'Experienced' G-Braves ready to go

LAWRENCEVILLE -- As Media Day unfurled on Tuesday at Gwinnett Stadium, there was no lack of comfort stemming from many of the 2011 Gwinnett Braves and coaches.

Manager Dave Brundage was among a group of players filming humorous video segments for fans; several other players were seen goofing around with Chopper, the G-Braves mascot; and still others were filing in-and-out of the clubhouse with smiles from ear-to-ear on a near-perfect afternoon. There was little of the anxiety you would expect with Opening Day just 48 hours away.

But make no mistake, these current G-Braves -- which feature nearly a dozen players with Major League experience -- are primed and ready to show fans, and perhaps, more importantly, the Braves organization what they can do.

"A lot of these guys are here because this is the next step to getting to the big leagues," Brundage said. "I think they welcome the opportunity to show that they can play at the next level. I really like the makeup of this team from an experience standpoint."

Brundage said his role as Triple-A manager is almost more of teacher than a game-manager and that helping his charges reach their individual potential is a driving force behind his job.

"It's a different role in the minors than at the big clubs," he said. "We are supposed to help develop the younger players and to help the older players recapture what made them good to begin with. Also, it's our job to make sure they are ready for the next level if they get the call.

"I try to challenge the players every day to learn new things and new ways to maximize their potential. We have some guys hungry to get back to the Major Leagues and I want to help them get there."

Perhaps none more so than Opening Day starter Rodrigo Lopez, a nine-year Major League veteran who signed with the Braves during the off-season after going 7-16 with a 5.00 ERA for the Arizona Diamondbacks last year.

"I feel like I can still pitch in the big leagues," Lopez said. "Obviously you would rather be there than in Triple-A but I look at this as an opportunity to show them I can still pitch. I take every game as a responsibility. It's an honor to get to pitch the first game but I just have to take it like a regular game."

Jordan Schafer, a projected starter in centerfield, is another player looking to showcase his talent for a possible call-up to Atlanta. Schafer made the Opening Day roster for the 2009 Atlanta Braves but hurt his wrist in the opening series of the year and two years and two surgeries later is just now finding his groove again. However, he was beaten out by Nate McClouth in Spring Training.

"I would love to see Jordan come out and play well from the start and show what he can do," Brundage said. "He had a good spring but he still has some things he needs to work on. Hopefully we can help him develop those skills and show everyone what we feel he can do."

Fans should be in for quite a show from the pitching staff.

The G-Braves will be loaded on the mound with former Major Leaguers Lopez and Todd Redmond, and newcomer and baseball's top pitching prospect in 20-year-old Julio Teheran at the top of the rotation. Mike Minor, who spent part of 2010 in Atlanta, also will be in the mix once he returns from Atlanta later in the month.

Redmond threw the first no-hitter for a Braves' Triple-A team in nearly 40 years last season. Former G-Braves closer Jairo Ascencio, who had 27 saves for the 2009 squad, and Juan Abreau will anchor a deep bullpen.

G-Braves pitching coach Marty Reed, who spent half a season with the hard-throwing Teheran at Double-A Mississippi last year before being promoted to Gwinnett, said he is anxious to see what the right-handed Colombian can do against Triple-A hitters.

"He's a tremendous prospect and he's got Major League stuff," Reed said. "The key is finding consistency. That's why he is here, to work on that. But he's way beyond his years out there on the mound. I expect he'll throw the ball well here."

While Brundage was reluctant on Tuesday to announce a formal starting lineup, he said he was excited about the amount of talent with Major League experience he will be able to draw from. Schafer, Joe Mather, Diory Hernandez, and catcher J.C. Boscan all have seen action in the Majors. Infielder Shawn Bowman and Boscan are projected to anchor the heart of the lineup while Schafer and Jose Constanza should provide the speed at the top of the order.

"We have guys with a lot of experience but we also have guys with a lot of different talents," Brundage said. "We have a lot of speed and power from a lot of sources. It will be fun to watch this group every day."

Brundage said Mather could be used at shortstop, third base, and all three outfield positions. Daniel Nelson is another multi-purpose player that can play first, shortstop, and third base.

The G-Braves will open the 2011 season against the Durham Bulls, who lost in the International League Championship series last year, on Thursday. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. and the game can be heard live on WDUN AM 550 and 102.9 FM.