Atlanta Braves Top 100 Prospects: 21-40

Sep 19, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Dan Haren (50) delivers a pitch against the St. Louis Cardinals at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Atlanta Braves Top 100: 36-40

40.Rob Whalen, 21 (1/31/94), RHP, Carolina
Stats: 5-7, 96 ⅔ IP, 3.35 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 9.3% BB, 16.6% K
Whalen was known as the throw in to the Braves deal with the Mets this summer. He’s not exactly an intimidating presence on the mound at 6’2 and 205 pounds, but he hangs around the plate constantly, knowing hitters will begin looking for certain pitches, knowing they’ll be close to the plate, but Whalen also has some solid swing-and-miss stuff as well. Whalen only had three starts for Carolina before being shut down for the season, so hopefully he’s ready to go in 2016.
Professional comparison: Like Edinson Volquez, Whalen lives on his low-zone stuff and he’s been missing it at times, also similar to Volquez.
Likely 2016 starting destination: AA Mississippi
Expected time of arrival: 2017

39.Carlos Franco, 23 (12/20/91), 3B, Carolina
Stats: .254/.347/.403, 11 HR, 12.5% BB, 20.4% K
I’ve been watching Franco for a couple of years now, wondering when he’d take the next big step and jump up levels. He finally showed the offensive skills that he flashed at Danville in 2012. He provided Carolina with power in the middle of their lineup with a solid walk rate as well. Franco will likely never hit .300, but he has worked to better his batting eye, and this year was a big step forward. Franco is a 6’3 lefty-hitting third baseman, which means that pretty much all of our third baseman from the major leagues through about high-A are all lefty batters.
Professional comparison: Trevor Plouffe has had a solid run in the last few years, and he was also a late bloomer. Franco certainly has similar skills, but Plouffe’s took years before they were major league ready, like Franco’s extended path to the majors.
Likely 2016 starting destination: AA Mississippi
Expected time of arrival: 2017

38.Seth Webster, 26 (6/27/89), RHP, Carolina
Stats: 8-8, 135 ⅔ IP, 3.12 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 1.8% BB, 18.9% K
Webster was signed out of independent ball in 2015, and from the moment he arrived in Carolina, he was nothing short of dominant. The biggest thing is that the man simply never let someone get on via a walk. He had very solid control and induced a ton of ground balls. Webster does not have dominant stuff, but he keeps it around the zone and makes the hitter end up swinging on a pitch that he can’t square up. Webster doesn’t have a huge fastball, so he lives on location, location, location like any good realtor would sell you on.
Professional comparison: As he’s matured, Dan Haren has turned into the type of pitcher that Webster is now, throwing a bunch of innings, albeit nothing remarkable.
Likely 2016 starting destination: AA Mississippi Braves
Expected time of arrival: 2017

37.Luis Valenzuela, 22 (8/25/93), SS, Rome
Stats: .365/.387/.506, 3.6% BB, 13.4% K
Valenzuela was signed in 2011 out of the Dominican Republic by the Royals and then acquired by the Braves in the Jonny Gomes deal. While listed at 5’10 and 150 pounds, Valenzuela is more filled out than that, likely more like 180ish. That does not slow him down at all, though, as he showed in limited experience at short for Rome, especially after Ozzy Albies was lost for the season. Valenzuela struggled with the bat in his first two years in the Royals system, but it broke out a touch in 2014 and in a big way in 2015. His time with the Braves yielded a .429/.455/.619 slash line. Valenzuela is a bit stiff at short, but he can make all the plays needed to stay at the position. His future role, however, may end up being a super-sub as he has the hands to play second and the arm to play third as well.
Professional comparison: Valenzuela makes high contact without a lot of walking like Starlin Castro, and his defensive play is very reminiscent of Castro as well.
Likely 2016 starting destination: Carolina
Expected time of arrival: 2018

36.Steve Janas, 23 (4/21/92), RHP, AA
Stats: 7-8, 105 ⅓ IP, 3.33 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 5.6% BB, 13.2% K
Janas was drafted in the 6th round in 2013 out of Kennesaw State University. He moved up quickly to high-A. This year his time at high-A included a 0.49 ERA and a 0.60 WHIP over 37 innings. He did struggle upon his promotion to AA, but he still showed the ability to attack hitters. The big difference for Janas was his command seemed to slip significantly at Mississippi. Janas has a big frame, listed at 6’5 and 200 pounds on B-Ref, but other listing him even taller. He uses that height to generate sink on his low-90s fastball and curveball. His changeup is also an average pitch, and when he locates them all, he’s really difficult to pick up and square up.
Professional comparison: Janas has more than physical similarities to Mike Pelfrey. He also relies on his control to have success like Pelfrey does. Pelfrey’s fastball is a few ticks faster, but he also works low in the zone to create weak contact.
Likely 2016 starting destination: Mississippi
Expected time of arrival: 2017

