Founded on my research for the “Minors vs Majors” chapter in my book, “Hardball Retroactive” paired with complementary articles “Minors vs. Majors: The Top Minor League Batters in the Expansion Era” and “Minors vs. Majors: The Top Minor League Pitchers in the Expansion Era“, the ensuing series will reveal the Minor League All-Star rosters for every MLB franchise based primarily on single-season statistics in Runs Created / 140 Games (batters) and Fielding Independent Pitching (pitchers).

Selection Criteria

• individual seasons in the Expansion Era (1961 – 2017)
• levels A through AAA
• ages 24 or younger (A and A+)
• age 25 seasons (AA and AAA)
• age 26 seasons (AAA)

Terminology

RC – Runs Created – using the basic formula devised by Bill James:

((H + BB) * TB) / (AB + BB)

Note: I utilized the basic formula as opposed to the Technical Version due to incomplete GIDP and IBB data.

RC/140 – Runs Created per 140 Games as Minor League ballplayers

RC / (G / 140)

FIP – Fielding Independent Pitching – “Fielding Independent Pitching converts a pitcher’s three true outcomes into an earned run average-like number. The formula is (13*HR+3*(HBP+BB)-2*K)/IP, plus a constant (usually around 3.2) to put it on the same scale as earned run average.

FIP is a component ERA inspired by the work of Voros McCracken on defense-independent pitching statistics, but has become more widely used because of the ease of computation – it requires only four easily-found box score stats, uses only basic arithmetic operations and has four easily-memorized constants. It was conceived of by both Tom Tango and Clay Dreslough, the latter of who called it Defense-Independent Component ERA.” (definition courtesy of Baseball Prospectus Glossary).

((13*HR+3*(HBP+BB)-2*K)/IP)+3.2)

Assessment

The Milwaukee / Atlanta Braves 

Andruw Jones tops the Braves franchise with a 111.3 RC/140 during the Expansion Era. “The Curaçao Kid” blasted 25 round-trippers, knocked in 100 baserunners and pilfered 56 bases in his age-18 campaign followed by a 30 HR /30 SB season for an encore prior to being promoted to the Majors as a teen. Earl C. Williams clubbed 33 circuit clouts, compiled a .340 BA and posted the highest single-season RC/140 (147.7) for the Braves since 1961. Marcus Giles ranks second with 110.7 RC/140 and composed a .320 BA with a .529 SLG as an Atlanta prospect. Ralph “Road Runner” Garr claimed the 1974 NL batting title subsequent to composing a .356 BA and swiping 102 bases over two seasons (1969-1970) at Richmond (AAA). Evan Gattis aka “El Oso Blanco” produced a .311 BA and slugged .605 as a Braves farmhand in 2011-12. Brad Komminsk (#1, 1979) toiled through parts of eight MLB seasons with a composite .218 BA after obliterating minor league offerings as an Atlanta phenom in the early 80’s. Counting a 30/30 campaign for Durham (A) in ’81, Komminsk averaged 26 long balls and 26 stolen bases spanning four years (1980-83).

1999 NL MVP Chipper Jones (#1, 1990) registered a .326 BA, pilfered 40 bags and scored 104 runs for Macon (A) in his age-19 season (1991). Rico Carty, runner-up for the 1964 NL Rookie of the Year award and 1970 NL batting champion, places inside the Bravos’ top ten career leaders among minor leaguers with 104 RC/140 and a .557 SLG. “Beeg Mon” enjoyed a fantastic campaign for the Milwaukee affiliates in ’63, slashing .313 / .422 / .606 with 34 two-baggers, 31 moon-shots and 111 ribbies between the Austin Senators (AA) and the Toronto Maple Leafs (AAA). Jason Heyward (#1, 2007), five-time Gold Glove winner and runner-up for 2010 NL Rookie of the Year honors, laced 27 two-base knocks and contributed a .323 BA as an 18-year-old for Rome (A). Glenn Hubbard received the call to the big leagues in July 1978 following a breakout season for Richmond (AAA) in which he batted at a .336 clip and slugged .535. Ronald Acuña delivered a .325 BA with 31 doubles, 21 round-trippers and 44 steals across three levels in 2017. Jordan Schafer logged 74 extra-base hits including 49 two-baggers while splitting 2007 between Rome (A) and Myrtle Beach (A+).

Jose F. Capellan yielded a 4.89 ERA over 99 big-league appearances (97 in relief) following an exceptional 2004 season in which he posted a 14-4 mark with a 2.32 ERA and 9.8 strikeouts per nine innings across three levels. David Nied, Colorado’s first selection in the 1992 Expansion Draft, accrued 17 victories with an ERA of 5.08 in parts of five MLB seasons after averaging 15 wins with a composite ERA of 2.42 through the upper levels of the Braves farm system (1991-92). Chuck James whiffed 10 batters per nine innings and fashioned a record of 31-18 with a 2.24 ERA and a 1.021 WHIP as an Atlanta farmhand. Arodys Vizcaino furnished an ERA of 3.01 with 9.1 SO/9 prior to achieving part-time closer status over the past three seasons with the Braves. Mark Wohlers notched at least 25 saves in three consecutive campaigns for Atlanta (1995-97) after compiling 13.8 SO/9 between Sumter (A) and Greenville (AA) in ‘90 and logging 32 saves with an ERA of 0.78 in the subsequent season across the upper minors. Kent Mercker (#1, 1986) breezed through Carolina (A) and Southern (AA) league competition with a 14-5 record, a 2.91 ERA and 212 strikeouts in 179 innings.

