On a cool Sunday afternoon in Pearl, Mississippi, the Mississippi Braves bats were even colder. With just two hits, the day after an 11 run performance, the Braves were silenced in a 4-0 loss to the Biloxi Shuckers. Just 1,935 fans were in attendance for the Easter Day game, but thankfully those Braves fans who stayed at home did not miss much.
Biloxi got off to a hot start with a three run 3rd inning, knocking starting pitcher Daniel Martinez out of the game after just three innings of work. After being promoted from Atlanta’s Single A affiliate Rome, Martinez will return to Rome following a short outing.
After the three earned runs in the third, the Braves never recovered. Biloxi starter Carlos Rodriguez did not allow Mississippi to make any magic in his four innings of work. Rodriguez struck out eight batters and only allowed one hit and two walks.
It was the first start in Double A for Rodriguez, who ended last season at High A Wisconsin for the Brewers organization. While it was his first minor league start of the season, Rodriguez pitched for Team Nicaragua in the 2023 World Baseball Classic.
Rodriguez is ranked the 13th best prospect in the Milwaukee Brewers organization, and his ascension to the major leagues will be quick if he continues to post incredible performances like today. If he can limit his pitch count to extend outings, his arm will thank him greatly.
Speaking of top prospects, the Baseball America top prospect in baseball, Jackson Chourio, struggled mightily on Sunday. In just his third game at Biloxi, Chourio was 0-5 with two strikeouts. Mississippi threw a variety of pitchers on Sunday, and Chourio struggled against all of them.
The bright spot for the Braves was the fielding of shortstop Cal Conley. The switch hitting middle infielder was all over the field on Sunday, including a leaping grab in the third inning and tracking down a high fly ball halfway down the left field line in the eighth. On a day that the bats froze for the Braves, Conley flashed some leather which was much needed for a pitching staff that walked four batters.
The Braves travel to Chattanooga on Tuesday for a six game road trip. Luis De Avila will get the start for Mississippi on Tuesday.
The Shuckers will travel to Pensacola on Tuesday, anc MD Johnson will be the starter for the 2-1 Shuckers. Biloxi and their two Top 5 system prospects will look to improve on their impressive start to the 2023 season.
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