Danville Braves
Encyclopedia
The Danville Braves are a minor league baseball
team in Danville, Virginia
, USA
. They are an Advanced Rookie-level team in the Appalachian League
and have been a farm team
of the Atlanta Braves
since 1993. The Braves play home games at American Legion Post 325 Field. Opened in 1993, Legion Field seats 2,588 fans.
On September 3, 2006, Danville won their first ever Appalachian League championship, defeating the Elizabethton Twins 2 games to 1, in a best of three series.
On September 3, 2009, Danville won their second Appalachian League championship, again defeating the Elizabethton Twins, this time two games to zero.
The Danville Braves mascot is a large, green bird named Blooper.
The Braves' previous Appalachian League Affiliate was in Pulaski, VA. The team left Pulaski to move to Danville and started the 1993 season there.
s, three Infielder
s, and one outfielder
) who were selected by the Atlanta Braves in Major League Baseball
's 2006 (Rookie
) Draft
. Included on the team are three out of the first four players drafted in the 2006 Atlanta Braves Draft.
The Braves 2006 number two draft pick, right-handed pitcher Cory T Rasmus, has been assigned to the Gulf Coast Braves (Rookie League) for his second consecutive season.
The 2006 Braves draft selections playing for the 2007 Danville Braves are:
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
team in Danville, Virginia
Danville, Virginia
Danville is an independent city in Virginia, United States, bounded by Pittsylvania County, Virginia and Caswell County, North Carolina. It was the last capital of the Confederate States of America. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the city of Danville with Pittsylvania county for...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. They are an Advanced Rookie-level team in the Appalachian League
Appalachian League
The Appalachian League is a Rookie-class minor league that began play in 1937 with one year of inactivity in 1956. From 1937 to 1962, it was a Class D League. Teams are located in the Appalachian regions of Virginia, North Carolina, West Virginia and Tennessee...
and have been a farm team
Farm team
In sports, a farm team, farm system, feeder team or nursery club, is generally a team or club whose role is to provide experience and training for young players, with an agreement that any successful players can move on to a higher level at a given point...
of the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
since 1993. The Braves play home games at American Legion Post 325 Field. Opened in 1993, Legion Field seats 2,588 fans.
On September 3, 2006, Danville won their first ever Appalachian League championship, defeating the Elizabethton Twins 2 games to 1, in a best of three series.
On September 3, 2009, Danville won their second Appalachian League championship, again defeating the Elizabethton Twins, this time two games to zero.
The Danville Braves mascot is a large, green bird named Blooper.
The Braves' previous Appalachian League Affiliate was in Pulaski, VA. The team left Pulaski to move to Danville and started the 1993 season there.
2006 Draft Picks
The 25 man roster of the 2007 Danville Braves team includes TEN players (six pitcherPitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
s, three Infielder
Infielder
An infielder is a baseball player stationed at one of four defensive "infield" positions on the baseball field.-Standard arrangement of positions:In a game of baseball, two teams of nine players take turns playing offensive and defensive roles...
s, and one outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
) who were selected by the Atlanta Braves in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
's 2006 (Rookie
Rookie
Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of their sport or has little or no professional experience. The term also has the more general meaning of anyone new to a profession, training or activity Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of...
) Draft
Draft (sports)
A draft is a process used in the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia, Russia and the Philippines to allocate certain players to sports teams. In a draft, teams take turns selecting from a pool of eligible players...
. Included on the team are three out of the first four players drafted in the 2006 Atlanta Braves Draft.
The Braves 2006 number two draft pick, right-handed pitcher Cory T Rasmus, has been assigned to the Gulf Coast Braves (Rookie League) for his second consecutive season.
The 2006 Braves draft selections playing for the 2007 Danville Braves are:
| Round | Pick | Name | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Cody Johnson | Outfielder (OF) |
| 1 | 3 | Steven M. Evarts | Left Handed Pitcher (LHP) |
| 2 | 1 | Jeff Locke Jeff Locke Jeffrey Alan Locke is a major league left-handed starting pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates. The 6'2", 180 lb. Locke was the first selection in the second round in the 2006 Atlanta Braves Draft.-Early life:... |
Left Handed Pitcher (LHP) |
| 3 | Chad Rodgers | Left Handed Pitcher (LHP) | |
| 7 | Adam Coe | Third Baseman (3B) | |
| 8 | Casey Beck | Right Handed Pitcher (RHP) | |
| 11 | Michael B. Mehlich | Right Handed Pitcher (RHP) | |
| 12 | Joshua F. Morris | First Baseman (1B) | |
| 15 | Stephen K. Shults | Third Baseman (3B) | |
| 22 | Cole Rohrbough | Left Handed Pitcher (LHP) | |
Notable players
Notable players who have played for Danville include:- Wilson BetemitWilson BetemitWilson Betemit is a Dominican professional baseball infielder. He is 6'2" and weighs 220 pounds...
