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Atlanta Braves Top 100 Prospects: #37 Connor Lien

By Benjamin Chase

Mar 5, 2016; Lake Buena Vista, FL, USA; Former Atlanta Braves player Dale Murphy poses for a photograph with infants before the start of a spring training game at Champion Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 5, 2016; Lake Buena Vista, FL, USA; Former Atlanta Braves player Dale Murphy poses for a photograph with infants before the start of a spring training game at Champion Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jul 25, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; San Diego Padres outfielder Jeff Francoeur (15) signs autographs for fans prior to the game against the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 25, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; San Diego Padres outfielder Jeff Francoeur (15) signs autographs for fans prior to the game against the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /

2016 Outlook

Lien is in a bit of a quagmire. He really needs to develop his offensive game further to have a chance to be a major league regular. The walk rate has been at 6.9% in the minor leagues, and that’s simply not passable for a major league regular. For reference, among qualified outfielders in the major leagues in 2015, his ratio would have ranked among the 20 worst in the entire league. Now, even with a lower walk rate, you could live with it if he was striking out at a solid rate, but Lien’s striking out in 26.2% of his plate appearances, and of those with a walk rate at his 6.5% rate of 2015 or lower, only Marlon Byrd among all qualified major league outfielders had a strikeout rate even over 24%, let alone 26%. The more concerning thing was his 4.9% walk rate and 45.5% strikeout rate in the AFL when he faced the more advanced pitching that he’ll start facing this year in AA!

Next: Braves Top 100 Prospects Updated

All that said, Lien’s defense is truly special. He’s got the ability to produce both power and speed in his offensive game with his natural athleticism. If he can simply improve ever so slightly to cutting the strikeouts to under 20%, you’re talking about a top 100 type of prospect in all of baseball, not a guy who’s a fringe top 40 guy in the Braves own system! I’d wager the Braves will give him that test of advanced pitching at Mississippi this year, and I’m hoping to see him do well with that transition as the offensive prospect pipeline near the top is a bit dry, even if the lower levels are bursting full of talent. Lien pushing through and succeeding would give Atlanta fans a young, exciting player that could be an elite defender and solid offensive contributor with just a few minor tweaks to his swing and/or approach.

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