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Atlanta Braves Top 100 Prospect: #27 Luke Dykstra

By Benjamin Chase

Aug 9, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves former second baseman Mark Lemke and former starting pitcher Kevin Millwood sign autographs before a game against the Miami Marlins at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 9, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves former second baseman Mark Lemke and former starting pitcher Kevin Millwood sign autographs before a game against the Miami Marlins at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 6, 2015; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Marlins second baseman Martin Prado (14) connects for a base hit during the seventh inning against the Atlanta Braves at Marlins Park. The Braves won 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 6, 2015; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Marlins second baseman Martin Prado (14) connects for a base hit during the seventh inning against the Atlanta Braves at Marlins Park. The Braves won 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /

2016 Outlook

Dykstra came to the Braves as his father was getting some rough headlines for poor reasons. He’s simply come to work with the Braves, and while he may not be a guy who’s catching the eyes of national top 100 lists, he’s definitely showing a lot as a player and really reminds me a ton of the “grinder” type of ball player that is frequently found at second base. Braves fans have fond memories of such players in guys like Mark Lemke, Marcus Giles, Mark DeRosa, Martin Prado, Omar Infante, and many more – guys who probably aren’t the superstar of your team, but without them, your team simply doesn’t function right.

Next: Braves Top 100 Prospects Updated

I would wager where Dykstra starts will depend on a few different variables. First, where the organization starts Dansby Swanson and Ozhaino Albies. That will shuffle guys who have been playing shortstop accordingly, and then start the next domino, which is where Omar Obregon is assigned. He’s the guy directly in front of Dykstra in progression, though he was Dykstra’s double play partner in Rome to close out the season as Obregon moved over to shortstop to replace Albies after the latter suffered an injury. Third would be simply how Dykstra performs this spring. If he can hit with some authority, showing that his 26-game stint in Rome was all the time he needed there, he could bump straight up to Carolina without any more time in Rome. My best bet is that he starts the season in Rome, but he also moves up quickly to Carolina based on his consistent, albeit not spectacular, production and begins to assert a position for himself in the Braves’ future plans.

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