Atlanta Braves News: The Morning Chop, What To Do With Mallex Smith? Happy Birthday Ronald Acuna!
Winter leagues roundup: Acuna, Garrett, Padlo growing Down Under
Tomahawk Take Editor’s Note: First off…Happy Birthday Ronald Acuna!! He turns 19-years-old today!!
Yes, Acuna was announced to the Australian Winter League All-Star game a few days ago, but it seems like everyone is still talking about this/him. Acuna just continues to rake and it seems like he’s got hotter since it was announced. Last night, he went 3-6 with two doubles and a walk. He’s now batting .364 during his time with the Melbourne Aces. In 20 games with the Aces, he has two homers, one triple, five doubles and 13 stolen bases.
After the 2015 season, Acuna was ranked prospect #26 by Baseball America. Now, he’s BA’s #6 prospect in the Braves organization. Watch out for this now 19-year-old!
It was announced this week that Ronald Acuna, Stone Garrett and Kevin Padlo will represent the World team in the 2017 Australian Baseball League All-Star Game, which is set to be played on Dec. 22 at Melbourne Ballpark.
Acuna’s .359 average, the second-best mark in the ABL, through 17 games for the Melbourne Aces made him an obvious selection for the game — this after the Braves’ No. 17 prospect posted a .311/.387/.432 slash line over 40 games at Class A Rome last season in an injury-plagued campaign. In addition to his average, Acuna, 18, owns a share of the league lead in hits (23) and steals (12) and is tied for second in total bases (34).
Braves mulling Mallex’s role for 2017 season
Tomahawk Take Editor’s Note: We talked about this the other day a little, but each day we get closer to the 2017 season the more and more questions will arise about what happens to Mallex Smith next year?
Smith was rushed to the MLB last year when Ender Inciarte was injured and then his injury happened in the summer. The nagging thumb injury Smith had continued until late in the year and he missed a lot of time. After being assigned to a team in the Mexico Winter League, he was cut because he was struggling at the plate. Now he’s with the Indios de Mayaguez in the Roberto Clemente Winter League. Smith is hitting .419 with three stolen bases.
My guess is that the 23-year-old needs a little more time in the minors. Throughout high school, Smith concentrated on football so his baseball skills aren’t all there yet…ex base running, bunting, tracking balls in the outfield.
Mallex Smith missed most of the past season’s second half with a fractured thumb and then went to the Mexican Winter League only to be released just a few weeks later. The Braves outfielder is now playing in Puerto Rico to make up for lost time and prepare for an unknown role for the upcoming season.
With Matt Kemp, Ender Inciarte and Nick Markakis set to serve as the starting outfielders, the Braves must determine whether to enter the upcoming season with Smith as a backup in Atlanta or an everyday player for Triple-A Gwinnett. The first option could provide immediate late-inning benefits and the latter would seemingly best satisfy the long-term interests of the talented, but still raw outfielder.
“[Smith] is a talented player, but he still needs more development,” Braves president of baseball operations John Hart said. “At the same point, Mallex is interesting because he can do a lot of things for you. He can [play] all three outfield positions and he can run. But the question we are asking ourselves is, ‘Are we doing him a disservice and ultimately ourselves a disservice by making him a role or bench player?'”
When Will the Oldest Active Ballplayer Stop?
Tomahawk Take Editor’s Note: When will Bartolo Colon retire? Never!! But in all seriousness, this could be his last season. He’s chasing former MLB pitcher Juan Marichal‘s win total for a pitcher from the Dominican Republic. Marichal had 243 wins from 1960 to 1975. Bartolo currently has 233 as we enter the 2017 season. As a driven individual, I think Colon shoots for this record. If he gets 11 wins this year, he could very well retire. If he doesn’t, he may give it one more year in 2018. Let’s enjoy this freak athlete when he still can!
While a number of iconic ballplayers finished their careers in recent seasons, Bartolo Colon is extending his. Instead of any serious consideration, Colon laughed off any potential thoughts of retirement late last season. The Atlanta Braves maintained the 44-year-old’s career for at least one more season with a $12.5 million contract. In effect, his goal of passing his countryman Juan Marichal in the Dominican Republic record books is achievable.
The ugly truth that every ballplayer inevitably faces is that baseball does not stop once they retire. Colon will address this fact one day, but not until he achieves his goal of making history in his native country. Born in Altamira, Puerto Plata, Colon is second behind Marichal for the winningest pitcher born in the Dominican Republic. By finishing last season 15-8 with 233 career wins, Colon is 11 wins away from breaking the Dominican Dandy’s record.
“If God lets me continue, I want to win 19 more games,” Colon said (per New York Daily News). “If he lets me get 19 more wins, then I would walk away.”
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