two months in the South Division cellar. Yet by the all-star break, the M-Braves had improved to an overall mark of 46-49, thanks in large part to improved starting pitching. [...] Continue Reading »

Braves Midseason Report
Jul. 10, 2008
Braves righthander Charlie Morton has taken a big leap forward this year with his success at Triple-A Richmond. [...] Continue Reading »

Diamond Gaining Value
Jul. 1, 2008
A year ago, Scott Diamond wondered what he had to do to prove himself to the professional ranks. After twirling three seasons at Binghamton and pitching well in his second stint in the collegiate Coastal Plain League, the lefthander wanted to sign, yet no team called his name during the 2007 draft. [...] Continue Reading »

Sticking To Young Guns
Jun. 5, 2008
The Braves have long focused on drafting high school pitchers, and continued the trend by selecting Brett DeVall and Tyler Stovall with their first two picks. [...] Continue Reading »

Reaching Maturity
May. 29, 2008
There have been questions surrounding Diory Hernandez's work ethic and preparation, but his tools appear to be coming around. [...] Continue Reading »

Mississippi Madhouse
May. 14, 2008
Early season struggles to several players have dogged the Double-A Mississippi team. [...] Continue Reading »

Commanding Attention
May. 11, 2008
Tommy Hanson has given little reason to doubt his ability on the mound since signing with the Braves in 2006. Yet as promising the 6-foot-6 righthander has been in the past, it pales in comparison to what he has shown during the early stages of the 2008 slate. Impeccable command and improvements with his curveball and changeup now give Hanson three pitches he can throw for strikes, and he has been dominating hitters at high Class A Myrtle Beach. [...] Continue Reading »

Positive Reinforcement
May. 1, 2008
Forgive Brandon Hicks if he appears confused with the message he's receiving from the Braves. After all, the shortstop is not accustomed to being told he has a future in baseball. [...] Continue Reading »

On The Rebound
Apr. 10, 2008
A year ago the Braves had an abundance of budding third basemen. That could still be the case, though Van Pope and Eric Campbell will need to bounce back after both experienced difficult campaigns in 2007. [...] Continue Reading »

Ready To Bloom
Mar. 27, 2008
Bobby Cox knew who Tyler Flowers was prior to the opening of big league camp, yet the Atlanta skipper admits he did not realize how much power the youngster's bat produces at the plate. "He hits the ball probably as hard as anybody we're got," Cox said. [...] Continue Reading »

Backstop Intrigue
Mar. 19, 2008
The Braves have plenty to choose from in the quest to find a backup to Brian McCann. [...] Continue Reading »

Braves Organization Report
Feb. 29, 2008
As part of their effort to improve their pitching depth, the Braves are counting on contributions from lefthander Will Ohman and righthander Blaine Boyer out of the bullpen. While Ohman arrives as a known commodity from the Cubs, Boyer's return is less heralded, yet could reap similar rewards. [...] Continue Reading »

Braves Organization Report
Feb. 19, 2008
Josh Anderson is thrilled to have a chance to be a Brave. [...] Continue Reading »

Braves Organization Report
Jan. 25, 2008
Rarely do players build on their performances in the Rookie-level Appalachian League with significant activity in winter ball. Yet it happened for a pair of 20-year-old lefthanders this offseason who found roles in their native countries of Venezuela and Mexico. [...] Continue Reading »

Braves Organization Report
Jan. 11, 2008
Charlie Morton possesses talent but lacks consistency. [...] Continue Reading »

Braves Organization Report
Jan. 2, 2008
Despite a quiet presence at the Winter Meetings, Frank Wren is pleased with where his team stands. [...] Continue Reading »