By Zane Miller
In the 18-season long history of the Rome Braves, the team has gone 2 for 2 in championship finals appearances, to go along with making four postseason appearances in total. As of this writing, Rome’s best regular season record came in their inaugural season in 2003 at 78-61, while their worst came in 2014 at 56-84. These are the top five single seasons by starting pitchers that I felt have stood out the most during the team history of the Rome Braves.
In total, the team has won two championships, coming in 2003 and 2016.
5. Patrick Weigel (2016)
The 210th overall pick of the 2015 draft by the Atlanta Braves earned a 10-4 record with Rome in 2016, giving up seven home runs, 36 earned runs and 92 hits in 129 innings pitched, claiming a 2.51 ERA in the process. The Braves finished with a 70-69 record to qualify for the 2016 playoffs, taking down the Charleston RiverDogs two games to one in the first round, before defeating the Lakewood BlueClaws three games to one in the finals, winning the second (and, as of this writing, most recent) championship in franchise history. Weigel would make his major league debut with the Braves in 2020.
4. Jose Olague (2019)
After being signed as an amateur free agent by the Braves in 2017, Olague picked up a 10-6 record with Rome during the 2019 season, as he had eight home runs, 59 earned runs and 147 hits allowed in 132 innings pitched to take a 4.02 ERA. However, the Braves finished at 65-74 to miss the 2019 playoffs.
3. Chuck James (2004)
The 605th overall pick of the 2002 draft by the Braves claimed a 10-5 record with Rome in 2004, pitching 132 and two-thirds innings with six home runs, 33 earned runs and 92 hits allowed for a 2.24 ERA. Despite this, the Braves went 70-70 on the year, failing to qualify for the 2004 playoffs. James would make his major league debut with the Braves in 2005.
2. Blaine Boyer (2003)
The 100th overall pick of the 2000 draft by the Braves scored a 12-8 record with Rome in 2003, allowing five home runs, 56 earned runs and 146 hits in 136 and two-thirds innings to get a 3.69 ERA. The Braves nabbed their best regular season record (as of this writing) of 78-61 to reach the 2003 playoffs, defeating the Hickory Crawdads two games to one in the first round, before beating the Lake County Captains three games to one in the finals to earn their first championship in their first season in franchise history. Like James, Boyer would make his major league debut with the Braves in 2005.
1. Bryse Wilson (2017)
The 109th overall pick of the 2016 draft by the Braves grabbed a 10-7 record with Rome during the 2017 season, going 137 innings while allowing just eight home runs, 38 earned runs and 105 hits for a 2.50 ERA. Although the team scored a winning record of 74-65, they would be unable to reach the 2017 playoffs. Wilson would make his major league debut with the Braves in 2018.
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