Historic Speed, League-Leading Pitching Headline Stripers' 2026 Season
CLICK HERE to see the Game Notes 2026 Season Recap The 2026 Gwinnett Stripers fought their way to a winning season in what most fans would consider to be an old-school way: speed on the bases, pounding the strike zone, and taking a scrappy approach to each game. Gwinnett produced
CLICK HERE to see the Game Notes 2026 Season Recap
The 2026 Gwinnett Stripers fought their way to a winning season in what most fans would consider to be an old-school way: speed on the bases, pounding the strike zone, and taking a scrappy approach to each game.
Gwinnett produced winning records in both halves (38-36 in the first half, 38-37 in the second half), securing a winning overall record (76-73) for the first time with manager Kanekoa Texeira at the helm. It was the first time a Stripers club finished over .500 since 2021 (71-58, .550).
HISTORY MADE ON THE BASEPATHS
The Stripers' speed on the basepaths was more than just the club's offensive calling card, it was history-making. Gwinnett led Triple-A Baseball with 291 stolen bases in 2026, smashing the previous Atlanta Braves Triple-A record of 217 set in 2024.
For the first time in Gwinnett history, four different players topped 30 steals, with DaShawn Keirsey Jr. (40, T-4th), Jim Jarvis (40, T-4th), Luke Williams (37, 7th) and Brewer Hicklen (30, 12th) all ranking among the International League's top 15.
"I don't know the last time we had this much speed," said Texeira. "To have so many of these guys willing to run and take advantage of the free base has been such a gift for us and I think that's what kept us in a lot of games."
Leading the way was Keirsey Jr., who became just the third player in Gwinnett history to reach 40 steals, joining Luis Durango (46 in 2012) and Forrest Wall (52 in 2023). Keirsey Jr. was by far the most efficient of the three, being caught just three times in 43 attempts for a 93% success rate.
"It's a massive part of my game and I put a lot of time and effort into that side of the game," said Keirsey Jr. "Going out there and stealing bases is a way I can help the team, and to me it's an art."
Keirsey Jr.'s prowess on the bases earned him a September call-up to Atlanta. He would not be the only Striper to reach the 40-steal milestone in 2026.
With two steals in the season finale on September 20 vs. Indianapolis, Jarvis joined him in the exclusive club despite playing in just 100 of Gwinnett's 149 games. He might have reached 50 if not for 38 games over two stints during his Major League debut with Atlanta.
Jarvis and the Stripers sent the message early that they would be the league's most dynamic base stealing squad. On April 7 against the Nashville Sounds, they tallied a club-record 10 stolen bases, with Jarvis at the forefront becoming the first Gwinnett player to steal four bases in one game.
Oh, and did we mention a Gwinnett record of 10 steals on the game? https://t.co/qmg24YSIiz pic.twitter.com/44aEHYNYnm
— Gwinnett Stripers (@GoStripers) April 8, 2026
On top of his impact on the bases, Jarvis was the Stripers' biggest offensive catalyst, largely from the leadoff spot. The 25-year-old was awarded with both the Stripers' Most Valuable Player and Fan Favorite Player awards after posting a .296 average (6th in IL) and reaching base safely in 88 of 100 Triple-A games (.392 OBP, 6th in IL).
"I think it was just a cool cap to a fun season," said Jarvis on receiving the Stripers' MVP award. "I'm obviously thankful for the coaching staff. They've helped a lot this year, so it was good to get a little bit of recognition from them."
Williams, the longest tenured Striper, slid into sole possession of second place on Gwinnett's career steals list in 2026. On July 18 in a doubleheader against the Iowa Cubs, Williams stole his 27th base of the season and 65th all-time as a Striper to surpass Forrest Wall. He finished the year with 75 steals, 13 behind franchise leader Jose Constanza (88 steals from 2011-14).
Hicklen also stole 30 bases to go along with a team-leading 18 home runs as one of a few veterans new to the Stripers in 2026 that brought pop at the plate. Like Keirsey Jr. and Jarvis, the veteran outfielder also could have tallied an even larger number of steals if not for two call-ups to Atlanta, the latter of which went through the season's end.
When Jarvis went up to Atlanta for the second time on July 2, it left a hole at the top of the order.
That hole was quickly filled on July 11 when outfielder Patrick Clohisy arrived for his Triple-A debut. After stealing 37 bases in 70 games for Double-A Columbus, it was clear he would fit right in with the Stripers' aggressive approach.
Stripers fans quickly found out that he was more than a thief on the basepaths. Clohisy immediately homered and made a spectacular diving catch in his Triple-A debut vs. Memphis, giving a sneak peek of what was to come.
Over the final two plus months of the season, Clohisy led the International League in both batting (.340) and stolen bases (25). Including his 37 steals in Columbus, Clohisy tied for eighth on Minor League Baseball's stolen base leaderboard with 62.
PAT CLOHISY. MUST-SEE TV. pic.twitter.com/WVz5kyH3jO
— Gwinnett Stripers (@GoStripers) August 20, 2026
YOUNG ARMS LEAD GWINNETT TO LEAGUE-BEST ERA
On the mound for the Stripers, it was a unique test for a new coaching tandem that was passed with flying colors.
Lance Carter joined the coaching staff as the new Stripers pitching coach with 26-year-old Tyler Dalton alongside him as the assistant pitching coach. Both came from within the Braves organization, but Triple-A was uncharted territory.
