Here is all you need to know about professional player movement over the past 2+ months!

The Atlanta Braves released AJ Kirby-Jones (Waynesboro 09), Matt Chaffee (Harrisonburg 2008), and AJ Holland (Rockbridge 10).

Kirby-Jones was a 9th round draft pick by the Oakland A’s back in 2010. He moved on to San Diego’s system, and then to Atlanta’s. Over 5 seasons and almost 1,600 at-bats, AJ hit 249/368/458 with 82 doubles and 64 home runs. He’s on the top ten list for career home runs in the minor leagues (since the 2006 draft).

Chaffee was drafted in the 12th round of the 2011 draft out of Arizona. In 4 seasons in the Braves’ system, he went 10-6, 4.45, with a 1.425 WHIP in 174 innings pitched.

Holland, a 16th round pick in the 2011 draft, went 13-24, 5.00, with a 1.529 WHIP in 275 professional innings.

The St. Louis Cardinals released Joey Butler (New Market 2006) and Joseph Cuda (Staunton 2010-11).

The Cards released Joey right after they had him in the major leagues for a spell (if a “spell” can be only 5 at-bats, that is). The release had a purpose- Joey signed with Orix in the Japan League. In 20 games for Orix so far, Butler is hitting 245/387/408. (American players can make decent money in Japan- more money, really, than most players can make in Triple-A. Go Joey!)

Cuda was drafted in the 27th round of the 2012 draft. In his career, he went 24-12, 4.42, with a 1.38 WHIP in 271 innings.

The Texas Rangers released Ryan Harvey (Covington 2010). Ryan was a 18th round draft pick in 2012 out of Seton Hall. Ryan threw 116 innings in pro ball (including his stint in the Indy Leagues this year), and has gone 8-4, 5.04, with a 1.655 WHIP.

The Washington Nationals released Niko Spezial (Harrisonburg 2011), Jake Joyce (Covington 10-11), and Justin Miller (Staunton 2010).

Spezial, drafted in 2013, got a whole 19 innings in pro ball before the Nats cut him loose. He went 1-0, 3.32, with a 1.263 WHIP (and 21 strikeouts).

Joyce didn’t get a whole lot more time, pitching just 33 2/3 innings over 2013 and 2014, and only 3 1/3 innings in 2014 before his release.

Miller was drafted all the way back in 2010. He’s hit 251/322/405 in 1,221 at-bats. The highest level he reached was High-A- Potomac of the Carolina League.

The Pittsburgh Pirates released Mike Spano (Front Royal 2011), Cameron Griffin (Strasburg 2011), and traded Adalberto Santos (Woodstock 2008) to the San Francisco Giants for player to be named later. They also signed non-drafted free agent Cory Rhodes (Woodstock 2011, New Market 2013)!

Spano was released without appearing in a minor league game after signing as a free agent in 2013.

Griffin was a 23rd round draft pick in 2013. He pitched in 18 games in the Gulf Coast League in 2013, and didn’t appear in a game in 2014.

I really thought Santos had a shot to play in Pittsburgh, especially after he hit .340 at Double-A Altoona in 2012. He dropped off a bit in 2013, and then was a bench player in 2014, and has been since his trade to SF, too. He’s gotten 84 at-bats all year.

Rhodes is the 7th free agent signed after the 2014 draft. He is a right handed pitcher from King.

The Arizona Diamondbacks released Gerard Hall (Luray 07). Hall was a free agent signee of the Kansas City Royals back in 2009. He was released back in 2011, but has played in the Frontier League the last three years. The Diamondbacks signed him to another free agent contract, but released him before he played in another organized league game.

The Seattle Mariners released Mickey Wiswall (Winchester 2008). Mickey hit 259/301/420 in 1356 minor league at-bats, and reached Double-A Jackson this year.

The Chicago White Sox released Kale Kiser (Luray 2011), and traded Blake Tekotte (Woodstock 2006) to Arizona for cash.

Kiser was a 23rd round draft pick in 2012, and hit a total of 242/333/380 in 664 at-bats.

Tekotte has played in 50 games in the major leagues, but was assigned to Triple-A Reno.

The Oakland A’s  released Stuart Pudenz (Front Royal 2011). Stuart went 7-5, 3.25, with a 1.26 WHIP in 97 innings pitched since being drafted in the 13th round in 2012.

The Baltimore Orioles released Eric Green (Winchester 12) and Joe Van Meter (Covington 08).

Green was a 36th round draft pick in 2013. He pitched a total of 30 1/3 innings in pro ball, going 0-0, 2.97, with a 1.38 WHIP.

Van Meter was originally drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 21st round in 2010. Joe went 15-26, 3.95 in 302 2/3 innings pitched, along with a 1.32 WHIP and 13 saves.

The New York Mets released Hamilton Bennett (Winchester 10). Bennett pitched quite well for the Mets since being drafted in the 29th round in 2010. Overall, he went 15-4, 2.38, with 23 saves and a 1.09 WHIP in 219 2/3 innings. He also had a pretty sweet mustache.

The San Diego Padres released Tim Sexton (Staunton 06-07) and Bridger Hunt (Staunton 04).

Sexton has since been resigned by the Oakland A’s, so we aren’t done with him yet!

Hunt has been around for a long, long time. He was drafted in the 9th round in the 2006 draft, and hit 282/347/353 in 1325 at-bats.

The LA Dodgers released James Baune (Winchester 12). Baune didn’t get to pitch too much in pro ball- he pitched only 62 2/3 innings in his two years in pro ball.

The Philadelphia Phillies released Addison Maruszak (Woodstock 06). Addison was a Yankees 17th round pick in 2008, and was signed this spring by the Phillies. He made it as far as Triple-A, and hit 261/331/383 in 1836 at-bats.

The Chicago Cubs released the awesomely named Giuseppe Papaccio (Covington 2010-11). Papaccio was an 18th round draft pick in 2013.

The Minnesota Twins released Jonathan Murphy (Luray 2010-11). Jonathan, the younger brother of the New York Mets’ Daniel Murphy, hit 235/310/314 in 3 seasons and 735 at-bats.

Phew! There you have it- all the player movement you could ever wish for!