27-year old righty swinging outfielder Stefan Gartrell is tying to get to the majors for the first time in 2011 with the Braves. Gartrell has played in 65 games in AAA-ball this year for the White Sox & Braves and he is 69 for 247 (.279 avg, .893 OPS) with 37 runs scored, 16 homers, 54 RBIs and 1 stolen base. He has now played in 639 games in his first six years in the minors and he is 634 of 2,305 (.275 avg, .823 OPS) with 376 runs scored, 98 homers, 371 RBIs and 37 stolen bases. If the Braves keep having injury problems in the outfield, Gartrell could get his first shot at the majors in 2011.

24-year old lefty swinging CF Jordan Schafer is having a tough time for the Braves this year. He has played in 28 games for the Braves so far this year and he is 25 for 113 (.221 avg, .606 OPS) with 21 runs scored, 1 homer, 4 RBIs and 8 stolen bases. It’s really impressive that Schafer has scored 21 times for the Braves because he’s just not getting on base to often. On June 16th against the Mets, Schafer was 5 for 6 with 3 runs scored. But in his last nine games after his five hit breakout game, Schafer is 5 for 35 (.143 avg) with 6 runs scored, 0 homers, 0 RBIs and 1 stolen base. The Braves really need help in the outfield as Schafer just can’t be trusted in CF if team is going to make a serious playoff run in 2011.

The Braves have claimed 27-year old lefty reliever Dustin Richardson off waivers from the Marlins. Richardson pitched in 23 games (0 starts) in AAA-ball for the Marlins this year and he was 3-1 with 2 saves, a 3.66 ERA and a 1.59 WHIP. Richardson has whiffed 35 batters in only 32 innings so far this year but his control has been an issue as he has walked 20 batters. Richardson has also pitched in 29 games (0 starts) in parts of two years in the majors and he is 0-0 with a 3.31 ERA and a 2.02 WHIP. That WHIP doesn’t look like it belongs with that ERA, but that’s because of his control. I still like this move for the Braves as they can just stash Richardson at AAA.

25-year old righty reliever Cory Gearrin has looked pretty sharp overall this year for the Braves. Gearrin has pitched in 13 games (0 starts) for the Braves so far this year and he is 1-1 with 2 holds, a 3.60 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP. He has whiffed 19 batters in only 15 innings this year while allowing 10 hits, which shows just how nasty he has been. Gearrin has allowed runs in 4 of his 13 games this year, so he’s far from perfect. But, overall, Gearrin is off to a good start to his career with the Braves.

The Braves have signed 28-year old lefty swinging 1B/OF Chris Carter to a minor league deal. Carter has played in 54 games in AAA-ball this year for the Rays and he was 58 for 215 (.270 avg, .769 OPS) with 25 runs scored, 10 homers, 46 RBIs and 1 stolen base. Carter last played with in the majors with the Mets last year. He has played in 113 games in parts of three years in the majors and he is 50 for 190 (.263 avg, .689 OPS) with 20 runs scored, 4 homers, 28 RBIs and 1 stolen base. The Braves need bench help, so if Carter gets off to a good start in AAA, they might give him a call to the show.

The Braves have signed 28-year old switch-hitting infielder Ruben Gotay to a minor league deal. Gotay has played in 62 games in AAA-ball this year for the Marlins and he was 49 for 205 (.239 avg, .717 OPS) with 30 runs scored, 6 homers, 22 RBIs and 5 stolen bases. He last played in the majors with the Braves in 2008. Gotay has played in 316 games in parts of four years in the majors and he is 185 for 726 (.255 avg, .685 OPS) with 84 runs scored, 12 homers, 77 RBIs and 6 stolen bases. If Gotay gets off to a good start in the minors for the Braves, they might call him up as they need bench help.

The Braves have designated 28-year old righty swinging outfielder Joe Mather for assignment. Mather played in 36 games for the Braves this year and he was 16 for 75 (.213 avg, .578 OPS) with 4 runs scored, 1 homer and 9 RBIs. Mather has now played in 126 games in his first three years in the majors and he is 61 for 268 (.228 avg, .667 OPS) with 31 runs scored, 9 homers, 30 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. Mather might be willing to accept an outright assignment to AAA from the Braves if he clears waivers.

UPDATE: (6/25/2011) - Joe Mather has rejected a minor league assignment from the Braves and he has become a free agent. This isn’t much of a loss for the Braves.

Switch-hitting 2B Mark Lemke wasn’t much of a player during the regular season. His forte was defense during the regular season but in the playoffs he picked up the pace with the bat, often getting key hits. Lemke played 10 years for the Braves in which he played in 1,038 games during the regular season and he was 778 for 3,139 (.248 avg, .646 OPS) with 339 runs scored, 32 homers, 263 RBIs and 11 stolen bases. Those numbers aren’t very impressive. But, in the post-season, Lemke played in 62 games for the Braves in which he was 63 for 232 (.272 avg, .688 OPS) with 22 runs scored, 1 homer and 25 RBIs. Lemke will be remembered as a good fielder who was clutch in the playoffs with the bat for the Braves.

21-year old lefty swinging RF Jason Heyward finished second in the Rookie of the Year voting last year and he was a N.L. All-Star. Heyward played in 142 games for the Braves last year and he was 144 of 520 (.277 avg, .849 OPS) with 83 runs scored, 18 homers, 72 RBIs and 11 stolen bases. This year though, Heyward has been injury prone and not very effective when he has played. Heyward has played in 48 games for the Braves this year and he is 33 for 150 (.220 avg, .730 OPS) with 21 runs scored, 7 homers, 15 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. The Braves need Heyward to pick it up with the bat because they were depending on him to improve in 2011.

The Braves have placed 24-year old righty starting pitcher Tommy Hanson on the 15-day disabled list with a case of right shoulder tendinitis. Hanson has started 14 games for the Braves so far this year and he is 8-4 with a 2.48 ERA and a 1.03 WHIP. He has only given up 56 hits in 83 1/3 innings so far this year with 89 whiffs, showing just how dominating he has been so far this year. The Braves have called up 21-year old righty starting pitcher Randall Delgado to start tonight against the Rangers in Hanson’s place. Delgado has pitched in 13 games (all starts) in AA-ball for the Braves so far this year and he is 4-4 with a 3.54 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP.