SL Mississippi Braves

Saturday, May 29 vs. Montgomery Biscuits: 6:05 PM: Trustmark Park

Published on May 29, 2021 under Southern League (SL)
Mississippi Braves News Release


Mississippi Braves (ATL) (10-12, 2ND, AA-S South, -4.0) vs. Montgomery Biscuits (TB) (8-13, 4TH AA-S South, -5.5)

Starting Pitchers: RHP A.J. Puckett (0-0, --) vs. LHP Michael Plassmeyer (0-0, 6.97)

Radio: 103.9 FM WYAB and (LISTEN LIVE LINK)

TV: MiLB.TV

Today's Promotions:

Post-Game Fireworks - Start your Memorial Day weekend with the first of two Post-Game Fireworks Shows, in partnership with the Mississippi VA.

Patriotic M-Braves Camo Cap Giveaway - The first 1,000 fans will receive a Camo Mississippi Braves Patriotic cap in partnership with the Mississippi VA.

Gold Star Family Salute - The Mississippi Braves will salute Gold Star Families with a pregame ceremony on Saturday.

Today's Roster Moves:

N/A

TODAY'S GAME: The Mississippi Braves (ATL) continue a 12-game homestand at Trustmark Park on Saturday night with game five of a six-game series with the Montgomery Biscuits (TB). Leading in the series, 3-1, a win today would give the M-Braves their first series win of the season. The M-Braves are 6-4 on the current homestand after splitting the first series, 3-3, with Chattanooga.

- The M-Braves and Biscuits, now South Division foes again for the first time since 2014 (Huntsville moved to Biloxi), play an all-time high, 24 times this season, 12 in each venue. The M-Braves will visit Riverwalk Stadium for the first time, June 29-July 4. The Biscuits make a return trip to Trustmark Park, September 7-12, the final homestand of the season.

LUGBAUER GOES OFF IN FRIDAY'S 10-6 WIN OVER BISCUITS: Drew Lugbauer was 3-for-4 with a home run, four RBI, and three runs scored as the M-Braves hit double-digit runs for the second time this season. Lugbauer's three-run home run came in the fourth inning giving the Braves a 4-1 lead. C.J. Alexander was 2-for-4 and scored a run. Trey Harris scored three runs also and was 1-for-2 with an RBI and two walks. Odalvi Javier (W, 1-0) got the win and struck out six, and walked just one over 5.0 innings, scattering two hits and just one run.

AMONG THE LEAGUE LEADERS: INF CJ Alexander and Shea Langeliers are T-7th with 4 home runs...Justin Dean is T-9th with 11 walks and 1st with 7 stolen bases...Langeliers is T-6th with 12 walks. T-9th in slugging, .491, and 10th in OPS .879...Brandon White is T-2nd in saves with 4...Nolan Kingham is 4th with 22.1 innings pitched.

grand salami time: Langeliers' grand slam on Thursday night was the first by the M-Braves since Luis Valenzuela blasted one in Chattanooga on April 15, 2019. The grand slam was the first by a Braves player at Trustmark Park since Carlos Martinez hit one on June 12, 2018. The M-Braves have hit just four grand slams since 2014. For Langeliers it was his first professional home run and first since hitting a pair during the Cape Cod League during the summer of his freshman year at Baylor.

SOLID DEFENSE: The M-Braves rank 2nd in the Double-A South with a .977 fielding percentage (BLX, .982), just 17 errors in 21 games and T-2nd with 21 double plays turned. M-Braves catchers have given up only 11 stolen bases, which is best in the league. Shea Langeliers is 8-for-16 in catching opposing basestealers, 50%, which leads the league.

bacon stays hot: Troy Bacon has yet to allow a run in relief so far this season and is 2-0 with 10 strikeouts and two walks over his first 11.1 IP. He's holding the opposition to just a .184 AVG. Brandon White is 4-for-4 in save opportunities and has allowed just one run in his first 10.0 innings this season (0.90 ERA), walking five and striking out 12, holding the opposition to a .111 batting average.

USING THE LONG BALL: The M-Braves have 22 home runs so far this season, ranking 3rd in the Double-A South (BIR, 35/RCT, 26). Of the 78 runs scored this season, 43 have come via the home run ball (55%). Braves batters rank last in the league with a .194 batting average.

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 eight 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), INF C.J. Alexander (#20) and OF Justin Dean (#26) are among the Top 30.

BRAND NEW COACHING STAFF: The 17 newcomers on the Opening Day 28-man roster joined an entirely new coaching staff, all having major league experience. The M-Braves are led by manager Wyatt Toregas and is joined by hitting coach Einar Diaz, pitching coach, former Braves first-round pick Dan Meyer and coach Devon Travis.

- Toregas, 38, is a former catcher who played in 22 major-league games across two seasons with Cleveland (2009) and Pittsburgh (2011). After spending the previous five minor-league seasons managing in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization, the upcoming campaign will be his first with the Braves, including most recently with High-A Bradenton in 2019. in fives seasons, Toregas holds a 293-263 (.527) record as a skipper entering the 2021 season.

150 MAJOR LEAGUE DEBUTS: Despite no season in 2020, the M-Braves saw their 150th player make their major league debut. Starting in 2005, the 150 include 32 All-Star Game appearances, 11 Silver Sluggers, 12 Gold Gloves, 11 World Series champs, two Rookies of the Year, and one MVP.

- In 2020, William Contreras, Joe Odom (SEA), Ricardo Sanchez (STL), Cristian Pache, Ian Anderson, Patrick Weigel, Bruce Zimmermann and Tucker Davidson. The first was Brian McCann back in June, 2005.

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).

- The M-Braves will play the South Division in 80 of the 120 games this season. In a shedule quirk, the M-Braves will not play the new Rocket City Trash Pandas this season. The clubs were scheduled to meet during the first series of the 2020 season.

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 May 29, 2021


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