Of all the catchers drafted by the Braves in the last two drafts, it seems we've all been waiting for one guy to make his mark. That time might have finally arrived.
His name is Tyler Tewell, and he's one of boatload of Southern Conference players drafted by the Braves this decade.
He bats lefty and does not strike out a ton. At 5-11, 185, think McCann Lite.
And out of the blue, he's become a major threat at the plate.
Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain, or his .234 average for the season. Focus on the just-completed four-game series with Asheville -- Tewell played in all four, going 7-for-16 with a pair of homers and a whopping 10 RBIs (the home was a grand slam, to be sure).
His current total of eight homers more than doubles his rookie output, and he's certainly getting the lion's share of playing time at Rome. But remember, last year Cory Brownsten was named the SAL's top defensive catcher with Rome and has virtually disappeared from the Braves' landscape. But Tewell has much more of an offensive background, hitting .357 in his one full, healthy season at ASU.
Add to that, his catching skills measure up.
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MONDAY'S GAMES
CLASS AAA
Gwinnett (47-63) 8, Charlotte 3
WP: Flande (6-6, CG) 9 IP, 8 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 5 K. (103 pitches)
Carrithers 1-5, HR (3rd), RBI; Kazmar 2-3, 2B, 3B, R, 4 RBI; Gartrell 2-4, 2B, 2 R, RBI; Gosselin 2-5, 2B; Leonard 1-4, 2B, 2 R; Boggs 3-5, 2B, 2 R; Yepez 1-3, 2 RBI.
CLASS AA
Mississippi (18-16) 4, Montgomery 2
SP: Schlosser 4 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K. (2.35).
WP: Moran (1-1) 4 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 K. Harper (Save, 6) 1 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K.
Bethancourt 3-4, R, RBI, 2 SB; Hefflinger 1-4, 2B, 3 RBI; Brewer 1-3, R, SB; La Stella 1-4, 3 (.331).
ADVANCED CLASS A
Lynchburg (12-21) 6, Frederick 1
WP: Ross (7-4) 7 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 2 K. Shreve 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K. (0.00).
E. Reyes 1-4, R, 3B, 3 RBI; Kubitza 3-4, 2B, R; McGill 1-3, 2B, 2 R; Hyams 2-3, 2B, RBI.
CLASS A
Rome (16-20) 9, Augusta 6
WP: L. Sims (6-4) 5 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 4 BB, 5 K.
Wren 2-6, 2B, R, RBI, SB (18); Peraza 1-4, 2 RBI, BB, SB (47); Carroll 1-4, R, RBI, SB; Heffley 1-2, 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI; Tewell 2-5, R.
SHORT-SEASON
Danville (19-16) 5, Bluefield 1
WP: Gil (1-1) 5 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 6 K. Marksberry 2.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 4 K.
Lien 1-4, 3B, RBI, 2 SB; Brown 3-4, 2 R, 2B, HR (1st), 2 RBI; Schrader 1-4, 2B, R, RBI.
Game One
GC Tigers 1, GC Braves (12-18) 0
LP: Espinosa (2-2) 4 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 5 K.
V. Reyes 1-2, BB (.355); Obregon 1-3. Only 2 hits.
Game Two
GC Tigers 7, GC Braves 5 (9)
SP: Zavala 5 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 7 K.
LP: Paulino (0-1) 2 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 11
Sears 1-4, 3B, RBI; McKenzie 2-4, R, 3B, HR (1st) 4 RBIs; Livesay 1-4.
DSL Blue Jays 6, DSL Braves (20-26) 4
LP: Santiago (1-5) 3 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 3 HBP.
Leiva 5 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K.
Tejada 2-4, 2 RBI; Estevez 2-5, R, RBI; Didder 1-4, RBI; Chin 1-5, R.