Atlanta Braves Top 50 Prospects: An Extra Treat
Atlanta Braves Midseason Top 50 Prospects
A Quick Primer
Welcome to Tomahawk Take’s midseason look at the Atlanta Braves top 50 prospects! This list is compiled by Benjamin Chase, writer for Tomahawk Take, through hours (upon hours upon hours upon…well, you get it) of game watching on milb.tv, conversations with scouts around the game, conversations with front office folks, and lots and lots of reading of others’ reviews on Braves prospects. This is Ben’s baby, so if you have an issue with any of the placement of the players or any such things, he’s the guy to send your hate mail to, not Fred or Jeff or Alan or any of the other talented TT writers (they have their own reasons for you to send your messages).
About the Process
I take all that info mentioned above and try to put together a list of guys based on a number of things. I will openly admit that proximity to the major leagues adds a significant bonus to a player’s value in my eyes. I’m also admittedly biased against a guy who has converted to the bullpen full-time, requiring a pretty impressive performance out of the bullpen to rank a guy very highly.
This list will not contain any players who were drafted in June or signed starting July 2nd. While I recognize that guys like Ian Anderson, Joey Wentz, Kyle Muller, and Kevin Maitan will be important pieces of the minor league system going forward, there is much that is yet to be learned about each player acquired this summer before I can accurately rank them within the system, so to have this out to you at this point before having a chance to gather that information from the sources I mentioned above, I’ll keep the midseason list free of both types and then add them in in the offseason Top 100 list (yes, that’s happening again, so start getting excited already!).
General Rules/Requests
I am more than willing to discuss alternative views on a player, but please be respectful of all posters as they post and especially the front office and team in general. This isn’t a place to air grievances about who should have been picked #3 in June or whether a certain prospect should have been part of the Cameron Maybin trade or some other discussion. We can talk all about the players mentioned, and then when I release the top 10 on Friday, I’ll also release a list of a number of other prospects that fans should be aware of that just didn’t make my list for the midseason.
With all that said, let’s take a look at today’s group – A bonus group of players!!
Next: Advanced Sleepers
Players at AA and AAA to keep in mind
Brad Roney, RHP, AAA – Very deceptive stuff that racks up a ton of strikeouts, but he also struggles tremendously with his control. He’s worked his way to Gwinnett after a big 2015 and is knocking on the door of the MLB bullpen.
Mel Rojas, OF, AAA – Former top prospect with the Pirates, Rojas has MLB bloodlines (father of the same name), and he still has great power/speed combo. He’s only 26, so there’s a chance there’s a bounce back sort of thing after the Braves picked him up this year for peanuts, hitting .304/.355/.551 since his promotion to Gwinnett.
Jed Bradley, LHP, AA – Former top Brewers prospect picked up in a small deal, he’s been a nice find as a swing man in the back of the ‘pen for Mississippi, moving into the rotation recently.
Caleb Dirks, RHP, AA – Recently acquired from the Dodgers in the Bud Norris deal, Dirks is a very solid reliever now that he’s in the bullpen full-time.
Akeel Morris, RHP, AA – Acquired from the Mets for Kelly Johnson, Morris has a great arm that was recently moved ot the pen, and I think his stuff plays extremely well there.
Evan Phillips, RHP, AA – A member of the 2015 draft class, Phillips really has thrown well from the bullpen. Not going to strike out a ton of guys, but his ball is extremely heavy and induces a ton of ground balls, so perfect for that guy to bring in to get a double play ball.
Willians Astudillo, C, AA – Okay, I’ll be honest. I’m not sure that he’s really got any sort of a major league future. That said, I LOVE watching the guy play, and how could you not love a guy who stands 5’9, 225, and nearly never strikes out. He’s the Braves system’s Dos Equis man.
Next: A-Ball Under The Radar
Carolina and Rome Players Under the Radar
More from Tomahawk Take
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- Atlanta Braves Mailbag: New Year’s Edition
- Braves News: Atlanta makes a pair of trades, prospect debuts, more
- Atlanta Braves History: How the Red Stockings became the Braves
- Braves News: Atlanta Braves acquire Eli White from the Texas Rangers
Zack Bird, RHP, high-A – The transition to the bullpen has not gone well, but he flashes the stuff. He has incredible stuff for the pen, and he may just be a guy that takes a year to get used to the setup and blows through the system in the role in 2017.
Chase Johnson-Mullins, LHP, high-A – Huge (6’8, near-300 pound) lefty has been incredibly tough on lefties and very good overall. Very raw in his stuff, and he’s had some behavioral stuff in college and is now dealing with a suspension, so may have some off-field things to iron out, but the talent is there to be ridiculous!
Taylor Lewis, RHP, high-A – Very slight (6’1, 170 pound) righty with a sidearm slot comes with low-90s stuff and a tough slider and a “show me” change. Hasn’t allowed a run since being promoted to Carolina.
Philip Pfeifer, LHP, high-A – Acquired as part of the Norris deal, has not allowed a run as a Brave just yet.
Chad Sobotka, RHP, high-A – One of my personal favorites, he’s been doing very well when healthy this year in a transition to the bullpen, where his stuff works similarly to Derek Lowe‘s did in the same role. Towering (6’7) reliever gets a ton of grounders and uses his slider as an out pitch.
Omar Obregon, IF, high-A – Exceptional defender has been hurt a lot of this season, but still putting up good numbers when he’s healthy. No power to speak of, but a ton of speed and defense, and that profile could play him up as a bench guy.
Luis Valenzuela, IF, high-A – Impressed me last year, but hurt all season and not looking comfortable at the plate yet since his return. Able to play all around the infield. 10 HR/10 SB type of guy with decent contact skills if all works out.
