Alexander, Pfeifer promoted to M-Braves, Wilkins activated and transferred to Florida
PEARL, MS - The Atlanta Braves made the following roster moves before tonight's 6:35 pm series opener against the Tennessee Smokies, which affects the Mississippi Braves roster. 3B C.J. Alexanderand LHP Phil Pfeifer have been transferred to Mississippi from High-A Florida, and 1B Andy Wilkins has been reinstated from the 7-Day Injured List and transferred
PEARL, MS - The Atlanta Braves made the following roster moves before tonight's 6:35 pm series opener against the Tennessee Smokies, which affects the Mississippi Braves roster. 3B C.J. Alexanderand LHP Phil Pfeifer have been transferred to Mississippi from High-A Florida, and 1B
Alexander, 23, a Merrillville, Indiana native, started the 2019 season with Mississippi but was placed on the 7-Day Injured List on April 18 with a bone spur in his right elbow. He was activated from the injured list and transferred to High-A Florida on July 5.
Before his injury, Alexander played in 11 games with the M-Braves where he hit .143 with four hits, one double, and four RBI. Last season at Florida Alexander hit .325 with five runs, 26 hits, five doubles, one triple, one home run, and seven RBIs. Since being reinstated, he has played in 19 for the FireFrogs games where he has hit .133 with a .297 OBP with four runs, eight hits, nine total bases, one double, one RBI, 14 walks, and three stolen bases.
The Atlanta Braves drafted Alexander out of the State College of Florida in the 20th round in 2018 .
Pfeifer, 27, a Vanderbilt product, has split the 2019 season between Double-A Mississippi and High-A Florida.
To start the season, Pfeifer pitched in relief in seven games for Mississippi with a record of 1-1 and a 4.91 ERA (6 ER/11.0 IP) with opposing batters hitting .225. He was then transferred to Florida where he has pitched in 16 games, starting in 14, with a record of 4-6 and a 3.23 ERA (33 ER/92.0 IP), striking out 110 batters while only walking 23 with a WHIP of 1.13 and opposing batters hitting .234 with 81 hits and seven home runs.
The Knoxville, Tennessee native has recorded one complete game this season on July 13 where he allowed two runs on six hits across 7.0 innings earning the win. His next appearance on July 18, the former Vanderbilt Commodore set a franchise record of 17 strikeouts against Palm Beach, where he threw eight shutout innings.
The Atlanta Braves acquired Pfeifer from the Los Angeles Dodgers along with RHP
Wilkins, 30, was placed on the 7-Day Injured List on May 25 after playing in 37 games for Mississippi.
Before his knee injury, the Tulsa, Oklahoma native hit .204 with 11 runs on 23 hits with 39 total bases, hitting four doubles, four home runs, 11 RBI, and a .308 OBP. Across his Minor League career, Wilkins has played for three Southern League teams: the Birmingham Barons, the Chicago Lookouts, and the Mississippi Braves.
Wilkins made his Major League debut on August 31, 2014, for the Chicago White Sox against Detroit where he went 0-4.
The Arkansas product was drafted in the 5th round of the 2010 draft by the Chicago White Sox. The Toronto Blue Jays acquired Wilkins in March 2015 off waivers and was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers in May 2015. Later that year, the Baltimore Orioles claimed Wilkins off waivers in September 2015. In December 2015, Wilkins was acquired by the Seattle Mariners off waivers, then by the Texas Rangers of waivers, and then the Milwaukee Brewers off waivers. In June 2017, the Minnesota Twins signed Wilkins as a free agent. The Atlanta Braves acquired Wilkins March 2019.
The Braves return to Trustmark Park to begin the month of August and a five-game series against the Tennessee Smokies. RHP