Braves prospects show promise in Spring Breakout
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- As Terry Pendleton prepared to serve as the manager of the Braves prospect team that played the Tigers prospect team in a Spring Breakout game on Sunday afternoon, he said fans should be patient with John Gil and Luis Guanipa, a pair of teenagers who have
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- As Terry Pendleton prepared to serve as the manager of the Braves prospect team that played the Tigers prospect team in a Spring Breakout game on Sunday afternoon, he said fans should be patient with John Gil and Luis Guanipa, a pair of teenagers who have experienced just one full season at the professional level.
“Both of them are young puppies, but you will continue to see them progress,” Pendleton said. “If they continue to grow the way they have, I think you will see them in the big leagues.”
Gil, who ranks as the Braves' No. 14 prospect, and Guanipa, who ranks No. 15 on the same list, were the two highest ranked Braves position player prospects to participate in this year’s event. Both should begin this season where they ended last season, with Single-A Augusta.
Both prospects produced a near .800 OPS in the Florida Complex League before receiving a promotion. With the elimination of short-season Rookie-level teams, they made the jump to the Single-A ranks and struggled. Guanipa had a .450 OPS in 32 games and Gil had a .552 OPS over 39 games.
This was a humbling experience for Guanipa, who received a $2.5 million signing bonus. Gil has successfully played the underdog role since receiving a far more meager $110,000 signing bonus.
“We knew what we were sending there,” Pendleton said. “We knew it was going to be kids that weren't going to get crushed by this. Some kids lose confidence and they're done. You have to be real sensitive with certain kids. You can't send them there knowing that if they fail or don't succeed, they're done. These two kids will fight you, too, until they’ve got nothing left, you know? We knew they would bounce back if they had success or didn't have success.”
Gil started at shortstop on Sunday and went 1-for-3 with an infield single. He exited under his own power after seemingly pulling a left leg muscle while attempting to beat out a grounder in the sixth. Guanipa batted ninth and went 0-for-2 with a strikeout while playing center field.
Three of Sunday’s pitchers ranked among the Braves’ Top 12 prospects. Here is a look at how they did:
RHP JR Ritchie (Braves No. 8 prospect): The 21-year-old right-hander’s parents were among the friends and family members who flew from the Seattle area to see him start this game. They were treated to seeing him work a perfect first inning against three players from MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 Prospects list -- Max Clark (No. 6), Kevin McGonigle (No. 28) and Thayron Liranzo (No. 81).
📩 SUBSCRIBE TO THE BASEBALL TRAVELER NEWSLETTER
Ritchie ended the first inning by striking out Liranzo with a 97 mph fastball. The young hurler, who was taken with the 35th overall selection in the 2022 MLB Draft, allowed two runs, surrendered five hits and recorded a pair of strikeouts in three innings of work. He missed most of the 2023 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery.
“It was a great experience all around,” Ritchie said. “I loved it and I felt great. It was everything I thought it would be.”
RHP Garrett Baumann (Braves No. 9 prospect): The 6-foot-8 pitcher towers over Isaiah Drake, his 6-foot roommate last year. Drake playfully got under Baumann’s skin in the dugout last year. The tall pitcher responded with an impressive performance over the remainder of that outing.
“He wasn’t happy about what [Drake] did, so I asked him a question,” Pendleton said. “'Why don’t you take that to the mound with you?' You could tell what he has to offer. At times, it seemed like he wasn’t sure of himself. I said, ‘Hey we need to see that bulldog on the mound.'”
Baumann’s inexperience and nerves were on display as he walked five of the 10 hitters he faced on Sunday. He flashed his potential with a 98 mph fastball that he will try to harness as he likely begins the upcoming season with High-A Rome.
RHP Didier Fuentes (Braves No. 12 prospect): The 19-year-old hurler was added to Atlanta’s roster Sunday and he took advantage of the chance to shine. He flashed an upper 90s fastball while recording three strikeouts in a scoreless seventh and added two more strikeouts in a scoreless eighth. He finished his outing with two strikeouts in a scoreless ninth, finishing his day with a game-high 7 K's.
Supervising Club Reporter Mark Bowman has covered the Braves for MLB.com since 2001.
