Gwinnett Stripers Take Their Speed Game to Louisville as Owen Murphy Opens Six-Game Series
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — With the calendar beginning to close in on the final weeks of the 2026 regular season, the Gwinnett Stripers are leaning into one of the biggest strengths that has defined their season: speed.
The Stripers enter Tuesday night's series opener against the Louisville Bats with 246 stolen bases, the most in the International League and the most by any Gwinnett team in the club's history. Four Stripers have already reached the 30-steal mark this season, marking the first time the franchise has had four players accomplish the feat in the same year.
That aggressive approach has helped give Gwinnett another dimension as it begins the second-to-last road trip of the 2026 season.
The Stripers, 62-63 overall and 24-27 in the second half, will open a six-game series against the Louisville Bats at Louisville Slugger Field. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. ET. Gwinnett enters the matchup having won its previous game, a 7-2 victory over the Durham Bulls on Aug. 23.
Speed Has Become Gwinnett's Calling Card
The Stripers' running game has been one of the most productive in the minor leagues throughout the season.
DaShawn Keirsey Jr. leads the club with 37 stolen bases, while Jim Jarvis has 32 and Luke Williams has 31. Former Striper and current Atlanta Braves outfielder Brewer Hicklen also reached 30 steals before his latest promotion to Atlanta.
Keirsey's 37 steals have also moved him into a tie for fourth place on Gwinnett's single-season franchise list, while the team's 246 steals have already established a new Braves Triple-A record. The previous mark was 217, set by the 2024 Stripers.
The speed is not simply coming from one player.
Patrick Clohisy, one of Atlanta's top prospects, has quickly become another major threat on the bases since joining Gwinnett in July. Clohisy has 21 steals in his first 35 games with the Stripers and entered Tuesday ranked first in the International League in steals since his promotion, while also ranking first in batting average at .365.
For Gwinnett, the ability to manufacture offense without relying exclusively on the home run could become increasingly important during the final stretch of the season.
Clohisy Continues to Make His Case
Clohisy's arrival in Triple-A has been one of the more intriguing developments for the Braves organization.
Since making his Gwinnett debut July 11, the outfielder has hit .365 with nine doubles, three home runs, 16 RBI and 21 stolen bases. He has reached base in 29 of his 35 games and owns a .965 OPS during his Triple-A debut.
His production has been impressive enough to put him among the International League's statistical leaders across several categories.
As of Aug. 25, Clohisy ranked first in the league in batting average and steals, second in hits, tied for fourth in runs, tied for fifth in doubles, seventh in on-base percentage and ninth in OPS since joining Gwinnett. His 58 combined stolen bases between Double-A Columbus and Gwinnett also rank tied for fifth across Minor League Baseball.
The performance has also pushed Clohisy to No. 16 on MLB.com's Braves Top 30 prospect list.
Jarvis Returns to Gwinnett
Another important storyline entering the series is the return of infielder Jim Jarvis.
Jarvis was optioned to Gwinnett by Atlanta on Monday after spending much of the summer with the Braves during his MLB debut. In 38 games across two stints with Atlanta, Jarvis hit .207 with five doubles, a triple, a home run and 11 RBI.
His Triple-A production has been considerably stronger.
Jarvis is batting .313 with six home runs, 36 RBI and 32 stolen bases for Gwinnett. He has reached base safely in 69 of his 76 games with the Stripers and enters Tuesday riding a 21-game on-base streak.
During that streak, Jarvis is hitting .354 with seven doubles, a triple, two home runs, nine RBI and 13 stolen bases while posting a .980 OPS.
Jarvis also owns one of the most memorable individual performances of the Stripers' 2026 season. On April 7 against Nashville, he stole four bases in a single game, establishing a new Gwinnett club record.
Now back in Gwinnett, Jarvis gives the Stripers another player capable of changing a game with his legs.
Murphy Gets the Ball
While Gwinnett's offense has plenty of speed to watch, the series opener will center around one of the Braves' top pitching prospects.
Owen Murphy is scheduled to make his 16th start for Gwinnett on Tuesday. The right-hander enters the game 4-7 with a 3.52 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 85 strikeouts in 79.1 innings. He is currently ranked No. 10 among Braves prospects by MLB.com.
Murphy has been particularly effective on the road, where he is 3-3 with a 3.43 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and .220 batting average against in eight Triple-A starts.
He also enters Louisville coming off a strong stretch. Over his last two starts, Murphy has posted a 1.69 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and .162 batting average against.
His most recent outing came Aug. 13 at Norfolk, where he tossed six innings, allowed five hits and two earned runs and struck out five. He left with the game tied 2-2 before Gwinnett eventually won 3-2 in 11 innings.
Murphy's season has also included time in Atlanta. The former first-round selection made his MLB debut with the Braves earlier this summer, appearing in three games and making one start.
A Team Built Around More Than One Strength
The Stripers enter the Louisville series with a 4.28 team ERA, the second-best mark in the International League. Their starting pitching has posted a 4.35 ERA, while the bullpen owns a 4.21 ERA. Gwinnett's 1.37 WHIP also ranks second in the league.
The offense, meanwhile, has produced 591 runs and 102 home runs while maintaining a .258 batting average.
The numbers show a club that has not relied on one particular formula.
Gwinnett can create pressure with its running game, produce extra-base power when necessary and lean on a pitching staff that has remained among the league's best statistically.
That combination will be tested against Louisville.
The Stripers are 3-3 against the Bats this season and hold a 73-65 all-time record against Louisville. Gwinnett has also outscored the Bats 29-19 in their six meetings this season.
Louisville enters the matchup 57-67 overall and 18-33 in the second half, sitting 20th in the International League standings. Gwinnett is currently tied for 14th in the second-half race at 24-27.
The Road Ahead
Tuesday's opener begins a six-game trip through Louisville that will carry Gwinnett through Sunday.
After Murphy takes the mound Tuesday, Garrett Baumann, Drue Hackenberg, Cedric De Grandpre and JR Ritchie are scheduled to follow in the series.
For a Stripers club entering the final weeks of the season, the series offers another opportunity to evaluate emerging prospects, build momentum and continue developing players who could eventually make an impact in Atlanta.
And if the season has taught Gwinnett anything, speed remains one of its most dangerous weapons.
With Keirsey, Jarvis, Williams and Clohisy all capable of creating chaos on the basepaths, the Stripers have established an identity that can put pressure on opposing defenses before the ball ever leaves the bat.
Now, they'll look to take that identity with them to Louisville.
Game Information:
Gwinnett Stripers vs. Louisville Bats
Date: Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2026
Time: 6:35 p.m. ET
Location: Louisville Slugger Field, Louisville, Kentucky
Probable Starters: Owen Murphy (Gwinnett) vs. José Acuña (Louisville)
Broadcast: MyCountry993.com / Bally Sports Live / MiLB.TV
