Sunday, April 02, 2006
Holt not being overlooked
03/19/2006
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- With an overabundance of talented middle infielders in the Braves' Minor League system, J.C. Holt has often been overlooked. But one top Braves player development executive says he believes Holt will command plenty of attention at Advanced Class A Myrtle Beach this year.
Holt, a 23-year-old second baseman taken out of Louisiana State University in the third round of the 2004 First-Year Player Draft, hit .268 with five homers and 50 RBIs at Class A Rome last year. But it's the .335 batting average he managed after July 1 that has produced reason for optimism.
The Braves plan to keep the left-handed-hitting Holt at second base this season. But if he progresses quickly toward the Majors during either of the next two seasons, there's a chance they could ask him to begin working in the outfield.
Even if Marcus Giles were to leave Atlanta after the 2007 season, Holt's path to the Majors could still be blocked by Pete Orr or Martin Prado, two of the organization's most versatile infielders. There's also a chance Luis Hernandez, Yunel Escobar or Diory Hernandez will have been moved to second base by that time.
Aussies benefit from Classic: After watching Damian Moss and Peter Moylan compete for Australia in the World Baseball Classic, the Braves signed both hurlers. Moss, who won 12 games for Atlanta in 2002, posted a 3.73 ERA, fourth best in the Pacific Coast League, for Triple-A Tacoma last year. Known for his knack of stubbornly attacking the strike zone, he doesn't profile well as a reliever. But if needed, he could be used in that role.
Moss will likely begin the season at Triple-A Richmond with Moylan, a 27-year-old right-hander whose sidearm delivery has produced numerous 96 mph fastballs. Moylan hasn't pitched in the Minors since 1997 and is definitely a gamble worth the $30,000 contract he signed.
Injury report: Jon Mark Owings, a talented 20-year-old outfielder targeted for Class A Rome, broke his jaw after colliding with a teammate in the outfield last week. He could miss up to two months.
Class of '05: The Braves are very impressed with the physical development of Michael Broadway, whose fastball was clocked at 96 mph even before he gained 30 pounds during the winter. Broadway, selected in the fourth round of last year's draft, will likely begin this season at Rookie-level Danville.
What they're saying: "I think my main goal is not to get too relaxed, because when you get relaxed, that's when somebody catches up to you." -- Jarrod Saltalamacchia, who will begin this season as Double-A Mississippi's catcher
Source: http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- With an overabundance of talented middle infielders in the Braves' Minor League system, J.C. Holt has often been overlooked. But one top Braves player development executive says he believes Holt will command plenty of attention at Advanced Class A Myrtle Beach this year.
Holt, a 23-year-old second baseman taken out of Louisiana State University in the third round of the 2004 First-Year Player Draft, hit .268 with five homers and 50 RBIs at Class A Rome last year. But it's the .335 batting average he managed after July 1 that has produced reason for optimism.
The Braves plan to keep the left-handed-hitting Holt at second base this season. But if he progresses quickly toward the Majors during either of the next two seasons, there's a chance they could ask him to begin working in the outfield.
Even if Marcus Giles were to leave Atlanta after the 2007 season, Holt's path to the Majors could still be blocked by Pete Orr or Martin Prado, two of the organization's most versatile infielders. There's also a chance Luis Hernandez, Yunel Escobar or Diory Hernandez will have been moved to second base by that time.
Aussies benefit from Classic: After watching Damian Moss and Peter Moylan compete for Australia in the World Baseball Classic, the Braves signed both hurlers. Moss, who won 12 games for Atlanta in 2002, posted a 3.73 ERA, fourth best in the Pacific Coast League, for Triple-A Tacoma last year. Known for his knack of stubbornly attacking the strike zone, he doesn't profile well as a reliever. But if needed, he could be used in that role.
Moss will likely begin the season at Triple-A Richmond with Moylan, a 27-year-old right-hander whose sidearm delivery has produced numerous 96 mph fastballs. Moylan hasn't pitched in the Minors since 1997 and is definitely a gamble worth the $30,000 contract he signed.
Injury report: Jon Mark Owings, a talented 20-year-old outfielder targeted for Class A Rome, broke his jaw after colliding with a teammate in the outfield last week. He could miss up to two months.
Class of '05: The Braves are very impressed with the physical development of Michael Broadway, whose fastball was clocked at 96 mph even before he gained 30 pounds during the winter. Broadway, selected in the fourth round of last year's draft, will likely begin this season at Rookie-level Danville.
What they're saying: "I think my main goal is not to get too relaxed, because when you get relaxed, that's when somebody catches up to you." -- Jarrod Saltalamacchia, who will begin this season as Double-A Mississippi's catcher
Source: http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/
