Atlanta Braves Top 100 Prospects: 81-100

Jun 28, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Jeff Locke (49) pitches against the Atlanta Braves during the third inning at PNC Park. The Braves won 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Atlanta Braves Top 100: 91-95

95. Matt Withrow, 22 (9/23/93), RHP, Danville
Stats: 48 IP, 3.56 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 7.7% BB, 16.7% K
Braves fans eagerly await Chris Withrow’s arrival in the bullpen after acquiring him this summer, but the Braves decided one Withrow wasn’t enough in the system, selecting Matt with their 6th round selection. Matt was a two-sport star in high school, being a ranked recruit in both baseball and basketball, and you can see his athleticism on the mound as well as his athletic build. Withrow’s claim to fame, as is the case with a number of the Braves’ 2015 arm selections, is his high-end velocity. Withrow is a guy who launches a 96+ MPH fastball that is very heavy along with a slider, and he has a high floor as a reliever, but definitely could have a future as a starter. I got to see one start of Withrow’s this summer, and my biggest worry there is that his athleticism may hinder him in that he is a constant tinkerer on the mound, and his delivery was never really exactly the same. If he can keep his heavy fastball low along with his hard slider, he could move up as a solid starter.
Professional comparison: With Derek Lowe out of the league, Withrow’s best match currently in the majors is Kyle Gibson with the Twins. Gibson had a high prospect pedigree, and he’s struggled at the MLB level to be consistent in the same ways that Withrow did in college and at Danville.
Likely 2016 starting destination: Rome
Expected time of arrival: 2019

94. Blair Walters, 25 (11/8/89), LHP, Carolina
Stats: 6-8, 135 IP, 3.13 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 7.2% BB, 15.4% K
The Braves have developed a reputation for doing a tremendous job scouting independent league ball, and the first indy league find that we’ll talk about on the list is Walters. Walters repeated high-A after being signed in 2014. While he’s no spring chicken, Walters has the sort of average to above-average combination of stuff that could allow him to move quickly. He reminds me a lot of the collection of “pitchability” lefties that the Braves produced at the end of the 90s and into the early 2000s. Walters isn’t known for huge breaking stuff, but when watching him pitch, he really does well when he keeps his breaking stuff down and in on lefties and leans on his change up with righties. 2016 in Mississippi could be very interesting to see if Walters jumps up a couple of levels to offer a back-end of the rotation lefty for the Braves.
Professional comparison: Former Braves prospect Jeff Locke jumps immediately to mind when you watch Walters, in size, stuff, and composure on the mound. I always liked Locke more than I really should have based on his pure stuff, but he’s turned out to be a very solid major league pitcher.
Likely 2016 starting destination: Mississippi
Expected time of arrival: 2017

93. Chad Sobotka, 22 (7/10/93), RHP, Rome
Stats: 37 IP, 6.32 ERA, 1.84 WHIP, 12.6% BB, 12.6% K
Sobotka and Max Povse were paired as twin towers (Sobotka is 6’7, Povse 6’8) in Rome this year, but Sobotka really struggled at the level due to injuries and location problems. Sobotka would have been an early round selection if not for injuries before his selection in 2014 in the 4th round. Sobotka’s injury was to his back, which is a major concern with a guy at his height. He throws from a high arm slot, just above a ¾ slot, so there’s great downward movement on his high-90s fastball and slider. His change up is a work in progress still, but the Braves certainly still think they can get a starter out of Sobotka. Hopefully, he’ll have more luck in a return to Rome in 2016.
Professional comparison: His height and arm slot reminds me a lot of Chris Young, but their stuff is very different. While they both tend to be fly ball guys, Sobotka does such with a high velocity mix while Young does it with more off speed stuff. Young’s production, however, could be a good idea of what to expect from Sobotka.
Likely 2016 starting destination: Rome
Expected time of arrival: 2019

92. Trey Keegan, 22 (5/11/93), C, Danville
Stats: .267/.343/.314, 10% BB, 11.9% K
While a cold weather guy out of Bowling Green University that the Braves selected in the 14th round of 2015, Trey Keegan showed little signs of being over his head as the season wore on in Danville. Keegan is an elite defender, with most of his college scholarship offers coming from the mound when he was a high schooler. His arm strength, even after TJS in college, is elite, and he has excellent athleticism behind the plate. Keegan at the plate likely won’t ever be a 20 home run guy or hit .300, but he has a good eye and doesn’t strike out often, which provides some very nice value.
Professional comparison: Upon seeing Keegan, I instantly thought of Carlos Ruiz in his physical stature, and the skills fit the comp. I could see Keegan be a guy who doesn’t hit the majors until 24-25, but then having a 5-year run as a solid defensive catcher with above-average offensive numbers.
Likely 2016 starting destination: The depth of the position is the main thing that could lead to Keegan returning to Danville, but he certainly wouldn’t be out-of-place in Rome this year.
Expected time of arrival: 2019

91. Chase Johnson-Mullins, 21 (7/19/94), LHP, Danville
Stats: 25 ⅔ IP, 2.81 ERA, 1.68 WHIP, 14.5% BB, 17.9% K
While you’ll see along my list that I tend to de-value bullpen guys, Johnson-Mullins has two major factors that pique my interest – left-handed and throwing triple digits. CJM, as he’s referred to by a number of guys affiliated with the Braves, was a 13th round selection in June, and from first glance, he’d make you wonder why he wasn’t working as a power forward in the NBA. His B-Ref page lists him at 6’9 and 280 pounds, but I’d be surprised if his real weight didn’t start with a 3xx. Conditioning will likely be a concern with Johnson-Mullins as he moves through the system, but a lefty with his velocity and nasty breaking stuff could move very quick, hence the early expected time of arrival in spite of just starting full-season ball this coming year. CJM is still really struggling with day-to-day feel of his curveball after coming back from Tommy John surgery after high school. However, with legit high-90s stuff that has touched 100 by report, he’s goign to be fun to watch.
Professional comparison: While the 6’0” Mike Dunn physically looks nothing like the 6’9” CJM, the success and struggles the former Braves lefty has had in the major leagues is likely what Braves fans should expect to see with CJM as he hits the major league level.
Likely 2016 starting destination: Rome
Expected time of arrival: 2017

Next: 86-90