For the burgeoning multitudes of Braves fans keenly following the minor leagues, today is just as big a day as Monday’s big league opening day. This post will look at the major story lines through all the minor league affiliates, and then take a quick look at the prospects that were cut last week and who is still in extended spring training.

AAA Gwinnett Braves

Gwinnett Braves Opening Day Roster

AA Mississippi Braves

Three members of the vaunted 2016 Rome Braves starting rotation — LHP Max Fried, LHP Kolby Allard, and RHP Mike Soroka — will be skipping the high-A level completely to start 2017 with Mississippi, joining righties Patrick Weigel and Matt Withrow in what is certainly going to be the most scrutinized starting rotation in all of the minor leagues. While the talent level is without question (and the double promotion for Fried widely expected) that both Allard and Soroka still haven’t seen their 20th birthdays and will be pitching in the Southern League is nearly without precedent. It is likely that one, some, or all of these guys will struggle, but the Braves are counting on their high level of maturity to get past any troubles to emerge stronger out the other side. With so many organizations coddling their top prospects, especially pitching prospects, to avoid having them face too many challenges to risk bruising their psyches, the Braves push on Allard and Soroka is a fascinating deviation.

That said, the Braves have surrounded those starting pitchers with a supporting cast that should give them every chance to succeed. The defense should be top-notch, anchored by 2B Travis Demeritte and SS Dylan Moore up the middle. In the outfield, Keith Curcio, Connor Lien, and Jared James are all top-notch as well. Behind the plate are strong defenders Kade Scivicque and minor league free agent signee Armando Araiza.

Likewise the bullpen features strong minor league veterans like right-handers Akeel Morris, Chad Sobotka, Wes Parsons, and Evan Phillips and lefties Jesse Biddle and Michael Mader. Biddle, Mader, and Parsons all have had success in the minor leagues as starting pitchers and could step into the rotation as necessary. The ballpark itself will also aid all pitchers as TrustMark Park rates as one of the most pitching-friendly fields in all of the minor leagues.

The top Braves positional prospect on the squad will be the aforementioned Travis Demeritte. After posting eye-popping home run totals in the high-octane Texas League while a member of the Rangers organization, Demeritte will have to contend with spacious TrustMark Park while also working on reducing his alarming strikeout rate. While there are some other intriguing position players on the squad, at least on paper this is a team that looks like it may have trouble scoring runs consistently.

Mississippi Braves Opening Day Roster

A+ Florida Fire Frogs

Florida Fire Frogs Opening Day Roster

A Rome Braves

Rome Braves Opening Day Roster

Thirty-Three Cuts

The Braves culled thirty-three players from the system last week, eleven more than the number of cuts made at the end of spring training 2016. This is likely due not only to the amount of talent already in the system but the large number of international signees that are expected to start 2017 in the short-season leagues.

Many of those released are minor league veterans that were brought into camp for depth purposes. Those that got some major league spring training action include the previously announced RHP Blaine Boyer and LHP John Danks, LHP Adam Kolarek, infielder Colin Walsh, and first baseman Balbino Fuenmayor. Other minor league vets include RHP David Richardson, RHP Karl Triana, RHP Isaac Sanchez, RHP Navery Moore, LHP Michael Kirkman, and SS Rich Rodriguez.

Other veteran cuts include players who were with the Braves organization last season. The Braves say goodbye to Gwinnett OF/DH Ronnier Mustelier, LHP Steve Kent (who was in his second stint with the organization), LHP Michael O’Neal, IF Ryan Gebhardt, and RHP Jordy Lara, who was signed before last season as an outfielder but worked with the Braves to make a transition to the mound.

Beyond the minor league vets are some players from recent drafts that won’t continue their baseball dreams with the Braves organization: RHP Dalton Carroll, RHP Ryan Clark, RHP Connor Gilmore, RHP Grayson Jones, RHP Evertz Orozco, RHP Cameron Stanton, RHP Brandon T. White, LHP Parker Danciu, LHP Chris Diaz, LHP Jhon Martinez, C Matt Foley, 1B Alex Lee, 1B Robby Nesovic, 2B Darien McLemore, 3B Ryan O’Malley, OF Sandor Boeldak, OF Sean Godfrey, OF Matt Hearn, and utilityman Erison Mendez.

Soaking Up The Sun

Here are the most significant Braves players that are now in extended spring training in Orlando, either waiting for assignment if a player goes out with injury or working towards playing in one of the short-season leagues in June.

Catchers: Carlos Martinez, William Contreras, Alan Crowley, Ricardo Rodriguez, Abrahan Guiterrez.

Infielders: Matt Gonzalez, Yeudi Grullon, Gabe Howell (suspended), Ramon Osuna, Alex Aquino, Griffin Benson, Jeremy Fernandez, Luis Mejia, Luis Ovando, Nicholas Shumpert, Kevin Maitan, Yunior Severino, Yenci Pena, Livan Soto, Braulio Vasquez, Juan Morales, Andres Adrianza.

Outfielders: Bradley Keller, Isranel Wilson, Raysheandall Michel, Jackson Pokorney, Yoeli Lopez, Charles Reyes, Jeffrey Ramos, Antonio Sucre.

Right-Handed Pitchers: Carlos Salazar, Raymar Navarro, Luis Mora, Jasseel De La Cruz, Luis Gamez, Anthony Guardado, Jesus Heredia, Odalvi Javier, Alan Rangel, Matt Rowland, Ryan Schlosser, Gilbert Suarez, Ramon Taveras, Jhoniel Sepulveda, Guillermo Zuniga, Yefri del Rosario, Juan Contreras, Zach Becherer.

Left-Handed Pitchers: Andrew Albers, Jaret Hellinger, Taylor Hyssong, Zach Rice, Dilmer Mejia, Kyle Muller, Filyer Sanchez, Lisandro Santos.

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