Prospects Gil, Hartman each homer twice in huge day for High-A Rome
This browser does not support the video element.
John Gil and Eric Hartman have formed quite a duo for High-A Rome to begin the 2026 season, with Sunday’s effort serving as the perfect representation.
Hitting second and third in the lineup, Gil (Braves’ No. 10 prospect) and Hartman (No. 20) each had two-home-run games in a 17-4 win for the Emperors over Asheville at HomeTrust Park.
Gil started things off with a bang in the first inning. With one out, the shortstop took the first pitch he saw and whacked it over the high wall in right-center field. Not to be outdone, Hartman yanked a 2-0 pitch to right field in the very next at-bat.
Hartman’s pair of long balls came on a four-hit night overall. The Rome center fielder hustled out an infield single to lead off the third inning, moved to second on a balk then scored on a Dixon Williams single.
This browser does not support the video element.
Enjoying back-to-back blasts once again, Gil followed an Isaiah Drake homer in the fourth with his second solo shot, this time pulling the ball down the left-field line.
Hartman returned for his third hit of the night in powerful fashion. The former 20th-round selection in 2024 homered again to lead off the fifth, a high fly ball that just kept carrying over the wall in right-center field. Hartman walked in the seventh but was retired on a double play.
Putting the finishing touches on the blowout in the ninth inning, Gil drew a walk before Hartman doubled on a hard ground ball down the first-base line, plating two.
In all, Hartman was 4-for-5 with three RBIs and a walk. It was the second multi-homer game for Hartman in his two-year professional career after he went yard three times on April 21, while 11 total bases were also second-most in his career behind only the three-homer day. Hartman is peppering the South Atlantic League leaderboards after starting his year with a 1.127 OPS (second) and 12 home runs (third).
Meanwhile, Gil went 2-for-5 with two RBIs and a free pass. His first multi-homer game of the season raised his slash line to a healthy .305/.403/.508 with six home runs.