Pichardo’s Big Day Leads 6-4 Win
ERIE, PA – Kervin Pichardo went a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate and drove in a pair to lead Altoona to a 6-4 win over the Erie SeaWolves on Saturday afternoon at UPMC Park. Wilber Dotel struck out eight batters in six innings and allowed just three runs (two earned)
Curve Shutout on Friday Night
ERIE, PA – Altoona got a strong start from Garrett McMillan in his Double-A debut, but, Erie earned their second shutout win of the week, 7-0, on Friday night at UPMC Park in Erie. McMillan scattered three hits against the first seven hitters and then dialed in to retire ten
Curve Fight Back, Fall Late at Erie
ERIE, PA – Altoona dropped their third straight game at Erie’s UPMC Park on Thursday night, 4-3. Erie’s Trei Cruz singled home Danny Serretti to send Erie to their second straight walk-off win over Altoona. Alessandro Ercolani tossed the first three innings of the contest for Altoona, allowing a pair
SeaWolves Outlast Curve on Wednesday Afternoon
ERIE, PA – Altoona dropped their second extra-inning game of the season, falling 6-4 to the Erie SeaWolves on Wednesday afternoon at UPMC Park. Termarr Johnson got Altoona’s scoring starting with a no-doubt solo homer to lead off the fourth inning against lefty Carlos Pena. Johnson’s fourth home run of
Curve Bats Quieted in Series Opener at Erie
ERIE, PA – Altoona’s offense was held to just two hits in a 3-0 defeat to the Erie SeaWolves on Tuesday night at UPMC Park. Jarod Bayless started a bullpen day with the Curve and allowed just one run on four hits in three innings. Bayless, who was charged with
Hunter Barco Named Eastern League Pitcher of the Month
Curve left-hander Hunter Barco has been named April’s Eastern League Pitcher of the Month on Monday afternoon. Barco has set the franchise record for the longest scoreless inning with 25.2 innings to begin the season after throwing five scoreless innings on Saturday, May 3 against the Akron RubberDucks. Previously, he
Dotel Dispatches Ten ‘Ducks in 3-2 Win
CURVE, PA – Wilber Dotel matched his career-high with ten strikeouts in six innings of one-run ball, and Mitch Jebb singled home the game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth to finish off a 3-2 win for the Curve over the Akron RubberDucks on Sunday afternoon at Peoples Natural
Barco Sets Franchise Record for Longest Scoreless Streak in 5-3 Loss to Akron
CURVE, PA – Hunter Barco fired five scoreless innings, setting the franchise record with 26.1 scoreless innings thrown to begin the season, but the Curve fell 5-3 to the Akron RubberDucks on Saturday night at Peoples Natural Gas Field. Barco allowed just two hits and walked three in his scoreless
Jebb Drives in Two in Rain-Shortened Win
CURVE, PA – Alessando Ercolani tossed four innings of one-run ball, and the Curve offense scored six times on eight hits before the rains chased the teams from the field after the sixth inning on Friday night at Peoples Natural Gas Field. The rain-shortened win, 6-2, for the Curve over
Brannigan Homers in Thursday Loss
CURVE, PA – Jack Brannigan knocked his 2nd homer of the season, but the Curve offense fell short of the RubberDucks in a 4-2 loss on Thursday afternoon at Peoples Natural Gas Field. Pirates rehabber Spencer Horwitz went 0-for-4 and played eight innings in the field in Thursday’s loss. Altoona
Bats Held Quiet on Wednesday Night
CURVE, PA – Altoona’s offense was held to three hits in a 6-0 shutout loss to the Akron RubberDucks on Wednesday night at Peoples Natural Gas Field. Jarod Bayless started a bullpen day for the Curve, allowing three runs in 2.2 innings pitched. Bayless struck out three and did not
Pitchers Dominate Despite Rain in 10-2 Win
CURVE, PA – After a 1:48 rain delay in the second inning that knocked both starting pitchers from the game, the Curve bullpen picked up 13 strikeouts in a 10-2 win over the Akron RubberDucks. The Curve offense banged out ten runs on 12 hits and drew six walks in
Hunter Barco Named Eastern League Pitcher of the Week
CURVE, PA – Curve left-hander Hunter Barco has been named the Eastern League Pitcher of the Week for the week of April 21-27 after a strong week against the Chesapeake Baysox. Barco made two starts last week and stretched his scoreless inning streak to 20.2 innings to begin the season,
