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SL1 Mississippi Braves

Creasy, Hoekstra Join M-Braves, Aro to IL, Santiago Released

July 22, 2019 - Southern League (SL1)
Mississippi Braves News Release


PEARL, MS - The Atlanta Braves have made the following roster moves before tonight's 6:05 pm game in Jackson, Tennessee, which affects the Mississippi Braves roster. RHP Jason Creasy has been transferred from Triple-A Gwinnett to Mississippi, RHP Kurt Hoekstra was transferred to Mississippi from Triple-A Gwinnett, RHP Jonathan Aro was placed on the 7-Day Injured List and RHP Andres Santiago has been released from the organization.

Creasy, 27, a Clayton, North Carolina native has split the 2019 season between Mississippi and Gwinnett. He recently was transferred to Gwinnett from Mississippi on July 18 and pitched in relief against Rochester on July 19 for 2.0 innings where he earned a win.

At Gwinnett, Creasy has pitched in 27 games and has a record of 3-1 with a 6.15 ERA (23 ER/33.2 IP), and has recorded 33 strikeouts, 11 walks, with opposing batters hitting .278. At Mississippi, Creasy has pitched in eight games and is 1-0 with a 0.87 ERA (1 ER/10.1 IP). He struck out 15 while only walking four batters with a WHIP of 1.16 and opposing batters hitting .205.

The Pittsburgh Pirates selected Creasy in the eighth round of the 2011 draft out of Clayton High School. The Arizona Diamondbacks signed free-agent Creasy to a minor league contract in August 2018 and was selected by the Atlanta Braves in this past December's Rule 5 draft.

Hoekstra, 26, has split the season between Low-A Rome, High-A Florida, and Triple-A Gwinnett. In his last ten appearances, Hoekstra has recorded a 3.15 ERA (7 ER/20.0 IP) recording 24 strikeouts with only six walks.

The Grand Rapids, Michigan native, pitched in three games, starting in one, at Gwinnett where he recorded a 3.24 ERA (3 ER/8.1 IP) and allowed ten hits with opposing batters hitting .323. This season, Hoekstra has a 0-3 record across 27 games with a 2.23 ERA (11 ER/44.1 IP), striking out 58 batters while walking 18.

In his nine save opportunities (8-for-9), Hoekstra is posting a 0.00 ERA (2 R, 0 ER in 12.0 IP, 7 H, 0 HR, 6 BB, 18 SO)

Drafted originally as an infielder, from 2015-18, he hit .248 (38 2B, 14 3B, nine home runs, 113 runs, 86 RBI, 28 stolen bases) in 265 games across four levels.

The Atlanta Braves drafted Hoekstra in the 21st round of the 2015 draft out of Western Michigan University. Hoekstra was originally drafted as a second baseman, but in April 2019 he was transferred from High-A Florida to Low-A Rome as a right-handed pitcher.

Aro, 28, from La Vega, Dominican Republic, will be placed on the 7-Day Injured List. Since his return to Mississippi on July 5, he has pitched in three games where he has gone 0-1 with a 5.40 ERA (2 ER/3.1 IP) with opposing batters hitting .357.

The Boston Red Sox signed Aro to a minor league contract in 2011 and was traded along with LHP Wade Miley to Seattle for RHP Carson Smith and LHP Roenis Elias in December 2015. San Diego signed Aro as a free agent to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training in November 2017. The Atlanta Braves acquired Aro as a free agent in February of 2019. Aro made his MLB debut on June 25, 2015, with the Boston Red Sox against Baltimore where he pitched for 1.1 innings where he allowed one earned run off of four hits.

Santiago, 29, from Bayamon, Puerto Rico, has been released from the organization as of July 22. He has split the 2019 season between Gwinnett and Mississippi. In his last ten games, he has recorded a 6.85 ERA (18 ER/23.2 IP) recording 13 strikeouts, 13 walks, and 30 hits. In his previous appearance on July 13, Santiago pitched for 3.0 innings, allowing three earned runs off six hits.

The Dodgers drafted Santiago out of Colegio Carmen Sol (Puerto Rico) in the 16th round (506th overall) of the 2007 Draft. Santiago elected free agency in November 2015 and was assigned to the Atlanta Braves in March 2017.

The M-Braves embark on a season-long ten-game road trip beginning on Monday night in Jackson, TN against the Generals. LHP Kyle Muller (6-5, 3.50) will make the start for the M-Braves against a to be determined starter for Jackson. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 pm CT with coverage beginning at 5:50 pm on 103.9 FM, First Pitch App. and TuneIn Radio. The game will also be streamed on MiLB.tv (subscription required).

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