Next: 31-35

Mar 2, 2015; Lake Buena Vista, FL, USA; Atlanta Braves shortstop Johan Camargo (76) pose for photo day at Wide World of Sports. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Atlanta Braves Top 100: 31-35

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35.Christian Pache, 16 (11/19/98), OF, N/A
Stats: 2015 IFA signee
I’m probably low on Pache, as he received a ton of attention and the Braves received high praise for nabbing him in the 2015 IFA market. I just reserve a lot of judgement until the guy has made a debut that I can review rather than just going on scouting. I’ve read a number of glowing reports about his athleticism and the type of player he could turn into.
Professional comparison: Many names are compared to a guy who’s never played yet, but I’ve heard Andrew McCutchen comparisons from multiple scouts who saw the kid, so that’s pretty high praise thus far!
Likely 2016 starting destination: DSL/GCL
Expected time of arrival: 2020

34.Ray-Patrick Didder, 21 (10/1/94), CF, Danville
Stats: .247/.346/.332, 7 triples, 7.7% BB, 19.7% K
The Braves signed Didder out of Aruba in 2012. He’s moved his way up the system one step at a time. Last season the stop was at Danville, and he flashed many of the same skills that have gotten him talked about along the way. Didder has a solid eye, but he struggles with good breaking balls, and he’ll rack up strikeouts against them. He does flash great gap power, as evidenced by his 13 career triples over roughly a full season of playing time. Didder did have to share center field in Danville, but his defensive skills are very solid in center, so it’s most likely that he’ll stay at the position. He hasn’t displayed the ability to knock the ball out of the park quite yet, but he does hit the ball with authority, so that can be just around the corner. He’ll get his first taste of full-season ball in 2016.
Professional comparison: While he has the defensive skills to stay in center, at the plate, Didder reminds one of Carl Crawford’s gap power and speed combination. Didder needs some work to build on his base-stealing efficiency, and that could really propel him through the system.
Likely 2016 starting destination: Rome
Expected time of arrival: 2018

33.Max Povse, 21, RHP, Carolina
Stats: 5-5, 78 IP, 4.15 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 7% BB, 18.2% K
The Braves selected the towering Povse in the 3rd round of the 2014 draft out of UNC-Greensboro. Povse had a nice debut for Danville last season, and this year, he moved from Rome to Carolina. His Carolina time was nothing short of disastrous, but he pitched very well for Rome, racking up a 2.56 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, and 16/50 BB/K over 59 ⅔ IP. Povse stands 6’8, and he gets great downward plane on the fastball due to his size. His offspeed stuff is still a work in progress, and that was very evident in Carolina. He was rumored as a future reliever when he was drafted, and while I can see that, I also think he’s got a chance as a starter that you have to explore until its end before giving up on that opportunity.
Professional comparison: Povse physically really brings out the Dellin Betances comparisons, and when you see their fastballs in action, you can see more than just size in common. If Povse could develop a secondary pitch to match with Betances, he could be a tremendous presence going forward in Atlanta.
Likely 2016 starting destination: Carolina
Expected time of arrival: 2018

32.Johan Camargo, 21 (12/13/93), SS, Carolina
Stats: .258/.315/.335, 6.7% BB, 12% K
Camargo is a flat-out defensive wizard. He was signed in 2011 out of Panama, and he’s always flashed ridiculously good defensive skills, particularly in his range and arm strength. Accuracy with that powerful arm has sometimes eluded him, but he certainly could end up having a long career as a defensive middle infield backup. Camargo has flashed solid contact ability at times, but he seems to get bored at the plate at times and seems to get much more joy from being out on the field rather than at the plate. While Camargo has proven his defensive chops at every level, he’ll have to show a little more as he hits the upper minors to make it long-term.
Professional comparison: Camargo’s defensive skillset and offensive eye reminds me of Erick Aybar, but he does not have Aybar’s base stealing ability on offense.
Likely 2016 starting destination: AA Mississippi
Expected time of arrival: 2017

31.Ricardo Sanchez, 18 (4/11/97), LHP, Rome
Stats: 1-6, 39 ⅔ IP, 5.45 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, 11.7% BB, 17.2% K
Sanchez came over in the trade for Kyle Kubitza with the Angels. Sanchez was signed out of Venezuela, and the Angels brought him straight to the states. The Braves aggressively moved him to full-season ball this year, and the results were not so good. Sanchez has ridiculous stuff with a fastball that moves a ton and can run up to the mid-90s and a curveball that moves from about 1-7 and can be devastating to hitters. Sanchez struggles to control the hook, though, and he also struggles with disguising his changeup, making it easy to spot out of the hand and he can be hit hard when he is not hiding it well. Sanchez does have solid mechanics, so as he matures and learns to pitch rather than throw, he could move up quickly in the Braves system.
Professional comparison: The inconsistency that Rubby De La Rosa has shown in his career really parallels what we saw from Sanchez this year. They also both have similar stuff in their repertoire.
Likely 2016 starting destination: Rome
Expected time of arrival: 2018

