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Atlanta Braves 2016-2017 Top 100 Prospects: 21-30

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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30. Matt Withrow, RHP

If I would have had to guess which two of the college arms the Braves selected from the 4th through 9th rounds in the 2015 draft would end up in the top 30 in the season-ending list, I’d have probably guessed Josh Graham and Ryan Lawlor or Ryan Clark. Instead Clark and Lawlor didn’t even make the list, Graham and Taylor Lewis were mentioned already, and now Withrow is the first of that group, with Patrick Weigel to come.

Withrow was part of an intentional strategy of the Braves to select college pitchers projected as relief arms with some ability to work three or more pitches with the hope to have each work as a starter and hopefully find a gem or two.

Based on early results, Withrow could certainly be one of those gems.

Withrow’s brother is well-known to Braves fans as he is currently a member of the Braves bullpen. Matt attended Texas Tech and was riddled with injuries in his time there, so many figured his arm would require relief work due to strain causing injury.

Instead, he came out in 2015 with Danville and threw 48 innings, putting up a 3.56 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, and a 16/35 BB/K. In 2016, he was pushed over low-A Rome to high-A Carolina. For the Mudcats, he threw 120 2/3 innings with a 3.80 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, and a 68/131 BB/K ratio.

Withrow has a very impressive build at 6’5, 235 pounds. He has the repertoire of an inning-eater type as well, throwing an incredibly heavy fastball that can touch mid-90s, a slider that has similar arm speed and wrap to his fastball with good depth, and a change that also moves very well and keeps that same arm action, making it very tough for a hitter to distinguish pitches based on his arm action and delivery.

Withrow may not ever profile as a front-line guy, but he has the excellent sinker/slider combo that should eat up a ton of innings in the middle of a rotation. He should move to AA to start 2017 and could move quickly as a high-floor arm.

29. Connor Lien, OF

Lien really broke through with his natural athleticism at Carolina last year in his first year he’s been able to stay healthy for the majority of the season, hitting .285/.347/.415 with 9 home runs and 34 stolen bases.

Unfortunately, his health did not hold up in 2016, as he was injured in the first game of the season and did not return until late in June, missing over two months. He showed lingering results all season long as he wore down quickly, needing multiple days off as the season wore on, and seeing his results drip drastically as the year went on as well.

Lien was drafted by the Braves in the 12th round of the 2012 draft out of high school in Florida, and he’s always had excellent athleticism. Lien displayed power and speed throughout his progression in the minors.

He still possesses the tremendous athleticism that he always has possessed, but as this year shows, he has some big time issues with injuries. Lien will be 23 before the season begins in 2017, and while he showed well at Mississippi, I’d wager he’ll continue at the same level next season.

Lien is eligible for rule 5, and he is someone that could be protected by the team as he could be a guy that’d sit on a major league bench for a season right now with the ability to develop into more, even though it’d be an “old” prospect.

Next: #28 & #27

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