For Carter, this was his first season in a Triple-A role after years of coaching at other minor league levels, as well as collegiately. Dalton, meanwhile, took on his first coaching role at a minor league affiliate after previously serving as the Braves' Florida Complex League Pitching Coach.
Inexperience didn't stop them from guiding their ever-changing pitching staff to the top team ERA (4.11), starter ERA (4.13), and WHIP (1.34) in the International League. Gwinnett also ranked second in reliever ERA (4.09) and third in BAA (.236).
"The guys have been consistent day to day, Lance and I have put in a lot of hard work with each guy and done a lot of different things," said Dalton. "To see the work that these guys have put in translate to on-field performance is really good to see."
The coaching duo inherited a staff that was headlined by a pair of returning top prospects in young right-handers JR Ritchie and Didier Fuentes.
Ritchie, the Braves' No. 1 prospect according to MLB.com at the start of the year, was the Stripers' Opening Night starter. Following a loss on March 27 vs. Memphis, he was dominant over his next four starts as the International League Pitcher of the Month for April, going 3-0 with a 0.38 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, and .135 BAA.
Fuentes and his upper 90's fastball were too much for Triple-A hitters, as the Tolu, Colombia native posted a 2.16 ERA with 20 strikeouts over three April starts. By late April, he and Ritchie both departed for the big leagues, and the deck was reshuffled for the first of many times throughout the year.
Just another day at the office for Didier Fuentes 🔥
— Gwinnett Stripers (@GoStripers) April 9, 2026
6.0 IP | 2 H | 0 R | 0 ER | 4 BB | 8 K pic.twitter.com/iJ8D9vvns7
The month of May saw the promotion of another highly touted Braves pitching prospect, this time 22-year-old Owen Murphy.
After a shaky start to his Triple-A career, Murphy began to settle in as the calendar turned from Spring to Summer. From June 2 on, Atlanta's No. 10 prospect posted a 2.44 ERA with 68 strikeouts and just 22 walks over 13 starts to earn the Stripers' Most Outstanding Pitcher Award. Murphy also received multiple call-ups to Atlanta, where he finished the season.
“Truly, it was mental," Murphy said about his mid-season adjustment. "It was a lot of confidence and conviction in the pitches I’d throw. Really scouting a team beforehand and not taking a single pitch off.”
Other young arms cycled into Gwinnett all season with the likes of Garrett Baumann, Herick Hernandez, Cedric De Grandpre, Brett Sears, and Davis Polo.
While Fuentes went up in April and didn't look back as one of the dominant relievers in Major League Baseball, Ritchie's journey was more back and forth.
After five different call-ups throughout the summer, Ritchie was back in Gwinnett as the season winded down. He continued to attack despite the demotions, breaking the Stripers' single-game record for strikeouts by fanning 15 Charlotte Knights on September 6.
🚨 15 STRIKEOUTS FOR JR RITCHIE. A NEW GWINNETT RECORD. 🚨
— Gwinnett Stripers (@GoStripers) September 6, 2026
6.2 IP | 4 H | 2 R | 1 BB | 15 K pic.twitter.com/Q2lf48rGOE
While youth reigned supreme in the rotation, out of the bullpen it was a three-headed monster of veteran right-handers. Ian Hamilton, Joel Payamps and James Karinchak all spent stints in Atlanta, but stifled Triple-A hitters for most of the season.
The trio combined for 19 saves with a 3.51 ERA over 120.1 innings. Karinchak and his 3.19 ERA were good enough to win the Stripers' Most Outstanding Reliever after dominating with a two-pitch mix, a power curveball and a four-seam fastball.
Hamilton led the team in saves with nine to go along with a 2.79 ERA. After a difficult beginning of the year in Atlanta, Payamps got his feet underneath him with Gwinnett, posting 47 strikeouts across 39.1 innings.
In the second half, the group was joined by righty Blake Burkhalter, whose 2.43 ERA earned a brief call-up to the Braves in September.
A SEASON OF NAIL-BITERS
The Stripers' 76 wins came largely the same way their 73 losses did, in close fashion, Of Gwinnett's 149 games, 100 were decided by three runs or less, including 46 decided by just one run.
Gwinnett also rallied time and time again, with 29 comeback wins, highlighted by matching the largest in club history after overcoming a 10-2 deficit to beat Nashville 13-10 on June 26.
The Stripers walked it off six times, including a Hicklen homer on July 10 vs. Memphis just hours before he got the call to Atlanta. The triumph that clinched Gwinnett's winning season also came in walk-off fashion, courtesy of a 10th-inning single by Brett Wisely for an 8-7 victory over Indianapolis on September 18.
WHERE THERE'S A WISELY, THERE'S A WAY.
— Gwinnett Stripers (@GoStripers) September 19, 2026
STRIPERS WIN. pic.twitter.com/OuVgGoibWu
For Texeira and his staff, Carter, Dalton, hitting coach Dan DeMent, and coaches Angel Flores and Ruben Gotay, the blueprint remained the same regardless of who walked through the door: Win on the bases with top tier speed, win on the mound with youthful exuberance and control of the strike zone, and find a way to strike late in close games.
The season may not have ended with an International League title for the Stripers, but it was one of the most exciting campaigns Gwinnett Field has seen in its 17 years. And Tex agrees.
"This is probably the most fun year I've ever had managing. It's just the group of kids we got, the staff members I got, and it's been a lot of fun."