Barco Extends Scoreless Streak in Sunday Afternoon Win
BOWIE, MD – Curve starter Hunter Barco struck out eight batters in three scoreless innings and the Curve cruised to a 4-1 win over Chesapeake on Sunday afternoon at Prince George’s Stadium. Barco has now thrown 20.2 consecutive scoreless innings to begin the season and stands five innings shy of
Pirates Acquisition Spencer Horwitz to Rehab with Curve
CURVE, PA – Pirates infielder Spencer Horwitz is scheduled to rehab with the Altoona Curve and make his organizational debut on Sunday, April 27 at Chesapeake. Horwitz is in the Curve starting lineup for Sunday’s game, batting leadoff and playing first base. Horwitz was acquired by the Pirates in a
Curve Bullpen Tosses Seven Scoreless in Extra Inning Defeat
BOWIE, MD – Four Curve relievers combined to throw seven scoreless innings after starter Alessandro Ercolani lasted four innings, but the Chesapeake Baysox outlasted the Curve, 4-3, in 12 innings on Saturday night at Prince George’s Stadium. Altoona’s offense had several opportunities for big innings, particularly in the tenth inning,
Johnson Homers in 3-2 Defeat
BOWIE, MD – Termarr Johnson smashed his third home run of the season, an opposite field game-tying shot in the eighth inning, but Altoona saw their five-game win streak halted in a 3-2 loss to the Chesapeake Baysox on Friday night at Prince George’s Stadium. Johnson’s home run gave him
Curve Offense Sprints to Fifth Straight Win
BOWIE, MD – Cam Sanders slammed the door on the Chesapeake Baysox on Thursday night to earn his sixth save in seven appearances as the Curve won their fifth-straight game, 8-5, at Prince Georges Stadium. Sanders, who leads all Minor League pitchers in saves, has maintained a 0.00 ERA with
Altoona Fights for Fourth Straight Win
BOWIE, MD – Kervin Pichardo slugged a long, two-run home run in his first game back from injury as Altoona earned its fourth straight win, 3-2, over the Chesapeake Baysox at Prince Georges Stadium on Wednesday afternoon. Pichardo, who had missed Altoona’s last 16 games due to a thumb injury,
Barco & Bullpen Blank Baysox
BOWIE, MD – Hunter Barco extended his scoreless innings streak to 17.2 innings to begin the season, combining with Valentin Linarez, Wilken Ramos, and Cam Sanders to shutout the Chesapeake Baysox, 2-0, on Tuesday night at Prince Georges Stadium. Barco struck out eight batters and allowed just two over 4.2
Nine Run Seventh Clinches Series For Curve
CURVE, PA – The Curve scored nine times on eight hits in the bottom of the seventh inning, turning a 2-0 deficit into a 9-2 lead and eventual 9-3 win over the Somerset Patriots on Sunday afternoon at Peoples Natural Gas Field. With the win, Altoona earned a series win
Captain Jack Breaks Late Tie in 2-1 Win
CURVE, PA – Jack Brannigan drove in both of Altoona’s runs, including a go-ahead single in the eighth inning, to secure a 2-1 win over the Somerset Patriots in front of 4,198 fans at Peoples Natural Gas Field on Saturday evening. With the game tied at one in the eighth,
Tres Gonzalez Holds ERA at 0.00
CURVE, PA – Altoona’s offense was held to just three hits and two walks in a 12-1 loss to the Somerset Patriots on Friday night at Peoples Natural Gas Field. Somerset plated five runs across their first three at-bats and added seven more across the fifth to seventh inning. Derek
SportsNet Pittsburgh To Air 20 Curve Games at PNG Field During 2025 Campaign
CURVE, PA – The Altoona Curve are pleased to announce that 20 home games during the 2025 season will air on SportsNet Pittsburgh. “We are so really looking forward to expanding our partnership with SportsNet Pittsburgh to air more Altoona Curve games this season,” said Curve General Manager Nate Bowen.
Rail Kings Strike Out 14 in 6-4 Win
CURVE, PA – Playing as the Altoona Rail Kings, the Curve picked up a 6-4 win over the Somerset Patriots on Thursday night at Peoples Natural Gas Field. The Curve took advantage of three early Somerset errors to score five runs across their first two at-bats. Sammy Siani slammed a