Atlanta Braves Top 100 Prospects: 61-80

Sep 27, 2015; Miami, FL, USA; Atlanta Braves pitcher

reacts as Miami Marlins center fielder

(13) rounds the bases after his home run in the seventh inning at Marlins Park. The Marlins won 9-5. Mandatory Credit: Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports

Atlanta Braves Top 100: 66-70

70.Jake Schrader, 24 (3/1/91), 1B, AAA
Stats: .264/.312/.470, 15 HR, 46 XBH, 5.1% BB, 25.1% K
Schrader’s right-handed power bat was called up to Gwinnett for their final push for the playoffs, but otherwise he spent his season at high-A Carolina. He was a 27th round selection in 2013 from the University of Tampa. Schrader led the Braves organization with his 15 home runs, and he has a swing built to drive the ball, for better and for worse. Schrader offers a touch more athleticism than you’d imagine when you first see his 6’2, 215-lb. build, but it’d be a stretch to put him anywhere in the outfield long-term without some major work on his conditioning. I’d be interested to see if the Braves do try to move him around some just to get his right handed power in the lineup more, akin to what they did with Adonis Garcia this year by moving him off of just 3B to the outfield and other places in order to get his power into the game.
Professional comparison: As he’s aged, Marlon Byrd has turned into a player who’s primarily sold out for power, and his swing and Schrader’s swing are very similar.
Likely 2016 starting destination: AA Mississippi
Expected time of arrival: 2016 late-season

69.Josh Graham, 22 (10/14/93), RHP, Danville
Stats: 17 ⅓ IP, 2.60 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 3.9% BB, 27.3% K
Graham was a “pop up” prospect late in the draft process, who the Braves were happy to grab in the 4th round this year. Graham is 6’1, and that could be a stretch, but he’s got some explosive stuff, including a heavy mid-90s fastball, a hard breaking slider, and an improving change up. Graham was labeled as a future reliever by most teams, but the Braves are letting him work as a starter until he shows the need to move to the bullpen, and so far, they’ve been rewarded as Graham showed much more command than anyone could have imagined.
Professional comparison: Like Johnny Cueto, Graham is a shorter pitcher who flashes untouchable stuff at times. The Braves would be very pleased if he continues up the ladder flashing that same level of unhittability.
Likely 2016 starting destination: With his change from catcher to pitcher just two years ago, the Braves may want to limit his innings and start him back at Danville, but whether he starts there or not, Rome will most likely be on his agenda at some point of 2016
Expected time of arrival: 2018

68.Daniel Winkler, 25 (2/2/90), RHP, MLB
Stats (majors): 1 ⅔ IP, 10.80 ERA, 1.80 WHIP, 12.5% BB, 25% K
Winkler was selected from Colorado in the Rule V draft in last offseason and were able to let Winkler spend the season mostly on the Disabled List as he recovered from TJS. His numbers in AA Tulsa were incredible before his surgery in 2014, but many already had seen Winkler as a future reliever, based mostly on his delivery, which puts tremendous stress on his arm, specifically on his elbow. The Braves will have the freedom to move Winkler to AAA if they want to put him back into the rotation, but with the glut of starting pitching that the Braves have and the needs they have in the bullpen, Winkler’s stuff in short stints would not only play up, but it could be incredibly elite, and elite to the level on par with a certain former closer who liked to lean in for his signs.
Professional comparison: The size differences means a Craig Kimbrel comparison doesn’t really work, but Ken Giles is a perfect size and stuff comparison for Winkler and a good example of the level of pitching Winkler could approach if he and the team choose to have him work in the bullpen.
Likely 2016 starting destination: MLB
Expected time of arrival: 2016

67.KD Kang, 27 (2/6/88), RF/LF, AA
Stats: .271/.347/.384, 27 XBH, 10% BB, 24.7% K
Kang was signed by the Braves in the offseason, and he played on his third team in three seasons. Kang was on his fourth season on a team in the Southern League, and what he showed for the Braves wasn’t necessarily more than any other season, but he did receive high marks for his work on defense. Kang is a solid corner outfield defender with an above-average arm. He has a solid eye and streaky power. When he’s going well, he can tally up power numbers in a hurry, but then he’ll go through streaks where he’s hitting nothing but singles as well. Kang isn’t likely to open in the starting outfield for the Braves, but he offers a source of left-handed power off the bench that could have some value for the team, and one of his power streaks could carry even a major league club for a short time.
Professional comparison: Kang’s power streaks remind me strongly of Khris Davis of the Brewers, and his defensive skills also strongly resemble Davis.
Likely 2016 starting destination: AAA Gwinnett
Expected time of arrival: 2016

66.Dilmer Mejia, 18 (7/9/97), LHP, GCL
Stats: 0-3, 21 ⅔ IP, 5.82 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 4.3% BB, 20.2% K
While on pure, raw talent, Mejia probably is a top 20 guy, he’s simply not put it together when he is on the field, and injuries have slowed his development thus far. Mejia was signed out of Nicaragua in 2014, and he pitched so well in the Dominican Summer League that he was brought stateside to finish the year. Mejia only pitched for GCL this year, but he struggled significantly to stay healthy and on the field. The ERA looks rough, but Mejia’s peripherals indicate that he was pitching at a very high level when he was healthy. My biggest worry about Mejia is his size. He’s listed at 5’11 and 160 lbs. I honestly do not think he’s even achieved either number, and I worry that his injuries this year could be a sign of more to come for Mejia. That said, if he can remain healthy, there’s not many on this entire list with more natural talent, and Mejia could be one to leapfrog his way into the top 20 with a healthy season.
Professional comparison: Mejia’s build and stuff reminds me strongly of Jose Quintana, but Quintana added quite a bit to his frame after getting to the majors, and while I hope Mejia gets himself more filled out, I don’t want him going too far either!
Likely 2016 starting destination: Mejia will start at extended spring, but then it will depend on the team whether he’s starting with GCL or Danville.
Expected time of arrival: 2019

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