Visiting the Danville Braves

Danville Braves

The Danville Braves hosted the Johnson City Cardinals. Danville is an advanced rookie affiliate of the Atlanta Braves. They were playing a double header due to a rain out the previous day. Unfortunately Danville lost both games, but you can't complain about two games for the price of one. It's free baseball.

Braves dugout

Cardinals dugout

I really wanted to see much hyped international prospect Kevin Maitan play. He had been called up two weeks ago after 8 games for the Gulf Coast League Braves. While he wasn't in the first game, he was in the second. Other notable prospects include Derian Cruz and 2017 2nd round pick Drew Waters. We had great seats, in the second row behind the backstop.

Waters was the leadoff batter in the first game and let go of his bat, sending it into the stands. Luckily no one was injured. Unluckily he failed to get any hits in the game. He too had been promoted 2 weeks early after 14 games with the GCL Braves.

Huascar Ynoa warming up.

Huascar Ynoa pitched for the Braves, recently acquired from the Twins in the Jaime Garcia/Anthony Recker trade. The game ended after the seventh, with Danville giving up the lead in the top of the seventh, unable to mount a comeback in the bottom half of the inning.

Kevin Maitan after a pitch in AB 1.

Kevin Maitan prepares for another pitch from Prendergast.

Prendergast won the first at bat.

While Maitan remained hitless in game 2, he looked good in the field aside from an error. I can now say I saw future all-star Kevin Maitan play. Fun fact, he's only 17.

Box Score Game 1
Box Score Game 2

Danville has been home to the Braves since 1993, playing at American Legion Post 325 Field. Danville has the nicest park in the Appalachian league. It boasts best park awards attached to the park walls, and a nearby fan mentioned he had been to almost all of the Appy league parks and this one was by far the best.