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Atlanta Braves Midseason Top 50 Prospects: 30-21

By Benjamin Chase

May 25, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; A general view during sunset in the firth inning of the game between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
May 25, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; A general view during sunset in the firth inning of the game between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jun 26, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; A general view from behind home plate prior to the start of the game between the New York Mets and the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field. The Braves defeated the Mets 5-2. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 26, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; A general view from behind home plate prior to the start of the game between the New York Mets and the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field. The Braves defeated the Mets 5-2. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /

30. Leudys Baez, OF, Low-A Rome

Baez was originally signed as a shortstop by the Washington Nationals out of the Dominican, but there were issues with his contract, and after his contract was cancelled, he ended up in limbo for some time before the Braves took a shot at the raw 18 year old before 2015.

Last season, Baez showed that to be a wise investment as he came out with Danville and hit .311/.331/.473 with 4 home runs and 5 stolen bases. He followed that up with a weak showing at Rome, but after multiple years rarely playing competitive baseball, the struggles at Rome were near expected. The biggest worry was the 6/61 BB/K ratio.

This season, Baez was assigned back to Rome. He’s not hit as well as his burst in Rome, but he’s definitely shown well, hitting .261/.329/.319 with a home run and 3 steals. He has nearly quadrupled his walk rate this season, though that’s only to an average solid level, let alone any sort of impressive level.

Baez has a big bat and an even bigger arm. He can make the throw from anywhere in the outfield ot home plate without a cut-off man. He’a built very well, showing his listed 6′, 160 pounds to be drastically off-base. Baez is more in the range of 185 pounds, having filled out significantly. He is 20 years old now, but the raw tools are absolutely incredible in Baez. He’s in a very complicated mix of toolsy outfielders in Rome’s outfield right now that he’ll have to perform to continue to get playing time.

29. A.J. Minter, LHP, AA Mississippi

Alex Jordan Minter was drafted by the Braves in the 2nd round of the 2015 draft out of Texas A&M, and the smallish (6′, 205) lefty was viewed immediately as an impressive steal at the spot the Braves got him. He’s only shown that evaluation to be light in his 2016 performance.

Minter was a guy who was widely considered to be a top-15 to top-20 talent in the 2015 draft before he underwent Tommy John surgery in March of his draft seasons, meaning that whomever drafted him wouldn’t have him for the entire summer after he was drafted. That didn’t scare away the Braves, even though Minter had also suffered thoracic outlet syndrome as a freshman, so many teams did stay away, believing the arm could have major issues going forward.

The Braves were in on Minter as a possibility for them at pick #14 and certainly at pick #28 before he was injured, so they had scouted him extensively, and the Braves were highly impressed with his make up. Of course, his 94-97 MPH fastball with a very good slider and a developing breaking ball had their scouts talking as well.

Minter has come out this year and showed that he is everything the Braves had hoped for and more. He didn’t allow his first earned run until the weekend before the All-Star break, and even that run was due to a catcher missing a third strike on a guy that Minter had struck out and then that player coming around to score. Overall, he’s posted a 5/21 BB/K ratio over 18 2/3 innings with a 0.59 WHIP.

Minter’s already reached AA Mississippi, and it’s quite likely you will see him in Atlanta early in 2017 if he doesn’t make an appearance in 2016. His incredible stuff from the left side could actually project as the rare lefty closer, if the Braves chose to use him in that role.

Next: 28, 27

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