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Marlins, Braves prospects trade blows
Freeman, Teheran, Koehler, others meet in Grapefruit matinee
03/07/2011 8:34 PM ET
Tom Koehler was 16-2 with a 2.61 ERA with Jacksonville last year.
Tom Koehler was 16-2 with a 2.61 ERA with Jacksonville last year. (Tony Farlow/MiLB.com)
If you looked too quickly, you might have guessed it was the Southern League All-Star Game, or maybe a Double-A and Triple-A showcase.

A veritable parade of prospects erupted out of Monday's Spring Training matinee between the Atlanta Braves and the Florida Marlins at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Fla. After 10 innings, the Marlins emerged on top, 4-3, with Florida farmhand Byran Petersen rapping a one-out, walk-off single.

Julio Teheran, MLB.com's No. 10 Top Prospect, made his Spring Training debut for the losing side. The 20-year-old righty's first Grapefruit League outing had been delayed when he experience back spasms in late February.

A 2010 Futures Game selection who went 9-8 with a 2.59 ERA while climbing from Class A through Class A Advanced to Double-A last year, Teheran turned in a scoreless frame. He allowed two hits and struck out Joe Thurston during his seventh-inning appearance.

"I was very emotional," Teheran told MLB.com with Braves bullpen coach Eddie Perez interpreting. "It was difficult for me. It was different, because I never came out of the bullpen before."

It certainly made an impression on the Braves.

"It's nice that our young kids are coming up and they're not overwhelmed by pitching against Major League hitters or this atmosphere," Atlanta pitching coach Roger McDowell said.

Petersen, who had 20 extra-base hits in 91 games at Triple-A New Orleans last year, enjoyed his moment of triumph at the expense of Braves southpaw Jose Ortegano, who pitched 131 innings between Class A Advanced Myrtle Beach and Triple-A Gwinnett in 2010.

Osvaldo Martinez, a 2010 Southern League All-Star who's considered Florida's best shortstop prospect, replaced Hanley Ramirez on defense in the top of the sixth. He came through with a base knock in the seventh.

Tom Koehler, who was named the Southern League's Most Outstanding Pitcher in 2010 and started the circuit's All-Star Game, blew a save by surrendering a run in the ninth. He tiptoed out of danger in the 10th, though, to earn the win. Koehler allowed seven hits over three innings pitched in his second appearance of the spring.

Braves prospect Freddie Freeman, who will likely make the team out of camp this year, delivered a 3-for-3 performance, and center field prospect Mycal Jones was 0-for-2 after coming off the bench. J.C. Boscan, Jose Constanza and Matt Young each singled.

Eight Atlanta pitchers took the mound, and all of them except two -- starter Tim Hudson and southpaw Eric O'Flaherty -- spent significant time in the Minors last year.

Randall Delgado was among them. He made his Grapefruit League debut for the Braves, striking out the first two batters he faced and getting Logan Morrison to bounce out to first in the ninth.

Josh Jackson is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.
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