The Atlanta Braves announced which minor league players they will invite to spring training this year. This list is long and includes some of the team's top prospects and up-and-coming young ballplayers.
Last year's top pick, left-hander Sean Gilmartin, will join right-hander Zeke Spruill as the two pitching prospects receiving invites. Arizona Fall League standouts catcher Christian Bethancourt and third baseman Joey Terdoslovich will be in camp, along with top shortstop prospect Andrelton Simmons.
Outfielders Todd Cunningham and Stefan Gartrell received invites, as did catcher Evan Gattis, one of the feel-good stories in the Braves organization. Catcher Matt Kennelly also gets an invite, because you can never have too many catchers in spring training.
Our old Aussie friend Peter Moylan also gets an invite to spring training. They will join the previously announced non-roster invitees, who were (mostly) all profiled on Talking Chop over the last month. We will continue our NRI In-Depth series starting next week with the new invitees.
Links to NRI In-Depth player profiles:
Jason Rice
Drew Sutton
Luis Durango
Adam Russell
Yohan Flande
Ernesto Mejia
Josh Wilson
Jordan Parraz
Jose Yepez
Dusty Hughes
0 recs | 21 comments
I haven’t seen anything about Myke Jones getting an invite, that would be disappointing.
bighop - February 2, 2012
this
I would be surprised and disappointed if Myke Jones doesn’t get an invite. He’s closer to the majors than Cunningham.
Braves24 - February 2, 2012
Maybe I misunderstand the process, but I’m certain we will see Myke Jones in Spring Training. It’s a natural incentive built into the farm program and Jones is pretty high on our list of CF options, at least internally.
GumpBrave - February 3, 2012
Jones ....
Very perplexing why he wouldn’t receive an NRI to Spring Training based on his age and level he is at – you would think he would have received one over Cunningham.
bravesfaninchitown - February 3, 2012
Mycal Jones
Has shown a little pop, and has one year of outfield under his belt… It would be nice to see him get a chance as a non roster invitee but I find it unlikely that he makes it with the big league club this year… he is 24 still a bit young so maybe soon.. anyways, i wonder why he was invited to spring training. He hasnt played above double A yet..either maybe thats why?
jdelsandro - February 2, 2012
Pretty sure he was invited last year, but I can’t swear to it.
bighop - February 2, 2012
"He hasnt played above double A yet"???
he had a short run there at the end of 2010, and spent all of last season in Mississippi on our AA roster.
Mr. Sanchez - February 2, 2012
Right, he hasn’t played above AA.
swainzy - February 2, 2012
Stupid reading fail on my part then
Mr. Sanchez - February 2, 2012
But then, AA isn't that far from MLB
and usually more than within range of a non-roster invite. It’s also more, if not much more than Bethancourt, Gilmartin, or Cunningham have.
Mr. Sanchez - February 2, 2012
Yeah, I would much rather see Myke Jones get an invite than Stefan Gartrell. With his huge improvement in plate discipline last year, he may be a good option for a bench spot in the outfield.
swainzy - February 2, 2012
thankyou Mr. Sanchez
do they have future plans for him? Is there a reason why he was moved from SS to center? I know they did the same thing to Lipka starting this year
jdelsandro - February 2, 2012
I'd assume he moved
because he had issues fielding at SS, and they thought he made a better fit for CF. If I’m not mistaken, he’d already moved off SS to 2B before heading to CF, so they’ve been trying to figure where he fit best in to the plans. As for future plans, maybe utility man if his bat doesn’t force him into a more prominent position.
That said, there are much better and more knowledgable posters re Myke Jones than me, hopefully they chime in and correct any of my mistakes.
Mr. Sanchez - February 2, 2012
oops...
see comment below this one.. forgot to hit reply
jdelsandro - February 2, 2012
I never saw anywhere that he played 2b... where did you find that?
http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=jones-001myc
Shows him playing ss and cf only… not doubting you just curious
jdelsandro - February 2, 2012
I think he was working there last off season,...
before they ultimately decided to try CF.
http://www.talkingchop.com/2010/11/19/1823659/braves-top-3-minor-league-second-base-prospects
Mr. Sanchez - February 2, 2012
Yeah, he spent the whole Instructional League in the fall learning second, only to spend all of Spring Training learning center field.
cbwilk - February 2, 2012
Wasn’t Jones considered the top “athlete” in the system before Lipka took that title last year?
bighop - February 2, 2012
Never mind
Just read the link Mr Sanchez provided.
bighop - February 2, 2012
thank you cbwilk
:)
jdelsandro - February 2, 2012
thanks again Mr. Sanchez
for the link…
jdelsandro - February 2, 2012
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