Starting Lineup	Age	Year	Teams	Levels	POS	RC140	BA	HR	RBI	OBP	SLG
Ralph Garr*	24	1970	RMD	AAA	LF	124.9	0.386	7	51	0.426	0.522
Marcus Giles	20	1998	MAC	A	2B	141.7	0.329	37	108	0.433	0.636
Andruw Jones	19	1996	DHM,GRV	A+,AA	CF	146.3	0.339	34	92	0.421	0.652
Earl C. Williams	20	1969	GRW	A	1B	147.7	0.340	33	107	0.428	0.660
Brad Komminsk	20	1981	DHM	A	RF	133.7	0.322	33	104	0.458	0.606
Lou Klimchock*	23	1963	DEN	AAA	DH	141.7	0.352	19	68	0.400	0.623
Glen Clark#	22	1963	BOI	A	3B	125.8	0.323	30	110	0.407	0.583
Evan Gattis	24	2011	ROM	A	C	119.2	0.322	22	71	0.386	0.601
Udell Chambers	19	1967	LXG	A	SS	115.4	0.325	12	64	0.450	0.501
Bench	Age	Year	Teams	Levels	POS	RC140	BA	HR	RBI	OBP	SLG
Steve Hacker	22	1997	MAC	A	1B	126.4	0.324	33	119	0.370	0.620
Wenton Etheridge*	22	1964	BNG	A	1B	126	0.365	10	65	0.412	0.527
Rico Carty	23	1963	AUS,TTO	AA,AAA	OF	123.1	0.313	31	111	0.422	0.606
Daniel Kern*	21	1963	YAK	A	1B	119	0.326	24	101	0.407	0.573
Jason Heyward*	19	2009	MYR,MSS	A+,AA	RF	115.7	0.323	17	63	0.408	0.555
Mike Warner*	23	1994	DHM,GRV	A+,AA	OF	115.6	0.322	14	47	0.418	0.551
Tony Tarasco*	22	1993	RMD	AAA	OF	114.9	0.330	15	53	0.388	0.530
Levi Brown*	24	1964	BNG,YAK	A	OF	113	0.330	15	79	0.434	0.521
Jordan Schafer*	20	2007	MYR,ROM	A+,A	CF	111.5	0.312	15	63	0.374	0.513
Glenn Hubbard	20	1978	RMD	AAA	2B	111.5	0.336	14	36	0.402	0.535
Paul Dennebaum	22	1967	LXG	A	1B	110.5	0.311	16	83	0.426	0.521
Keith Mitchell	21	1991	GRV,RMD	AA,AAA	OF	109.5	0.327	12	64	0.395	0.537
Ronald Acuna	19	2017	MSS,GWI	AA,AAA	OF	109.4	0.325	21	82	0.374	0.522
Chipper Jones#	21	1993	RMD	AAA	SS	105.2	0.325	13	89	0.387	0.500
Wayne Jinske	21	1963	WAY	A	C	74.9	0.310	8	39	0.407	0.425

 

Starters	Age	Year	Teams	Levels	FIP	WLSV	ERA	WHIP	BB9	SO9
Jose F. Capellan	23	2004	GRV,MYR	AA,A+	2.12	14-4	2.33	1.135	2.9	9.8
David Nied	22	1991	GRV,DHM	AA,A+	2.18	15-6	2.01	0.988	2.3	9.4
Arodys Vizcaino	19	2010	ROM,MYR	A,A+	2.21	9-4	2.75	1.069	1.3	8.4
Chuck James*	23	2005	MSS,MYR	AA,A+	2.26	13-7	2.12	0.863	2	10.8
Brett Evert	20	2001	MYR,MAC	A+,A	2.28	8-2	1.75	0.980	1.5	9.1
Relievers	Age	Year	Teams	Levels	FIP	WLSV	ERA	WHIP	BB9	SO9
Buddy Hernandez	22	2001	MYR,MAC	A+,A	1.33	6	1.61	0.893	2.5	14.2
Shae Simmons	22	2013	ROM,MSS	A,AA	1.58	24	1.69	0.998	3.7	13.9
Chasen Shreve*	23	2014	MSS,GWI	AA,AAA	1.89	9	2.71	0.997	1.7	12.4
John Braun	23	1963	BOI,GRV	A	1.92	–	1.43	1.043	3.3	11.9
Mark Wohlers	20	1990	SUM,GRV	A,AA	2.03	11	2.38	1.101	4.5	13.9
Bench	Age	Year	Teams	Levels	FIP	WLSV	ERA	WHIP	BB9	SO9
Joey Wentz*	19	2017	ROM	A	2.35	8-3	2.61	1.105	3.2	10.4
Rob Bell	21	1998	DVE	A+	2.46	7-9	3.28	1.207	2.3	10
Kent Mercker*	20	1988	DHM,GRV	A,AA	2.52	14-5	2.91	1.199	3.7	11.2
Don Strange	23	1990	SUM	A	2.07	24	0.67	0.850	2	8.8
Brandon Beachy	23	2010	MSS,GWI	AA,AAA	2.07	2	1.74	1.016	2.1	11.2
Cory Gearrin	26	2012	GWI	AAA	2.09	9	2.32	1.199	3.7	11

