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Tomahawk Take’s Top 20 Atlanta Braves Prospects: #10-6

By Benjamin Chase

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Nov 7, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Atlanta Braves pitcher Lucas Sims during the Arizona Fall League Fall Stars game at Salt River Fields. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 7, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Atlanta Braves pitcher Lucas Sims during the Arizona Fall League Fall Stars game at Salt River Fields. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

9. Lucas Sims

– by Philip Tapley, Tomahawk Take Staff Writer

Who He Is

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Lucas Sims has been with the Braves since 2012, when the club drafted him 21st overall in the first round. The 21 year old right hander played his prep ball with Brookwood HS in the suburbs of Atlanta. Sims is one of those prospects that feels older than he is, probably because he enjoyed a great deal of hype upon his draft, and then developed at a pace that was less exciting than his initial promise. He had a great first pro season in 2013, posting a 2.62 ERA / 3.09 FIP that year. He experienced some growing pains in 2014, and was then affected by the bus accident befell the single-A-advanced Carolina Mudcats early in the 2015 season. No worries though; Sims again now finds himself again in the discussion among the most exciting prospects in the Braves system.

Sims features a fastball, curveball, changeup mix. His velocity sits 91-94 but reaches higher on its best days. He has received above average grades on his biting curveball since high school, which he delivers deceptively with similar arm speed and release point as his fastball. It seems that his changeup lags behind his other two pitches, but at 21, he has ample time to gain feel for the pitch as he climbs the ranks. The biggest knock on Sims has been command, though his time in the league has been short. HIs recent efforts have shown improvements in this department, which is largely why he now climbs near the top 5 on some Braves prospect rankings.

His 2015

2015 was a roller coaster year that ended on a high note for Sims. He started the year with the single-A-advanced Carolina Mudcats, but the bus crash mentioned earlier derailed the beginning of his season. The crash led to a month or so on the DL after having started the season with some strong starts. Sims floundered a bit once back in action, but still earned a call up to double-A Mississippi in late July. His 2015 numbers are fine but uninspiring overall, but he finished the year strong and followed up with an excellent performance in the Arizona Fall League. With the Peoria Javelinas in the AFL, Sims posted a 2.12 ERA backed up by a 2.88 FIP, while striking out 5.7 batters per every walk issued. His performance led to a start in the AFL all-star game, despite being two years younger than the average player in the league. Sims’ AFL stint was a small sample of 17 innings, but coming on the heels of strong finish in double-A Mississippi, and in the context of the bus crash that disrupted the beginning of his 2015, optimism abounds for Lucas Sims in Braves Country.

2016 Projection and Future

The youngster will probably begin the 2016 campaign back in Mississippi, which is a more than appropriate level for his age. While the Braves won’t feel the need to rush Sims, he could force their hand if he continues to build on his recent momentum. Especially as fellow Braves hurlers like Aaron Blair, Sean Newcomb, and Tyrell Jenkins make their way to Atlanta, Sims may be in Gwinnett sooner than later.

Next: Prospect Number 8

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