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Braves Minor League Recap: Tate Southisene Injured in Double-A Debut
GreenJackets infielder Tate Southisene (7) throws the ball during the Augusta GreenJackets and the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers game at SRP Park on Saturday, May 2, 2026. The GreenJackets celebrated Star Wars night with fireworks and a jersey auction. Mandatory Credit: Katie Goodale - Augusta Chronicle/USA TODAY NETWORK | Katie Goodale-The Augusta Chronicle USA TODAY NETWORK / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
There is so much to talk about for the Braves minor league system from the opener of this week’s action. The Tate Southisene hit by pitch that forced him from the game is the news that could have the biggest ramifications on the rest of the season, but it was by far the low point of an otherwise impressive day from some top prospects. Conor Essenburg had a three-home run game in Augusta while Davis Polo pitched his best game of the year, and Owen Carey had multiple home runs for Rome while Eric Hartman recorded three hits.
(44-48) Columbus Clingstones 5, (48-48) Rocket City Trash Pandas 4
Box Score
Tate Southisene, SS: 0-1, HBP, .000/.500/.000
Archer Brookman, C: 2-2, 2 BB .258/.355/.392
Julio Robaina, SP: 6 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, 2.87 ERA
Isaac Gallegos, RP: 1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, 3.18 ERA
Tate Southisene has had a marvelous season in the lower minor leagues, and his aggressive promotion to the Columbus Clingstones injected a load of hype into a lineup thin on prospect talent. His first appearance with Columbus was an unfortunately brief one as he left the game after only two innings. Southisene’s first at-bat went quickly as he was retired on three straight strikes, being finished off by a slider that he chased well out of the strike zone and put a poor swing on. Columbus stayed busy on offense and were able to get Southisene another plate appearance in the second inning, and this is when the game turned towards concerns for Southisene. A sinker ran up and in on Southisene and hit him on his right wrist, with Southisene immediately jogging down the third base line in pain while the trainers checked him out. Southisene did stay in the game to run the bases as Luke Waddell drove in a run, but between innings was pulled from the game and did not come out in the top of the third inning.
Columbus would ultimately suffer little from the loss of Southisene in this game. Julio Robaina pitched well, controlling the Trash Pandas with his sinker to force a bunch of ground balls, and after five innings Columbus had extended their lead out to 5-1. Columbus only had one extra base hit in this game, but when they got runners on they were usually able to take advantage, and wild pitching from Rocket City gave them plenty of chances to get on. The Clingstones dipped into their bullpen in the seventh inning and ran out a string of their best relievers, but yet still almost let the game slip from their grasp. Isaac Gallegos allowed a triple to the first batter he faced in the seventh inning, but despite solid contact and a shaky frame overall he was able to strand a runner in scoring position and allow only one run. The game grew even closer following a two-run home run in the eighth inning off of a hanging Anderson Pilar slider, and it was time for Tyler LaPorte in the ninth inning to try to lock down the game. LaPorte kept his incredible work from the season going. He allowed a two out walk but locked down the save regardless, and is working on a span of seven straight scoreless outings. That walk was the first baserunner LaPorte has allowed since his first appearance in July, ending a streak of 22 batters in a row retired with 15 of those coming via strikeout.
Swing and Misses
Julio Robaina – 12
Anderson Pilar – 6
(46-48) Rome Emperors 7, (44-53) Hub City Spartanburgers 3
Aiven Cabral, SP: 4 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 2.84 ERA
With Southisene moving up Alex Lodise finally got the much-needed call to High-A, where his debut didn’t go off so well. In his first at bat he hit a hot shot over to short that was scooped up by the drawn in infield to rob him of a hit, though an errant throw to home meant he would reach base anyways and help bring home the first run of the game. Owen Carey followed that up with a long home run to right field, putting Rome up 3-0 and getting Lodise his first run scored in his second stint with Rome. Lodise otherwise didn’t have an impact on the offensive end, with poor contact and one strikeout in his other at bats. The same can not be said of Owen Carey, who had a dream night on the field. After that first inning home run Carey drew two straight walks, and the Spartanburgers would have been smart to walk him in his fourth plate appearance. Carey hit a drive into the power alley that cleared the deepest part of the park, drifting over the 411 sign for his second home run of the game and eighth in 55 games this season. In his next appearance Hub City took no such chances and walked him for the third time on the evening. While this showing certainly boosts his stock (and his walk rate) it has been an altogether electric month of July for Carey. He has a .949 OPS and has hit safely in eight of his last nine games, including three triples, 13 RBI, and five walks to five strikeouts in that span. Carey’s greatness overshadowed a solid three hit evening from Eric Hartman, who has had much less success this month. Pitches to hit have been harder to come by as Hartman’s reputation has grown, and this is the first multi-hit game of the month for him. However he has done a great job of being patient and has 17 walks this month to keep his OBP at an impressive .367.
After putting up four runs in the first two innings the game was never in doubt, especially with Aiven Cabral pitching as well as he has a...
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