Chris Diaz, LHP, low-A – Any word on this guy would be new news to me! Diaz had a very nice first season out of the University of Miami, was hurt, and he hasn’t been seen since, though he remains on the Rome DL, so he’s still part of the organization.
Matt Custred, RHP, low-A – Taken out of Texas Tech last season, most thought Custred would return to school, but he signed, and he’s been a find for the Braves out of the bullpen since. He’s had some control struggles pop up at times this year, but the stuff is incredibly impressive.
Kurt Hoekstra, IF, low-A – I was impressed with Hoekstra’s general feel for the game last season, but he’s been sitting on the DL all season. I look forward to seeing him on the field again soon!
Next: Rookie League Breakthroughs
GCL, Danville, and DSL guys
Adam McCreery, LHP, Danville – Lean, but towering (6’8, 200) lefty, he struggled with Rome, but has the raw stuff to be great if he can get it under control.
Jhon Martinez, LHP, Danville – Hasn’t really stuck out at any level since signing out of Venezuela in 2012, but he’s making quite an impression this year with Danville in their rotation, throwing 22 innings in 4 starts, posting a 2.05 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, and a 5/13 BB/K ratio. Lives on weak contact and grounders, but using that well this year thus far.
Anthony Guardado, RHP, GCL – After his debut this week, he’s now pitched a total of 2 innings since being selected in the 3rd round of 2015. Ton of talent, but just hasn’t stayed healthy yet, but keep an eye if he can keep himself on the mound.
Alan Rangel, RHP, GCL – One of the few pitching notables from the 2014 IFA class, Rangel has pitched much better this season than last, when he split time between the bullpen and rotation. Not huge stuff, but very good pitchability that can get weak contact and K’s by out-smarting hitters.
Sander Boeldak, OF, GCL – Curacaoan native hit well in the DSL last season, but hasn’t got the bat going for the GCL quite yet. Able to play all three outfield spots well, but no real standout offensive skills.
Erick Abreu, LHP, DSL – Big lefty (6’3, 180, 18 years old) with big stuff and not a lot of idea where it’s going at this point. Signed out of the Dominican Republic this year.
Jhoniel Sepulveda, RHP, DSL – The big money pitcher in the 2014 IFA class was a disaster with GCL last season. Doing much better with DSL this year.
Carlos Lopez, RHP, DSL – Big, lean (6’4, 175) 18 Y/O from Mexico has thrown to a 1.13 ERA this year in his second year in the system. Not huge stuff, but has great projection in his frame.
Yoeli Lopez, OF, DSL – Miami kid who found a loophole to get signed through the IFA rules due to his Dominican birthplace. Playing well in his system debut, albeit with a lot of swing-and-miss.
Shean Michel, OF, DSL – Another Curacaoan player, and this one is a ton of speed, contact, and defense. Repeating the DSL level, but may force his way stateside the way he’s handled leadoff thus far for the team.
Luis Ovando, SS, DSL – Underrated signing in last year’s class that is showing a solid glove, very good speed, and surprising pop from up the middle.
Next: Draft and IFA thoughts
Draftees already making a difference and some thoughts on the IFA guys
I’ll not include the guys who were picked in the first 5-6 rounds as most know those guys pretty well, but these are some guys you may want to follow from lower in the draft.
Tyler Neslony, OF, Rome – The last player in the first 10 rounds to sign, he’s the first one to reach full-season ball, and he’s looked every bit of that. I’ve loved his approach at the plate thus far, playing far above even his scouting reports.
Corbin Clouse, LHP, Rome – The first 2016 draftee pitcher to reach Rome, Clouse has been nearly untouchable out of the pen since signing as a 27th round pick. So far, he’s yet to allow a run, throwing 11 innings with 3 hits, 3 walks, and 20 strikeouts!!
Zach Rice, LHP, Danville – Not exactly highly heralded after some run-ins with his coach at UNC, Rice has been tremendous for the Danville bullpen. He has the mix to start, but his arm was severely abused early in his college career (hence the run-ins), so he may be left in the bullpen.
Ramon Osuna, 1B, Danville – Listed at 6’2, 245, Osuna is just simply what they call a BMF in most locker rooms (I’ll leave it at that for the family audience). In spite of his massive size, though, he’s surprisingly agile and athletic, and he’s shown a quick bat through zone, even if he hasn’t knocked a ball out of the park quite yet with Danville. Not bad from a 14th round selection.
Jared James, OF< Danville – The Braves selected James out of high school as well before he went to Long Beach State. He's not a guy who will likely ever be a guy to hit 10+ homers, but he has great speed, has good strike zone judgement, and he plays exceptional defense in the outfield. If nothing else, James will have a long career in the system as a very high-end org guy. His 80% level would be a bench 4th outfielder with his 90% level being a starting regular in the bigs in the profile of someone like Nori Aoki.
Tucker Davidson, LHP, GCL – The lefty reliever has put up monster numbers in his few appearances out of the gate, but more importantly, he’s looked very comfortable on a pro mound and uses his pitches very well.
Next: Braves Minor League Database
Last, a bit on the international free agents just signed on July 2nd (and still being signed). I’ll be honest that I’m EXTREMELY excited about this group of players, and I think this crop will be better than the tremendous 2014 crop of IFA guys that has produced Acuna, Yepez, Isranel Wilson, Ventura, William Contreras, and Michel. I’m doing the same as many of you right now looking at these guys through video scouting on YouTube, but you can be assured that I’m taking my time to get good reports this winter on guys to place them within my top 100 list.