2003 Wrapups: Atlanta Braves
With the 2003 minor league season coming to a close, we will be providing a brief wrapup of the season for all 30 minor league teams. In each report, we will take a look at how the team's Top 10 Prospects performed, identify some emerging prospects and organizational leaders, and report on the performance of their top draft pick.
Complete index of Team Wrapups 2003 League Wrapups
By Kevin Goldstein
September 18, 2003
Season Results
* won league championship
Performance of Top 10 Prospects
Here's how our top 10 prospects entering this season performed in 2003. Major league statistics through games of September 16th.
| 1. Adam Wainwright, rhp
Age: 22 |
Solid season at Double-A. While not as overpowering as he was at the lower levels, he made strides in his control, and for the first time in his career did not run out of steam down the stretch, as he went 4-1, 2.06 in the final month of the season.
| Team |
W-L |
SV |
ERA |
G |
IP |
H |
R |
ER |
BB |
SO |
| Greenville (Double-A)
| 10-8 |
0 |
3.37 |
27 |
149.2 |
133 |
59 |
56 |
37 |
128 |
|
| 2. Wilson Betemit, 3B
Age: 21 |
Another disappointing season at Triple-A, and with the transition from shortstop to third, he'll need to show even more with the bat. Made 28 errors and hit just .171 against lefthanders.
| TEAM | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| Richmond (Triple-A) |
127 |
478 |
55 |
125 |
23 |
13 |
8 |
65 |
38 |
115 |
8 |
.262 |
.315 |
.414 |
|
| 3. Andy Marte, 3b
Age: 19 |
Hit .200-0-5 in April but .303-16-58 thereafter and led the Carolina League in extra-base hits while playing in one of the toughest hitter's parks in the minors. Doesn't turn 20 until late October.
| TEAM | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| Myrtle Beach (High Class A) |
130 |
463 |
69 |
132 |
35 |
1 |
16 |
63 |
67 |
109 |
5 |
.285 |
.372 |
.469 |
|
| 4. Bubba Nelson, rhp
Age: 22 |
Last year's minor league ERA champ started slowly before putting up a 2.25 ERA in his final 10 starts. Moved to the bullpen in August as preparation for a possible look in the majors.
| Team |
W-L |
SV |
ERA |
G |
IP |
H |
R |
ER |
BB |
SO |
| Greenville (Double-A)
| 8-10 |
0 |
3.18 |
23 |
119.0 |
106 |
47 |
42 |
45 |
77 |
| Richmond (Triple-A)
| 0-1 |
0 |
1.88 |
11 |
14.1 |
10 |
3 |
3 |
5 |
7 |
|
| 5. Macay McBride, rhp
Age: 20 |
Last year's Sally League ERA champ struggled at times at Myrtle Beach, allowing nearly a hit per inning. But he proved he can be a workhorse with six-plus innings in each of his last 10 starts.
| Team |
W-L |
SV |
ERA |
G |
IP |
H |
R |
ER |
BB |
SO |
| Myrtle Beach (High Class A)
| 9-8 |
0 |
2.95 |
27 |
162.2 |
164 |
64 |
54 |
39 |
139 |
|
| 6. Jeff Francouer, of
Age: 19 |
Strong season for last year's first-round pick who is playing baseball full-time for the first time. Like many players in their first full season, he ran out of gas (.238 over last 30 games) to bring down his final numbers.
| TEAM | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| Rome (Low Class A) |
134 |
524 |
78 |
147 |
26 |
9 |
14 |
68 |
30 |
68 |
14 |
.281 |
.325 |
.445 |
|
| 7. Carlos Duran, of
Age: 20 |
A disappointing season as he didn't hit lefties, didn't hit righties, hit for less power and continued to struggle on the basepaths. He's just 34 for 62 on stolen bases over the past two years.
| TEAM | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| Myrtle Beach (High Class A) |
118 |
415 |
45 |
93 |
20 |
6 |
3 |
35 |
17 |
60 |
11 |
.224 |
.257 |
.323 |
|
| 8. Scott Thorman, 1b
Age: 21 |
Like Duran, Thorman also struggled at Myrtle Beach, although he did play in the Futures Game. Went through a 7-for-58 (.121) slump in April and finished the year by going 9-for-53 (.170).
| TEAM | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| Myrtle Beach (High Class A) |
124 |
445 |
44 |
108 |
26 |
2 |
12 |
56 |
42 |
79 |
0 |
.243 |
.311 |
.391 |
|
| 9. Brett Evert, rhp
Age: 22 |
Now two years removed from his breakout 2001 campaign, Everett struggled to begin the season but found success after a move to the bullpen (2.55 ERA in 18 games). Given another shot in the rotation, he pitched 12 shutout innings in his first two outings, but went 1-3, 5.00 in his final five games.
| Team |
W-L |
SV |
ERA |
G |
IP |
H |
R |
ER |
BB |
SO |
| Greenville (Double-A)
| 4-9 |
1 |
4.02 |
33 |
116.1 |
126 |
57 |
52 |
44 |
103 |
|
| 10. Gonzalo Lopez, rhp
Age: 19 |
Lopez made just three appearances for Greenville before going down with shoulder tendinitis, and then a suspension. He'll pitch again in instructional league.
| Team |
W-L |
SV |
ERA |
G |
IP |
H |
R |
ER |
BB |
SO |
| Greenville (Double-A)
| 0-2 |
0 |
9.00 |
3 |
10.0 |
12 |
10 |
10 |
4 |
10 |
|
Top Draft Pick:
| Luis Atilano, rhp
Gabriela Mistral HS, San Juan, P.R. Bonus: $950K |
Outperformed by other Braves draftees on the GCL championship squad, Atilano came on strong in the final month of the season and remains projectable.
| Team |
W-L |
SV |
ERA |
G |
IP |
H |
R |
ER |
BB |
SO |
| GCL Braves (Rookie)
| 3-2 |
0 |
3.83 |
12 |
54.0 |
61 |
25 |
23 |
7 |
24 |
|
Emerging Prospects:
Brian McCann, c: Second-round pick in 2002 became an offensive force at Rome, driving in a team-leading 71 runs for the Sally League champions.
Adam Laroche, 1b: The Braves may have their first baseman of the future in LaRoche, who hit .290-20-72 while splitting time between Greenville and Richmond.
Anthony Lerew, rhp: Last year's co-pitcher of the year in the Appy League was Rome's most consistent starter, finishing fourth in the ERA race (2.38) while limiting opposing hitters to a .215 average.
Statistical Leaders
| Batting Average |
Johnny Estrada |
.328 |
| Home Runs |
Adam LaRoche |
20 |
| Runs Batted In |
Adam LaRoche |
72 |
| Stolen Bases |
Gregor Blanco |
34 |
| Earned Run Average |
Anthony Lerew |
2.38 |
| Wins |
Blaine Boyer
Matt Wright |
12 |
| Strikeouts |
Andy Pratt |
161 |
| Saves |
Joe Dawley |
23 |