(1999) - Kyle Davies (2002)
- Jermaine DyeJermaine DyeJermaine Trevell Dye is a retired American Major League Baseball right fielder and designated hitter. Dye played with the Atlanta Braves , Kansas City Royals , Oakland Athletics , and the Chicago White Sox . Dye won the World Series MVP with the White Sox in 2005...
(1993) - Jeff FrancoeurJeff FrancoeurJeffrey Braden Francoeur , nicknamed "Frenchy", is a Major League Baseball right fielder who now plays for the Kansas City Royals. Francoeur is known for a strong throwing arm.-Minor league career:...
(2002) - Rafael FurcalRafael FurcalRafael Antonio Furcal , is a Major League Baseball shortstop who is currently a free agent.-Early career:...
(1998) - Marcus GilesMarcus GilesMarcus William Giles is a former Major League Baseball player. He played second base and batted right-handed. His older brother, Brian Giles, was an outfielder who also played in the Major Leagues.-Career:...
(1997) - Tommy HansonTommy HansonThomas J "Tommy" Hanson is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Atlanta Braves. Hanson was considered by Baseball America to be the top prospect in the Braves farm system going into the 2009 season...
(2006) - Andruw JonesAndruw JonesAndruw Rudolf Jones is a Major League Baseball outfielder who is a free agent.Jones made his debut during the 1996 season. In the 1996 World Series, Jones became the youngest player to ever homered in the postseason...
(1994) - Adam LaRocheAdam LaRocheDavid Adam LaRoche , is a Major League Baseball first baseman. In 2011, the Washington Nationals signed him to a two-year deal...
(2000) - Andy MartéAndy MartéAndy Manuel Marté is a Dominican professional baseball third baseman with the Pittsburgh Pirates organization in Major League Baseball. On December 1, 2010, Marte signed a minor league deal with the Pirates.-Career:Marté signed as a free agent with the Atlanta Braves in 2000, and succeeded at...
(2001) - Jason MarquisJason MarquisJason Scott Marquis is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He previously pitched for the Atlanta Braves, St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Cubs, Colorado Rockies, Washington Nationals and Arizona Diamondbacks....
(1996) - Kevin MillwoodKevin MillwoodKevin Austin Millwood is an American professional baseball pitcher. He has previously played for the Atlanta Braves, Philadelphia Phillies, Cleveland Indians, Texas Rangers, Baltimore Orioles and Colorado Rockies.-Personal life:Millwood graduated from Bessemer City High School in North Carolina...
(1994) - John RockerJohn RockerJohn Loy Rocker is a retired American Major League Baseball relief pitcher who played for the Atlanta Braves, the Cleveland Indians, the Texas Rangers, and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays as well as the Long Island Ducks of the independent Atlantic League of Professional Baseball...
(1994) - Randall SimonRandall SimonRandall Carlito Simon is a professional baseball first baseman. He has played all or part of eight seasons in Major League Baseball and one in Nippon Professional Baseball between 1997 and 2006. Simon's debut season came with the Atlanta Braves in 1997, for whom he played until 1999...
(1993) - Adam WainwrightAdam WainwrightAdam Parrish Wainwright is a right-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball for the St. Louis Cardinals. He was drafted 29th overall by the Atlanta Braves in the 2000 amateur draft. He made his major league debut for the St...
(2000) - Esteban YanEsteban YanEsteban Luis Yan is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who currently plays for the Bridgeport Bluefish of the Atlantic League...
(1993) - Jason HeywardJason HeywardJason Alias Heyward , nicknamed J-Hey and J-Hey-Kid, is a Major League Baseball right fielder for the Atlanta Braves. He throws and bats left-handed....
(2007)