The Gs Have It: Gattis, Graham, Gartrell, And Garcia Lead The Way On The Atlanta Braves Minor League Hot Sheet

A promotion to AA couldn't keep Evan Gattis from making the Hot Sheet for the fourth straight week to start the season, but unfortunately Brandon Druy and Robby Hefflinger had the dubious honor of making the Not Hot Sheet for the second straight week.

Who's Hot?

1. Evan Gattis OF, Mississippi Braves - 8-25, 2 2B, 3 HR, 8 RBI, 2 BB, 2 K - Gattis had a great first week in AA, putting up a .320/.370/.760/1.130 slash line, but it was actually a poor week compared to the .385/.468/.821/1.289 slash line he put up in April for Lynchburg. His totals for the season include a .369/.446/.806/1.252 slash line, 9 doubles, 12 homers, and 37 RBI in 103 at bats.
   
2. JR Graham RHP, Lynchburg Hillcats - Graham won both of his starts this week, allowing 2 runs over a 7 inning complete game on Tuesday and just 1 run over 8 innings on Sunday. He combined to strike out 10 over 15 innings, posting a 1.80 ERA and a 0.73 WHIP. The Braves were aggressive in placing the 22 year old in High A to start his first full season, but he's rewarded them with a 4-0 record, a 2.61 and 1.00 ERA in 38 innings over 6 starts.
   
3. Stefan Gartrell OF, Gwinnett Braves - 8-20, 3 HR, 8 RBI, 2 BB, 4 K - After a rough April that saw him hit just .165 and strike out in 34% of his at bats, Gartrell came out strong in May, winning the International League Player Of The Week award by homering in 3 straight games and hitting .400 with a 1.305 OPS.
   
4. Chris Garcia 1B, Lynchburg Hillcats - 9-19, 2 2B, 4 RBI, 6 BB, 6 K - Garcia had a stellar week, hitting .474 with a .600 OBP, compiling a 1.179 OPS and reaching base in all 6 games he played in. He's been an OBP machine this year, getting on at a .455 clip.
   

Honorable Mention: Jose Constanza, Christian Marrero, Jair Jurrjens, Gwinnett Braves; Chris Jones, Jose Lugo, Cory Rasmus, Matt Kennelly, Keenan Wiley, Todd Cunningham, Andrelton Simmons, Mississippi Braves; Caleb Brewer, Aaron Northcraft, Chasen Shreve, Andrew Wilson, Braeden Schlehuber, Nick Ahmed, Cody Martin, Lynchburg Hillcats; Elmer Reyes, Rome Braves

Who's Not?

• Joey Terdoslavich 3B, Gwinnett Braves - 1-14, RBI, 2 BB, 5 K - It's been a rough season overall for Terdoslavich, as he's hitting just .202 with a .589 OPS while striking out in 27% of his at bats, but things took a new low this week as he hit just .071 and put up an anemic .259 OPS while striking out in 36% of his at bats. Lefties have especially plagued the switch hitter this season, as he's hit just .147 with a .430 OPS in 34 at bats. With 104 at bats under his belt at AAA, and little indication that he's adjusting to the level, it might not be long before the Braves consider sending him down to AA.
  
• Ernesto Silva RHP, Rome Braves - 0-2, 2 GS, 10 IP, 18 ER, 14 H, 7 BB, 1 K - Silva lost both of his starts this week, allowing 5 runs in 5 innings on Sunday and 8 runs in 5 innings the next Sunday, putting up an ugly 16.20 ERA and a 2.10 WHIP for the week. It's been a rough year for the 20 year old Panamanian, who has a 8.88 ERA and a 1.81 WHIP in 24.1 innings over 6 appearances.
  
• Robby Hefflinger OF, Lynchburg Hillcats - 1-19, 3 BB, 7 K - Hefflinger had just 1 hit this week, posting a .053 average and a .234 OPS, dipping his season numbers to a .227 average and a .677 OPS. He also struck out in 37% of his at bats for the week, a slight jump from the 34% he's striking out at for the season.
  
• Brandon Drury 1B, Rome Braves - 4-24, 2 BB, 4 K - Drury's struggles continue, as he hit just .167 with a .398 OPS for the week. The 2011 Appy League batting champion has had a rough time in the Sally League, hitting just .175 overall with a .449 OPS. The only bright spot has been his walk total, as he's collected 8 walks in 122 plate appearances after collecting just 6 in 271 plate appearances last season. Of course, if that increased patience has led to his struggles with contact, it's hardly been a fair trade.
  

Dishonorable Mention: Yohan Flande, Dusty Hughes, Todd Redmond, Jason Rice, Adam Russell, Anthony Varvaro, Luis Durango, Jordan Paraz, Gwinnett Braves; Mark Lamm, Andy Russell, Ian Gac, Myke Jones, Zeke Spruill, Adam Milligan, Mississippi Braves; Juan Jaime, Ronan Pacheco, Blaine Sims, Gus Schlosser, Edward Salcedo, Lynchburg Hillcats; Rafael Briceno, AJ Holland, Navery Moore, Carlos Perez, Jakob Dalfonso, Kyle Kubitza, Felix Marte, Cole Rohrbough, Joe Lucas, Rome Braves