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Atlanta Braves Top 100 Prospects: A Review Of Last Year’s 100

By Benjamin Chase

Mar 7, 2016; Dunedin, FL, USA; Atlanta Braves shortstop Dansby Swanson (80) talks with shortstop Ozzie Albies (87) 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) talks with shortstop Ozzie Albies (87) prior to the game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Florida Auto Exchange Park. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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Aug 8, 2016; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Atlanta Braves pitcher Rob Whalen (63) throws a pitch during the first inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 8, 2016; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Atlanta Braves pitcher Rob Whalen (63) throws a pitch during the first inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports /

The Review: 26-50


50. Seth Webster – One of my personal favorites from 2015, Webster was a guy signed from Indy Ball that came in and basically walked no one, using pitches that dipped down into the 50s and 60s in velocity. He was released, sadly for me, near the end of spring training.
49. Justin Ellison – Very tool heavy outfielder went to Rome and had big time flashes, but quite inconsistent overall. Lots of athleticism, but times when the bat just disappeared.
48. Johan Camargo – Made a successful transition to utility guy in 2016 from a defensive-focused shortstop. Showed solid gap power in AA while hitting .267, his best average for a full season year.
47. A.J. Minter – I moved him up a ton based on fall instructs reports that I got after doing my October list. Then I would have moved him up a ton more if I had done a list just before opening day based on what I heard. He simply dominated all year long. I compared him to Zach Britton in my scouting report on him, and I really think that’s apt.
46. Keith Curcio – One of the more unheralded guys in the system. Very consistent, led off most of the year for Carolina and was the one guy in the lineup who hit from April through August. Very solid 4th outfielder/fringy starter at peak value, but a great guy to have in the system.
 
45. Robert Whalen – Told me that he was healthy for the first time in his career over the offseason, and it showed once he hit the field. Mentally more advanced on the mound than any Braves pitching prospect, knowing when and how to attack hitters within an at bat. He’s moved up big.
44. Luis Valenzuela – Solid all-around skill set that he never seems to put together all at the same time. Missed a lot of 2016 with injury, but when healthy, similar frustration as Royals had before trading him to Atlanta.
43. Steve Janas – Made transition to the bullpen very well, and could have a long-term home there in the major leagues with how well his multiple pitch mix worked in keeping hitters off balance.
42. Ray-Patrick Didder – A guy basically off the radar for most who even knew the system fairly well, Didder was described to me as the best defensive outfielder in the entire system. He put up a .380+ OBP in Rome along with showing exactly that ability defensively.
41. Brandon Barker – Enjoying an excellent start to his year in Mississippi when he was traded to Baltimore to acquire a competitive balance pick that turned into Brett Cumberland.
 
40. Daniel Castro – Really hasn’t hit the top end of his offensive ability, and likely won’t. Settled into a defense-focused bench middle infielder, and those guys are dime-a-dozen.
39. Max Povse – Came out in April like gangbusters, cooled considerably, and then settled into a solid season the rest of the way. Repeated his landing spot very well in 2016. At his height, that will be what determines whether his future is in the bullpen or rotation.
38. Ricardo Sanchez – Missed in the Rome rotation, though his numbers don’t exactly stand up to the rest. Had flashes of brilliance over the season. Still plenty young.
37. Connor Lien – Lots of fun to watch him in the outfield and on the base paths. Watching him at the plate could make you pull your hair out. Missed much of 2016 due to injury.
36. Josh Graham – Big time helium coming into the season, and then he was moved to the bullpen from the get go while others (Weigel, Clark, Withrow) from his draft class stayed in the rotation. Has a real bright future in the pen with his stuff.
 
35. Cristian Pache – Incredibly big debut for Pache, moving through GCL to Danville and actually hitting better after the promotion at just 17!
34. William Contreras – My favorite catcher in the system flashed exactly why at GCL this year, really handling pitchers well, blocking pitches, and showing an excellent eye at the plate along with developing power at just 18.
33. Lucas Herbert – 2015 2nd round selection is advanced defensively, but his bat needs lots of work.
32. Zachary Bird – The bottom completely fell out on Bird in 2016. He’s a reliever going forward, but we’ll see in 2017 whether he’s even got a future there.
31. Ryan Weber – Solid control artist was never really given a shot at the rotation this season in Atlanta, but was excellent as a utility pitcher in Gwinnett.
 
30. Randy Ventura – Speedster grabbed this spot due to his big time speed performance in 2015, but coming stateside from the GCL slowed him down significantly.
29. Derian Cruz – The top ranked 2015 international signee that the Braves brought in, but he was surpassed by his class brother Pache on the season as Cruz hit a wall in Danville.
28. Daniel Winkler – One of the most gruesome injuries I’ve seen on a baseball field. Watching the video today makes me sad. Hopefully he can return and show us all!
27. Luke Dykstra – Scrappy 2nd baseman led the organization in hitting for much of the season before an injury finished out his 2016 on the DL.
26. Jonathan Morales – Showed excellent offensive skills in 2015, and those were present in 2016, but he made huge strides defensively behind the plate. Could move quickly once he can get both done at the same time.

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