Empire State Braves Prospects: 7/5/11

A lot of playing time for the Empire Staters this past week. Looking at the picture below, you may notice (well, I guess if you read this series often enough) that there are now only four players listed. Brendan Rowland had been listed, but I haven't been able to confirm that he's still with the Atlanta organization. He's not listed on the Gulf Coast League team roster, nor is he listed with the team on his Baseball Reference page. I will add him back if I'm able to find that he is indeed with the team, but for now he's out.

On to the highlights over the past week (6/28-7/4)...

Courtesy: milb.com

Anthony Varvaro, RHP (Triple A - Gwinnett)
Varvaro's impressive month continued through this past week. In two games, he threw two scoreless innings while surrendering two hits. He struck out four against two walks. Over the past month (10 G, 12.2 IP), the Staten Island native has a 2.13 ERA and 20 K. While he's behind a number of quality bullpen arms in the Atlanta system, he might make a useful add-in when the Braves consider trade options over the next month.

This Week: 2 G (0-0), 2 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 4 K, 2 BB
Season: 27 G (1-6), 1 SV, 40.0 IP, 2.70 ERA, 50 K, 25 BB

Dan Jurik, RHP (Low A - Rome)
Jurik followed up a rough outing earlier in the week (where he earned his first decision of the season) with four perfect innings on Sunday. After earning a few starts between Rome and Lynchburg in May/June, it looks like the former St. John Fisher Cardinal is being used primarily in a long relief-type role now.

This Week: 2 G (0-1), 6 IP, 1 ER, 3 H, 2 K, 0 BB
Season (Rome and Lynchburg): 16 G (0-1), 1 SV, 38.1 IP, 3.29 ERA, 33 K, 17 BB

Cory Brownsten, C (Low A - Rome)
The former Monroe Community College Tribune made two starts behind the plate this past week, but had no success with the bat. Brownsten figures to be behind at least a few catchers in the Atlanta system, notably led by Christian Bethancourt.

This Week: 2 G, 0-7, 3 K, 1 BB
Season (Rome and Lynchburg): 9 G, .194/.237/.250, 0 HR, 0 RBI

Dave Filak, RHP (Rookie - Danville)
It seems impossible for Filak's disastrous season to get much worse. But week in and week out, he continues to struggle. The Albany-area native began to straighten-out his K/BB ratio in his two starts this past week, but batters continue to tattoo him. A college veteran in his second professional season should not be tagged with an ERA over 11 when going up against rookie-league hitters.

This Week: 2 G (0-1), 7.2 IP, 10 ER, 15 H, 1 HR, 8 K, 4 BB
Season (Danville and Rome): 14 G (2-7), 57.0 IP, 8.37 ERA, 41 K, 37 BB