re: The ATL Spring Training Thread: 2016 Edition

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Swisher released

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take that FWIW

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Braves scouting notes

• Braves center fielder Ronald Acuna (No. 13 in their system) was the best hitting prospect on either field Saturday, and he couldn't have looked any better in his at-bats against Tigers starter Anibal Sanchez, who was a little old to be facing a Class A lineup and made most of the hitters look pretty bad. Acuna more than held his own with great bat speed and some indication that he was recognizing pitches, though his massive stride -- I don't understand how he stays on his feet after his swing -- probably makes it hard for him to adjust if he picks up a pitch late.

He's an above-average runner and seemed more than average in center. In three at-bats versus Sanchez, he hit two balls hard, one for a single to right-center, and then struck out looking later against Joe Jimenez on a 3-2 fastball.

• Third baseman Austin Riley, the team's third pick (41st overall) in 2015, couldn't have looked any worse. The team's No. 12 prospect showed slider bat speed that had him behind average fastballs from Sanchez, and he also struck out on a slider well below the zone. He showed 20-grade speed (on the 20-80 scouting scale) running out a double play that he should have beaten, and he fell down on a ground ball hit right at him at third base because he couldn't move his feet enough to allow him to handle the ball cleanly. Instead, he tried at the last second to backhand it and fell down. He has a 70 arm and is clearly very strong, enough to run into some power, but this was not a great look for his hit or glove tools.

• Dansby Swanson, SS
Atlanta Braves
Age: 22 (2/11/94) | B/T: R/R
Height: 6-0 | Weight: 175

Swanson and Ozhaino Albies (No. 20) will have to start at different levels to both remain at shortstop. I think Swanson is the more advanced player, as he's older and had success in the SEC, but Albies seemed to impress the coaching staff this spring and could end up the player in Double-A, with Swanson then starting in high-A.

• Ozhaino Albies, SS
Atlanta Braves
Age: 19 (1/7/97) | B/T: R/R
Height: 5-9 | Weight: 150

See Dansby Swanson above. I think Swanson is the better choice for the higher assignment, as he could advance more quickly and make room for Albies to move up to Double-A during the season.

• Sean Newcomb, LHP
Atlanta Braves
Age: 22 (6/12/93) | B/T: L/L
Height: 6-5 | Weight: 245

Newcomb's control problems are a concern -- walking six guys and recording five outs for the big league club this spring didn't give anyone more confidence in him -- and I'd like to see Atlanta pump the brakes on him, returning him to Double-A and making it clear that he stays there until he's at least throwing more strikes with his fastball.

• Aaron Blair, RHP
Atlanta Braves
Age: 23 (5/26/92) | B/T: R/R
Height: 6-5 | Weight: 230

Blair wasn't good in big league camp, but other than Julio Teheran, there are no locks in that Braves rotation, and Blair is almost certainly the first guy up when the need for another starter arises.

• Kolby Allard, LHP
Atlanta Braves
Age: 18 (8/13/97) | B/T: L/L
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 175

Allard should be in a stacked low-A Rome rotation now that he's fully recovered from last spring's stress reaction in his lower back.

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