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Atlanta Braves 2016-2017 Top 100 Prospects: 61-70

By Benjamin Chase

Apr 4, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; The teams lineup and the flag is pulled across the outfield prior to the game between the Washington Nationals and the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 4, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; The teams lineup and the flag is pulled across the outfield prior to the game between the Washington Nationals and the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jun 20, 2015; Omaha, NE, USA; Florida Gators pitcher Taylor Lewis (16) throws against the Virginia Cavaliers in the sixth inning at the 2015 College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park. Virginia won 5-4. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Thorson-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 20, 2015; Omaha, NE, USA; Florida Gators pitcher Taylor Lewis (16) throws against the Virginia Cavaliers in the sixth inning at the 2015 College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park. Virginia won 5-4. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Thorson-USA TODAY Sports /

70. Taylor Lewis, RHP

Lewis was a 9th round draft choice out of the University of Florida in the 2015 draft. The Braves sent him to Danville, but after 6 appearances without allowing an earned run, he was promoted to Rome. His first year with the Braves system, he posted a 1.77 ERA in 20 1/3 innings, tallying a 1.23 WHIP and a 6/15 BB/K ratio.

He started 2016 in Rome, and while his ERA was not pretty in his time there, he was clearly showing skills worthy of being promoted to Carolina. After less than 20 appearances at Carolina, he had thrown so well that he was promoted again to Mississippi and a key member of the M-Braves playoff rotation.

Total on the season, he posted a 2.05 ERA over 66 innings with a 1.16 WHIP and a 14/63 BB/K ratio.

Lewis uses a unique arm angle to generate success, throwing at a very low 3/4 arm slot. His unique arm slot generates rare spin on his slider, and hitters really struggled to pick up the pitch or square up the pitch. His primary fastball is a four-seam fastball that touches mid-90s, but typically sits low-90s.

He works with excellent command of his fastball, and that helps to allow a “straight” fastball to avoid barrels very well.

Lewis has a touch of deception in his delivery with a bit of a delayed foot placement as he points his toe toward home, holding the foot still up in the air, and then pushes the last bit toward home and lunges forward. That bit of timing deception really gets hitters off in their view of his pitches overall.

Lewis does offer a change, but he seems to only pull it out when he’s going multiple innings in an appearance. He’ll likely be in the bullpen for Mississippi to start the 2017 season, and he’ll be a guy with an excellent ability to work in the middle innings as long as he can continue to hold his command on his pitches and stay healthy.

Jun 16, 2015; Omaha, NE, USA; LSU Tigers catcher Kade Scivicque (22) hits an RBI single in the third inning against the Cal State Fullerton Titans in the 2015 College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 16, 2015; Omaha, NE, USA; LSU Tigers catcher Kade Scivicque (22) hits an RBI single in the third inning against the Cal State Fullerton Titans in the 2015 College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports /

69. Kade Scivicque, C

Scivicque’s pedigree as a multi-year starter with a high-end SEC program in college should allow him to advance quickly and let the bat catch up to his glove.

Scivicque was acquired by the Braves from the Tigers in the Erick Aybar deal. He was originally drafted by the Tigers out of Louisiana State in the 4th round in the 2015 draft.

He played at two levels in 2015 for the Tigers, moving from short-season ball to low-A, totaling a slash line of .269/.333/.381 with 5 home runs and a 12/29 BB/K ratio over 216 plate appearances.

He played with high-A for most of the season between the Tigers and Braves organizations in 2016. He finished the year with AA Mississippi. His regular season total was .273/.317/.362 with 6 home runs and a 25/91 BB/K ratio over 492 plate appearances. He saved his best for last, however, hitting .471 during Mississippi’s playoff run.

Scivicque has an excellent ability behind the plate. He’s not exactly the best with stolen bases due to rough footwork going to second base, but he does have an excellent arm. His best defensive attributes are his excellent target that he sets and his ability to get down and block the ball.

Scivicque’s offensive potential seems to have been untapped at this point. He’s got a bunch of power behind the swing, but it doesn’t translate at this point, mostly due to a fairly level swing that will need some change in its path to generate loft.

Scivicque was one of the players the Braves assigned to the Arizona Fall League, and it’s quite likely he comes out of that with an assignment to Mississippi to start 2017.

Scivicque’s pedigree as a multi-year starter with a high-end SEC program in college should allow him to advance quickly and let the bat catch up to his glove.

Next: #68 & #67

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