SL Mississippi Braves

Sunday, May 9 vs. Pensacola Blue Wahoos: 2:05 PM: Trustmark Park

Published on May 9, 2021 under Southern League (SL)
Mississippi Braves News Release


Mississippi Braves (1-4) vs. Pensacola Blue Wahoos (4-1)

Starting Pitchers: RHP Matt Withrow (0-0, 0.00) vs. LHP Will Stewart (0-0, --)

Radio: 103.9 FM WYAB and on ONLINE HERE

Gameday Stats: LINK

TV: MiLB.TV

Today's Promotions:

Mother's Day Flowers Giveaway - The first 200 moms on Mother's Day will receive a flower, compliments of Chapman's Florist.

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. M-Braves Kids Club members will be first in line. To become a Kids Club member, click here.

Sunday Family Funday - Enjoy matinee baseball every Sunday at Trustmark Park and take advantage of fun activities for the entire family.

Today's Roster Moves: N/A

TODAY'S GAME: The M-Braves wrap up the six-game opening homestand against the Pensacola Blue Wahoos at Trustmark Park at 2:05 pm.

LAST NIGHT: The M-Braves pounded out a season-high nine hits and Shea Langeliers hit two home runs with 4 RBI to beat Pensacola 5-2 at Trustmark Park. M-Braves pitchers also logged a season-high 10 strikeouts.

- Trey Harris (3-for-4) and Braden Shewmake (2-for-4) joined Langeliers with multiple hits, each scoring on the go-ahead three-run home run in the eighth inning by Langeliers.

- Starter Victor Vodnik struck out five batters over 4.0 shutout innings with two walks before hitting his pitch limit at 75.

LANGELIERS GOES DEEP TWICE: Saturday's multi-homer game for Langeliers was the first of his pro career and first for the M-Braves this season. The two home runs are T-2nd in the Double-A South. He ranks 6th in OPS (1.103), T-6th in XBH (3),

- It was the first multi-homer game for the M-Braves since Connor Lien's two homers against Chattanooga on August 29, 2019.

SOLID RELIEF: The M-Braves bullpen has a 2.05 ERA (5ER/22.0IP) with 29 strikeouts and 22 walks in the first five games. The pitching staff has the 2nd-best ERA in the league, behind Pensacola (1.58) at 3.51 with a 3.51 ERA and 51 strikeouts in 41 innings.

MILLER TIME: INF Jalen Miller hit his 37th career home run on Opening Night, May 5th, in the sixth inning, and first as a member of the Atlanta Braves organization. His homer traveled 404 feet to left field. Miller, an Atlanta native, attended Riverwood International Charter School in Sandy Springs, Ga, which is just 3.9 miles from Truist Park. His family had season tickets at Turner Field.

WELCOME BACK MATT: 27-year-old RHP Matt Withrow made his first appearance as an M-Brave in 1,440 days, May 26, 2017, on Opening Night, May 5th. Withrow struck out five over 2.0 innings.

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 seven of the Braves' Top 30 prospects. After Langeliers and Shewmake, OF Trey Harris (#14), RHP Victor Vodnik (#15), INF Greyson Jenista (#19), INF C.J. Alexander (#20) and OF Justin Dean (#26) are among the Top 30.

- Returning M-Braves pitchers include RHP Josh Graham, RHP Kurt Hoekstra, RHP Nolan Kingham, RHP Sean McLaughlin, RHP Brandon White and RHP Matt Withrow.

BRAND NEW COACHING STAFF: The 17 newcomers on the 28-man roster join 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 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 9, 2021


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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