SL Mississippi Braves

Friday, June 25 vs. Tennessee Smokies: 6:35 PM: Trustmark Park

Published on June 25, 2021 under Southern League (SL)
Mississippi Braves News Release


Mississippi Braves (ATL) (27-18, T-1st, AA-S South, --) vs. Tennessee Smokies (CHC) (15-28, 4th, AA-S North, -9.5)

Starting Pitchers: LHP Hayden Deal (1-2, 3.28) vs. RHP Javier Assad (0-3, 4.32)

Game #46 | Home Game #28

Radio: 103.9 FM WYAB and (LISTEN LIVE LINK)

TV: MiLB.TV

Today's Promotions:

Freddie Freeman Replica Jersey Giveaway - The first 1,500 fans on Friday will receive a replica jersey of former Mississippi Braves' first baseman and 2020 NL MVP,** Freddie Freeman, presented by Morgan & Morgan.

Kids Run The Bases - Kids, 14-and-under will have the opportunity to run the bases after every Friday and Sunday home game at Trustmark Park, presented by Game on Wheels.

Trustmark's $10,000 Dash For Cash - After each Friday home game, fans can register for the chance to snag cold hard cash. Then, ten lucky fans will have 1:00 to snag as much of the $10K spread out all over the outfield.

Today's Roster Moves:

N/A

TODAY'S GAME: The Mississippi Braves (ATL) continue a 12-game homestand on Wednesday night, with game three of a six-game series against the Tennessee Smokies (CHC) at Trustmark Park (1-1). This is the first of two series meetings between the clubs, and 12 total games. The M-Braves will visit Smokies Stadium in Kodak, TN, July 13-18.

- The M-Braves went 5-1 against the Barons, June 15-20, including five straight wins. The Braves haven't lost a series since dropping the first two series against Pensacola and at Biloxi. The M-Braves have gone 5-1 in three of the last four series, and are 23-6 since May 27.

STRIDER MAKES DOUBLE-A DEBUT: The first of the 2020 Atlanta Braves draft class, RHP Spencer Strider makes his Double-A debut tonight against the Smokies. The Knoxville, TN native grew up just 20 miles from Smokies Stadium. In seven starts between Low-A and High-A, the fourth-round selection had no record, and a 1.50 ERA (5 ER/30 IP), 11 walks, 56 strikeouts, and .144 opponents' batting average. He struck out 12 over 6.0 innings last Friday against Bowling Green.

KINGHAM EXTENDS SCORELESS STREAK IN 3-0 SHUTOUT OF SMOKIES: Nolan Kingham extended his scoreless streak to 25 innings with 7.1 shutout innings on Wednesday night, in the 3-0 victory over Tennessee. Kingham won his third-straight start, and pitched into the eighth inning for the second time in three starts, allowing no runs on five hits with two walks and six strikeouts over 91 pitches. Braden Shewmake tripled and doubled in the first three innings, driving in two runs, and a three-run third, was enough for Kingham and Emmanuel Ramirez (S, 1) to combine for the fourth shutout of the season.

AMONG THE LEAGUE LEADERS: Shea Langeliers ranks among the league leaders in home runs (T-3rd, 10), slugging (4th, .516), OPS (7th, .856), extra-base hits (T-7th, 15) and total bases (T-10th, 64). Justin Dean leads the league in stolen bases (13), and T-2nd in doubles (10), and 9th in OBP (.380). Jacob Pearson is T-5th in triples with 2. Brandon White is 3rd in saves (7). Nolan Kingham is T-1st in starts (9), T-1st in wins (5), 1st in innings pitched (55.0), 6th in ERA (2.29), 6th in WHIP (1.04), and T-2nd in winning percentage (.833). Hayden Deal is 10th in ERA (3.28).

KINGHAM'S INCREDIBLE STRETCH: Nolan Kingham is 3-0, and has given up three earned runs total in 32.2 total innings this month (0.83 ERA) (five starts) while walking four batters against 20 strikeouts. The Las Vegas native hasn't allowed a run over his last three starts and 22 innings, on 12 hits with 17 strikeouts and two walks. He hasn't given up a run since the first inning of his start on June 6 at Pensacola, 25.0 IP.