Honorable Mention

Brett Butler presently possesses the highest OBP (.461), second-best batting average (.338) and sixth-best RC/140 (105.5) among all Braves minor leaguers during the Expansion Era. A veteran of 17 MLB seasons with a cumulative WAR of 49.4, Butler averaged 100 runs scored, 41 stolen bases and a .292 BA over a decade (1983-1992) as a starting center fielder. Darrell Evans totaled 58.5 WAR through 21 big-league campaigns, led the Senior Circuit with more than 120 bases on balls in back-to-back seasons (1973-74) and owns a 105.6 RC/140 spanning parts of three years in the Atlanta system. Packaged in an August 1983 deal to Cleveland with Brett Butler in return for Len Barker, third-sacker Brook Jacoby attained All-Star status after averaging .300 with 30 two-base hits and 22 jacks spanning four seasons in the Braves organization (1980-83). Denny Lemaster delivered a 10-4 mark with a 2.40 ERA for the Louisville Colonels (AAA) to warrant a promotion to the Milwaukee rotation in July 1962. The southpaw attained All-Star status in 1967 and composed an ERA of 3.58 through 11 MLB campaigns.

Batter	Age	Year	Teams	Levels	POS	RC140	BA	HR	RBI	OBP	SLG
Hal Breeden	26	1970	RMD	AAA	1B	109	0.293	37	116	0.406	0.580
Joey Terdoslavich#	24	2013	GWI	AAA	RF	108.9	0.318	18	58	0.359	0.567
Greg Tubbs	22	1985	DHM,SUM	A	OF	108.3	0.317	14	68	0.401	0.503
Mack Jones*	22	1961	LOU	AAA	OF	107.8	0.326	11	61	0.397	0.507
Jim Beauchamp	26	1966	RMD	AAA	1B	107.6	0.319	25	77	0.376	0.568
Gerald Perry*	22	1983	RMD	AAA	1B	107.5	0.314	13	71	0.414	0.494
Brook Jacoby	23	1983	RMD	AAA	3B	107.5	0.315	25	100	0.387	0.542
Darrell Evans*	23	1970	RMD	AAA	3B	107.5	0.300	20	83	0.403	0.510
George Lombard*	22	1998	GRV	AA	OF	107.2	0.308	22	65	0.410	0.543
Brett Butler*	23	1980	AND,DHM	A	OF	106.9	0.330	3	65	0.478	0.455

 

Pitcher	Age	Year	Teams	Levels	FIP	WLSV	ERA	WHIP	BB9	SO9
Denny Lemaster*	23	1962	LOU	AAA	2.54	10-4	2.40	1.105	3	9.1
Mike Soroka	18	2016	ROM	A	2.58	9-9	3.02	1.133	2	7.9
George King	20	1966	WPB	A	2.59	15-10	1.50	0.986	1.9	5.9
Kevin Barry	23	2002	MYR	A+	2.12	26	2.52	1.080	3.1	12.1
Joey Devine	23	2007	MSS,RMD	AA,AAA	2.13	20	1.89	1.053	3	12.3
Paul Assenmacher*	24	1985	GRV,DHM	AA,A	2.15	5	2.87	1.198	2.4	9.4

 

References and Resources

Baseball-Reference

Bill James Baseball Abstract

Seamheads – Baseball Gauge

About the Author

I am a New Jersey native with a passion for baseball, statistics, computers and video games who enjoys spending quality time with his family.

“Hardball Retroactive”, published in June 2018, is available in paperback and digital (Kindle) format at Amazon.com along with digital eBook format at GooglePlay.com. 

“Hardball Retrospective” is available in digital format on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, GooglePlay, iTunes and KoboBooks. The paperback edition is available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and CreateSpace. Supplemental Statistics, Charts and Graphs along with a discussion forum are offered at TuataraSoftware.com.

Don Daglow (Intellivision World Series Major League Baseball, Earl Weaver Baseball, Tony LaRussa Baseball) contributed the foreword for Hardball Retrospective. The foreword and preview of my book are accessible here.

“Hardball Retrospective – Addendum 2014 to 2016” supplements my research for Hardball Retrospective, providing retroactive standings based on Wins Above Replacement (WAR) and Win Shares (WS) for each “original” team over the past three seasons (2014-2016). Team totals from 2010 – 2013 are included for reference purposes. “Addendum” is available in paperback and digital formats through Amazon, Barnes and Noble and CreateSpace.