Alex Lodise’s latest surge is about more than the pop that first put him on the radar. The Braves’ No. 5 prospect is suddenly flashing the kind of all-around bat that can change the conversation.
Lodise turned in his second straight four-hit game Sunday for High-A Rome, doing it in an 16-14 loss to Asheville at HomeTrust Park. He opened the day with his 25th home run of the season - and his fourth in 17 games with Rome - then added three singles to keep the line moving all afternoon.
That capped a ridiculous three-game run to close the series. Lodise went 10-for-17 over those final three games, driving in seven runs and piling up 18 total bases. Saturday’s four-hit effort set the table, and Sunday only extended the heat.
August has been especially kind to the 22-year-old shortstop. In 13 games this month, he’s hitting .358 with a .444 on-base percentage and a .660 slugging mark. Since arriving in High-A in late July, he has posted a 1.005 OPS, a strong sign that the jump has come with little trouble.
Lodise earned that promotion after a productive run at Single-A Augusta, where he belted 21 home runs, including three multihomer games, and put together an .826 OPS in 94 games.
This season’s breakout is a big step from his brief pro debut a year ago. Last season, Lodise got into 25 games for Rome and hit .252/.294/.398 with one homer and nine RBIs.
In Other News...
Bryce Elder's Latest Issue Puts Braves Rotation In A Tough Spot
Bryce Elder gave the Braves another steady outing, working six innings and allowing one run with five strikeouts even as manager Walt Weiss said the right-hander was dealing with a knee injury. It was the latest reminder of why Elder has mattered so much to Atlantas rotation this season, with the righty logging a 3.92 ERA over 24 starts and giving the club dependable innings when it has needed them most.
Now the Braves have a decision to make, and it could affect the rest of the pitching staff. They are trying to figure out how best to handle Elders knee issue, with a 15-day injured list move or a rotation adjustment both on the table, and any shuffle could open the door for AJ Smith-Shawver to slide into a spot. [Read more 🡒]
Braves Just Sent A Telling Lineup Message With Mauricio Dubon
The Braves lineup card offered a notable hint Friday, with Mauricio Dubon set to start in left field and hit fifth. It is the kind of move that stands out because it places a versatile role player in a prominent spot, and it comes as the club continues sorting through recent performance trends for several regulars, including Mike Yastrzemski and Austin Riley, while also peeking at the matchup against Twins right-hander Bailey Ober.
There is some extra texture in the pitcher-batter history too, though the numbers come with the usual caution about tiny samples and are mostly there for amusement. Martin Perez also factors into the broader scouting picture, but the bigger takeaway for Atlanta is the same one the batting order suggests: Dubon is in a position to matter, and the way the Braves are aligning pieces around him says plenty about how they are viewing this game. [Read more 🡒]
Braves May Have A Creative Answer For Their AJ Smith-Shawver Dilemma
AJ Smith-Shawvers next step with the Braves may not be the straightforward return trip to the rotation that many expected. Atlanta has been weighing creative ways to use the young right-hander as it sorts through its pitching mix, and one option under discussion would place him back on the major league roster in a relief role rather than asking him to immediately reclaim a starting job.
There is also a broader wrinkle tied to Grant Holmes, whose place in the rotation has been a point of confidence for Walt Weiss. The Braves have at least considered a tandem-style approach that would let Holmes begin games before Smith-Shawver handles the next stretch, a sign the club is still searching for the cleanest way to balance innings, roles and roster flexibility. For now, the final call remains unsettled, which keeps the door open to more than one outcome. [Read more 🡒]