SAL notes: Braves' Davidson heads home

Braxton Davidson did not have far to travel last June when the Atlanta Braves drafted the Asheville, North Carolina, product with the 32nd overall pick. His path to the big leagues then ventured even closer to home last weekend when he and the Class A Rome Braves visited McCormick Field for a four-game series with the Asheville Tourists.

Greeted by more than two dozen friends and family members as well as many of his former teammates from T.C. Roberson High School, Davidson struck out three times in as many at-bats in the series opener on May 14 after he peppered the parking lot with numerous blasts beyond the right-field wall during batting practice.

Another 0-for-3 showing followed on Friday, May 15, before Davidson notched three singles and scored a run to guide the R-Braves to a 6-3 victory on Saturday.

"It's always good to see familiar faces, and it's a great feeling knowing that people are supporting you," said the 18-year-old Davidson. "Being in the Braves organization and playing in the South Atlantic League is special because I grew up as a Braves fan and came to games here all the time. Being able to play and chase my dream as a Brave is special because not everyone gets to play the game they love for a living. I'm thankful and blessed to have this opportunity and I'm trying to make the most of it."

Davidson was considered to possess as much power as any high school player available in last year's Draft. He has shown signs of his pop during his first 34 games with the R-Braves by hitting three home runs with five doubles. And though he struck out 37 times in his first 111 at-bats, Davidson has displayed a mature approach at the plate by walking on 24 occasions, which was tied for second in the SAL through games of May 19.

"He has a great idea of what he's doing with the bat," said Rome manager Randy Ingle. "He's very disciplined, doesn't swing at a lot of balls out of the strikezone. He's making adjustments in a couple of areas, and overall he's doing an outstanding job."

One area in which the Braves are working with Davidson is his mechanics at the plate. The alterations include incorporating a slight leg kick to improve his timing, which the outfielder feels will help him reduce the number of times he swings and misses.

Davidson is also honing his skills in right field after playing first base for most of his amateur career. Braves coach Bobby Moore has been impressed with the youngster's first-step quickness and instincts in the outfield, adding that Davidson has above-average arm strength with excellent accuracy and carry on his throws.

"I played outfield in travel ball and also for the first 10 games or so during my senior year of high school," said Davidson, who is hitting .243/.382/.369. "I'm just trying to get better every single day in order to be the best I can be. It's tough out there, especially switching from one position that you grew up playing your entire life to another one in pro ball. But this game is all about making adjustments and that's what I'm trying to do."

Most of his adjustments are coming against older competition. In fact Davidson, who will not turn 19 until June 18, entered the season as the ninth-youngest player in the SAL. That does not intimidate the outfielder, who appreciates having the opportunity to compete and improve against some of the game's best prospects.

"It's fun playing against guys who are three, four and even five years older than you," Davidson said. "But it doesn't matter how old you are, you still have to step up to the plate and challenge them. They're not going to back down. I need to show at my young age that I'm not backing down. I just need to be more consistent and do what I know I'm capable of doing."

In brief

Another homecoming: Rome outfielder Stephen Gaylor should not have much trouble finding his way around town after he was promoted to the Braves last week from extended spring training. Signed by Atlanta as a non-drafted free agent in August 2014, Gaylor is a Rome native who played at Rome High School as well as nearby Berry College.

Mateo, Rogers off to the races: Charleston shortstop Jorge Mateo and Asheville center fielder Wes Rogers are proving to be the two most prolific base stealers in the Minors so far this season. Mateo tops all Minor Leaguers with 29 steals, while Rogers ranks second with 27. Mateo has been caught seven times; Rogers has been nabbed on four occasions. Lexington infielder Carlos Garcia is third in the SAL and seventh overall with 21 swipes.

Dog days in Greensboro: A right hind leg injury suffered during warm-ups sidelined Miss Lou Lou Gehrig, preventing the Labrador Retriever bat dog from performing her seventh-inning duties in Greensboro's May 17 game against Delmarva. The 3-year-old Lou Lou is being groomed to replace the legendary Miss Babe Ruth, who recently announced her retirement effective at the end of the 2015 season. "Our dogs work very hard and unfortunately injuries are part of the game," said Greensboro president and general manage Donald Moore. "It also reinforces how incredible Babe's streak is, as she worked her 597th consecutive game last night."