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Atlanta Braves Prospects: Re-visiting my Favorite List

By Ryan Cothran

Mar 8, 2016; Lake Buena Vista, FL, USA; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Sean Newcomb (78) throws during the fourth inning of a spring training baseball game against the New York Mets at Champion Stadium. The Braves won 5-4. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 8, 2016; Lake Buena Vista, FL, USA; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Sean Newcomb (78) throws during the fourth inning of a spring training baseball game against the New York Mets at Champion Stadium. The Braves won 5-4. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 7, 2016; Dunedin, FL, USA; Atlanta Braves shortstop Dansby Swanson (80) prior to the game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Florida Auto Exchange Park. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 7, 2016; Dunedin, FL, USA; Atlanta Braves shortstop Dansby Swanson (80) prior to the game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Florida Auto Exchange Park. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

Atlanta Braves 2016 Prospects List according to Minor League Ball

John Sickels’ original write-up on these players can be found here.

More from Tomahawk Take

  1. Dansby Swanson– Has hit a hiccup at AA, but overall numbers across 2 levels keep his A-prospect status in check. A
  2. Sean Newcomb– Inconsistencies at AA and an increased BB rate likely takes a little gloss of the grade. From A-/B+ to B+
  3. Aaron Blair– graduated from prospect status
  4. Hector Olivera– graduated from prospect status, but… well, you know.
  5. Kolby Allard– Not enough stats to support a move up, and poor small sample stats could suggest a step back. I’ll keep it same: B+
  6. Ozzie Albies– Has struggled at AAA, but just getting moved their as a 19 y/o combined with his numbers at AA upticks his grade half a letter: From B+ to A-
  7. Austin Riley– Bat has came around a lot this last month but the 32.5% K-rate is worrisome.  From B to B-
  8. Lucas Sims– there’s really no way to spin it positively, Sims is getting pounded at AAA. There’s a term out there for hitters called “Three true outcomes”. This signifies that the batter will either walk, strikeout, or hit a homerun. Sims has been a 3 true outcomes pitcher and that’s tough to swallow. From B to B-
  9. Mike Soroka– Jumped a level, stats got better!  He’s the crown jewel thus far in growth and looks to be a steal from last year’s draft. From B to B+
  10. Touki Toussaint– Touki’s last outing was impressive and his upper velocity fastball was back in full effect. However, he’s repeating a level and his overall numbers still look ugly. Lots of promise, but it hasn’t matched production. From B/B- to B-
  11. Mallex Smith– graduated from prospect status
  12. Tyrell Jenkins– Blame the Braves for this one as moving a starting pitcher to a reliever equates to buying a new car and driving it off the lot for the first time; they both immediately lose value. Tyrell’s traditional numbers are good, but his peripherals suggest he’s been lucky. However, like Julio Teheran, he might be a guy that consistently outperforms his peripherals due to inducing weak contact. From B- to C+
  13. Zachary Bird– Likely falls off prospect lists as he just can’t stop walking people. A 2.20 WHIP at high-A suggests  that no matter the stuff  he is just not worthy of top prospect status.  Keep him in your back pocket for now.  From B- to removed from list
  14. Braxton Davidson– turning it around lately, but overall numbers have been poor and a BABIP of .341 doesn’t suggest he’s been unlucky. From B-/C+ to C+
  15. Max Fried– He’s back from Tommy John and that’s really the only reason why Max was rated  so low. He hasn’t given up a run in his last 2 outings and the walk-rate is dropping.  Very encouraging.  From B-/C+ to B
  16. Ronald Acuna– Kid is going to be something special. The injury has knocked him down a bit, but his prospect status was growing due to his great overall game. From B-/C+ to B
  17. John Gant– graduated from prospect status
  18. Chris Ellis– The stuff still doesn’t jump off of the board but Ellis does nothing but put up good start after good start. Looks destined to be a back-end workhorse. From C+ to B
  19. Manny Banuelos– Health really puts his future in question, but the talent is still there. His prospect status already took a hit last year so I think his grade stays. C+
  20. Josh Graham– An obvious under the radar guy here but destined to be a back-end reliever. That’s AWESOME, but only at high-A, it doesn’t carry much prospect weight. Grade stays. C+
  21. Juan Yepez– Not hitting as much in Rome as he was in Rookie Leagues but there’s not enough statistics to bump him down or up. Grade stays. C+
  22. Lucas Herbert–  Healthy and offensively turning a curve but still not enough accrued time to make a sound judgment up or down. Grade stays. C+
  23. Rio Ruiz– Has rebounded from his poor 2015, but is still far from an elite prospect.  His BABIP suggests some luck  Grade stays. C+
  24. Andrew Thurman– Numbers have dropped across the board after the move to AA last year likely causing him to lose “prospect” status.  Removed from list

Recapping the 2016 List

Of the 24 that made Sickels’ list, 4 have graduated from prospect status (Mallex, Olivera, Gant, Blair), and 2 are likely removed from the list (Bird and Thurman), leaving 18 prospects from last year’s list.  

This next part will not discuss newly drafted players nor the International Prospect pickups likely coming in a few weeks, rather the players within the organization who could replace the 6 guys mentioned above. Let’s start out at Gwinnett and Mississippi!

Next: Stepping Up?

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