Anfernee Seymour suspended for ‘violation of team rules’

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

ANFERNEE Seymour’s season came to an abrupt end before he had an opportunity to suit up in the Offseason Arizona Fall League.

The 22-year-old outfield prospect in the Atlanta Braves organisation was suspended for “violation of team rules,” according to SB Nation’s Chris Cotillo and was removed from the roster of the Peoria Javelinas.

Cotillo further stated the Javelinas declined to comment on the specifics for the reason behind the suspension. “Details not fully known but belief from one source is that noise complaints were at the root of the issue.” he said.

The Javelinas have MLB affiliations with the San Diego Padres and Mariners along with the Atlanta Braves, Baltimore Orioles and Cincinnati Reds.

The Javelinas, established in 1992, play in the West Division of the Arizona Fall League.

Seymour received the call up as one of seven members of his Florida Fire Frogs named to the roster.

He concluded his season with the Fire Frogs in the Single A-Advanced Florida State League with his best month of the 2017 campaign. The 23rd-ranked prospect hit .355 through 21 games and collected an OBP of .405 in the final full month of the year.

He rose eight spots in the Braves prospect list since the season began.

The Arizona Fall League attracts many of the top prospects in the minor leagues predominantly Double-A and Triple-A players.

The league is designed for these prospects to refine their skills and perform in game settings in front of major and minor league baseball scouts and team executives, who are in attendance at almost every game.

Seymour was ranked No.11 in the latest edition of Baseball America’s “Prospect Hot Sheet” which recognises the top performing prospects in Minor League Baseball during the given time period.

Since the call up to the Fire Frogs, Seymour has appeared in 78 games in the Florida State League. He hit .287 with 17 RBI, an OBP of .346, OPS of .711 scored 42 runs and stole 17 bases.

Despite playing in just 78 of the team’s 118 games, he ranked fourth on the team in hits (84), fourth in triples and second in stolen bases.

Seymour was promoted to Class-A advanced and joined the Fire Frogs in May.

Prior to the promotion, Seymour was enjoying his most successful season at the plate in his young minor league career.

Through 28 games with the Rome Braves in the South Atlantic League, Seymour hit .287 with six RBI, an OBP of .345 and snagged eight stolen bases in 11 tries.

Last season Seymour was traded from the Miami Marlins organisation to the Atlanta Braves in a three-player deal which also saw the Braves acquire pitcher Michael Mader in exchange for relief pitcher Hunter Cervenka.