THE DEAN OF THE CLASS: Justin Dean is batting .412 with two doubles and seven RBI over his last nine games with three stolen bases and a .474 OBP. The Mauldin, SC native is leading the club with a .314 average in June with six doubles, a triple, 12 RBI, five walks and .392 OBP.

LEADING THE LEAGUE IN PITCHING AND DEFENSE: The M-Braves lead the league, are 6th in all of minor league baseball with a 3.33 ERA. M-Braves hurlers have served up just 20 home run balls, the fewest in Double-A, and 2nd-fewest in all of minor league baseball (Salem, 17).

- The starting rotation holds a 2.79 ERA with 195 strikeouts, 78 walks, in 199.2 IP, ranking 2nd in all of minor league baseball.

- The M-Braves lead the Double-A South, and are T-7th in minor league baseball with a .984 fielding percentage, just 24 errors in 44 games, including just two errors in the last 15. M-Braves catchers have caught 22 attempted base-stealers, which is T-1st in all of Double-A baseball and ranks T-5th in all of MiLB.

DON'T RUN ON SHEA: Shea Langeliers is 16-for-31 in catching opposing base stealers, 52%. His 16 caught stealings are T-3rd in MiLB, while seven double plays and 31 assists are first among catchers in minor league baseball.

TURNING THINGS AROUND: The M-Braves are one game back of Pensacola in the division, and are 18-6 over their last 24 games dating back to May 27, T-2nd-best record in MiLB. Since starting the season 4-8, the Braves are 22-10, the best record in the Double-A South.

45 HOME RUNS ON THE YEAR: The M-Braves have 45 home runs so far this season, in 42 games, ranking 3rd in the Double-A South (BIR, 52/RCT, 60). Of the 172 runs scored this season, 77 have come via the home run ball. In just 42 games, the M-Braves are over half way to the 2019 total (in 139 games) of 87. The Braves remain last in hitting in the league at .211.

151 MAJOR LEAGUE DEBUTS: LHP Kyle Muller made his major league debut for the Atlanta Braves in the top of the fifth inning on June 16 vs. Boston. Muller became the first M-Braves alum to debut in 2021 and 151st all-time. Muller made 27 starts for the M-Braves over the 2018 and 2019 seasons, going 11-7 with a 3.14 ERA. The Dallas, TX native gave up four hits and two runs in the outing with one strikeout in 1.0 inning of relief.

FIRST ROUND PICKS AND PROSPECTS: The squad features both of Atlanta's first-round selections from the 2019 draft in catcher Shea Langeliers (#9) and shortstop Braden Shewmake (#21). They represent the third and fourth-ranked prospects in the organization, according to MLB.com and Langeliers is #64 on the MLB.com Top 100 and sixth-ranked catching prospect in baseball.

- Overall, the M-Braves feature nine of the Braves' Top 30 prospects. After Langeliers and Shewmake, OF Trey Harris (#14), RHP Victor Vodnik (#15), RHP Daysbel Hernandez (17), INF Greyson Jenista (#19), RHP Spencer Strider (20), INF C.J. Alexander (#20) and OF Justin Dean (#26) are among the Top 30.

WELCOME TO THE DOUBLE-A SOUTH: In MLB's new structure for the 2021 season, the M-Braves will be part of the Double-A South. The eight-team circuit consists of eight former members of the Southern League, split into two divisions. Mississippi will be in the South Division along with the Biloxi Shuckers (Milwaukee Brewers), Montgomery Biscuits (Tampa Bay Rays), and Pensacola Blue Wahoos (Miami Marlins). The North Division will consist of the Birmingham Barons (Chicago White Sox), Chattanooga Lookouts (Cincinnati Reds), Rocket City Trash Pandas (LA Angels), and Tennessee Smokies (Chicago Cubs).

2019 SEASON IN REVIEW: The Mississippi Braves concluded their 15th anniversary season in Central Mississippi with a 64-75 overall record, finishing fourth in the Southern League South Division. While the club missed out on the postseason for the third-straight season, the 2019 campaign saw the 3 millionth fan enter Trustmark Park, 1,000th franchise win, third no-hitter in club history, record three postseason All-Stars and the first Southern League Most Valuable Player.

Check out the Mississippi Braves Statistics

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Southern League Stories from June 25, 2021


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