Next: 26-30

Oct 1, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Ryan Weber (68) pitches against the Washington Nationals during the first inning at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Atlanta Braves Top 100: 26-30

30.Connor Lien, 21 (3/15/94), CF/RF, Carolina
Stats: .285/.347/.415, 9 HR, 34 SB, 6.5% BB, 25.6% K
Lien was drafted in the 12th round out of high school in 2012. He’s moved up progressively each season, and he broke out in a big way in 2015. Interestingly, a lot of his ratios are just the same as his performance in Rome in 2014. The big difference in 2015 was that he stole more bases and struck out just a touch more, but somehow people noticed this year more. Lien has tremendous talent for sure, but he’s very raw at the plate and still strikes out at a ridiculous rate. Lien has a good build at 6’3 and a listed 205 pounds. He’s got the speed to make up for poor routes in center field, but when he moved to right field this year, he looked right at home defensively.
Professional comparison: Lien has a Starling Marte-lite skill set from the walk and strikeout rate to the power/speed combination. He’ll face the big test for a hitter in the minors as he moves up to AA next season.
Likely 2016 starting destination: AA Mississippi
Expected time of arrival: 2017

29.William Contreras, 17 (12/24/97), C, DSL
Stats: .314/.370/.413, 7.9% BB, 11.1% K
The third catcher in five spots shows the emphasis that the organization has put on the position after determining that it was the most shallow position in the entire system. Contreras was signed out of Venezuela before the 2015 season, and he has prototypical catcher size right now as long as he’s finished growing. I have only seen Contreras behind the plate, and I can tell you that he has very high quality defensive skills. His numbers offensively leads me to think there’s a great eye there as well, and I cannot wait to see him stateside to get a better look at it.
Professional comparison: His defensive makeup looks a lot like Francisco Cervelli to me, and we’ll have to see if his offensive skills play as well.
Likely 2016 starting destination: GCL
Expected time of arrival: 2020

28.Lucas Herbert, 18 (11/28/96), C, GCL
Stats: .500/.600/1.250 in 5 PA
We didn’t get a chance to see Herbert much after he was selected in the 2nd round as he tore his meniscus after just 5 plate appearances. The scouting reports rave about his defense and his offense, while raw, shows great promise as well. For now, we don’t have a lot to evaluate until he gets more playing time on the field for the Braves.
Professional comparison: Herbert’s size and defensive reputation immediately brought Russell Martin to my mind, but we’ll have to see where his offensive skills sit.
Likely 2016 starting destination: GCL
Expected time of arrival: 2019

27.Leudys Baez, 19 (6/26/96), LF, Rome
Stats: .267/.289/.408, 2.2% BB, 22.8% K
Leudys Baez was signed out of the Dominican Republic before 2015. Baez may have the most complete set of raw tools in the entire system, and watching him on the field will flat out blow you away. Baez struggled some upon moving up to Rome from Danville, which likely means he’ll return there to start 2016, but with his raw skills the switch hitter could move quickly. He’s listed at 6’ and 160, but when you see him, you see that he generates a lot of power in that swing while still maintaining athleticism. He’s also a guy who puts on a big show For right now, he’ll be a guy to watch, but the raw skills are hard to ignore.
Professional comparison: Baez has the raw tools that a young Adam Jones displayed before being traded to Baltimore, and the Braves can only hope that Baez follows Jones’ path.
Likely 2016 starting destination: Baez will likely start in Rome again
Expected time of arrival: 2019

26.Ryan Weber, 25 (8/12/90), RHP, MLB
Stats (minors): 6-5, 99 ⅔ IP (38 appearances, 9 starts), 2.35 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, 2.6% BB, 15.4% K
Stats (majors): 0-3, 28 ⅓ IP, 4.76 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 5.5% BB, 17.4% K
Weber was a 22nd round selection in 2009, and he’s moved slowly up the system as a swing man until this year, when he grabbed everyone’s notice after he was put into the rotation in Gwinnett. Weber rarely walks hitters, so his mistakes are most frequently hits that get through his defense as he keeps the ball low in the zone, getting mostly soft contact on the ground. Weber moved up to Atlanta in September, and his performance in the rotation was very good outside of one rough outing. Weber has the experience working out of the bullpen that can serve him well in Atlanta in a swing role, but he may struggle to hold down a starting position.
Professional comparison: Weber has a lot of similarities in “stuff” to Jordan Zimmermann, but he certainly doesn’t have Zimmermann’s poise on the mound quite yet.
Likely 2016 starting destination: MLB
Expected time of arrival: 2016

Next: 21-25