Braves are high on Ray Patrick-Didder

Yesterday, the Atlanta Braves played their last exhibition game before Opening Day. In a nine-inning event, they took on their most promising minor league players. One of those future stars, as the team was called in the box score, was Aruba born Ray Patrick-Didder.

This spring training Ray-Patrick had six at-bats with the MLB squad. Unfortunately, he did not manage to collect a hit.

But yesterday it became clear the Braves have high hopes for him as he was on the future stars team that took on the MLB squad with that other player from the Dutch Kingdom, Ozzie Albies.

Ray-Patrick was hitting eighth in the lineup and had three at-bats. In his first at-bat, Ray- Patrick struck out. He flied out in his second at-bat on a sharp hit fly ball to center field. In his third at-bat, he hit a sharp fly ball to center field for a triple and drove in Travis Demeritte with it.

Since Ray-Patrick made his first steps as a professional in 2013, he climbed the minor league ladder and got a level higher every year. In 2013 he started at the DSL, one year later he moved up to the GCL. In 2015 he played in the Appalachian League, In 2016 he played with the Rome Braves in the Sally League (South Atlantic League) and last season he moved up to A Advanced.

With the Florida FireFrogs (A Advanced), the FireFrogs are one of the very few Braves’ farm teams that are not named after the parent club, he hit a modest .230 with a total of 96 hits of which 17 doubles, 5 triples, and 5 home runs. So when you look at his batting average, 2018 may be the year he will not make a step to the next level, at least not at the start of the season.

Last season, Ray-Patrick was still in the top 50 of Braves’ prospects. The fact that the Braves selected him for their future stars team is a sign they still think he has a bright future with the club.

Oh btw, the future stars lost by one run (5-4).