Many of the pieces that helped the Gwinnett Braves attain a wild card spot in 2009 are gone. Such is life in the minor leagues.

The Braves’ Triple-A affiliate may not have has much talent in the starting rotation — last season began with current Atlanta Braves Tommy Hanson, Kris Medlen and JoJo Reyes anchoring the staff — but the talent is in place to make a run in the International League South Division.

They’ll begin their quest with the season opener tonight against the Charlotte Knights at Coolray Field in Lawrenceville. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

STRENGTHS: The bullpen, led by highly touted RHP Craig Kimbrell, looks strong, even without last season’s save leader Luis Valdez. He’s still at home in the Dominican Republic, because of visa problems and may miss the first month of the season.

The offense should be better with the addition of OF/DH Mitch Jones, who hit 35 home runs for the Dodgers’ Triple-A team in Albuquerque. A key could be how quickly CF Jordan Schafer and SS Diory Hernandez get into the lineup. Schafer is recovering from wrist injury, and Hernandez from shoulder surgery.

WEAKNESS: The rotation, the team’s strength at the start of 2009, goes into this season as a question mark. None of the starters (James Parr, Chris Resop, Todd Redmond, Ryne Reynoso and Jonny Venters) are considered prime prospects.

TOP PROSPECTS: Twenty-year-old 1B Freddie Freeman is now considered the organization’s top minor league prospect. the 6-foot-5 lefty could be the starter in Atlanta as early as 2011.

Kimbrell is expected to be Atlanta’s closer of the future and could get a call-up before this season ends.

VETERANS TO WATCH: INF Joe Thurston, who spent all of last season with St. Louis, battled throughout spring training with Brooks Conrad for a spot on the big league roster. ... 1B/DH Barbaro Canizares has been an International League All-Star in each of the last two seasons. In 2009, he was third in the league with 149 hits and fourth with 79 RBIs. ... 3B Wes Timmons provides a solid plate presence after hitting .283 last season and posting a .412 on-base percentage.

NOTABLE: North Johnson has taken over as general manager, replacing Bruce Baldwin, who retired after 23 years with the organization. Johnson previously spent time with the high-A affiliate in Myrtle Beach of the Carolina League. ... The home of the Gwinnett Braves, formerly known as Gwinnett Stadium, is now known as Coolray Field.