Focal Point for Atlanta Braves Prospects, pt. 1
It’s an exciting time for our Atlanta Braves! The farm that John Coppolella and company have been building over the past few years is starting to peak it’s head into the Majors.
The Atlanta Braves have guys like Aaron Blair and Matt Wisler as part of the first wave of many to come over the next decade (yes, that’s how long this thing can stretch! Madness!) and it’s likely we see 5-plus prospects at some point on the Major League roster get their taste of the bigs, some for the 2nd time.
However, for each player there are aspects of their games that will need improvement before that comes to fruition.
Today, we will look at a few of these better prospects and home in on one aspect of each player’s game that needs to step forward before they can make the last great leap in their careers.
Ozzie Albies
Between AA and AAA, Albies had a very productive year on the farm. He sported a triple slash-line of .292/.358/.420. He’s growing, getting stronger and his power is coming.
At 2nd base, his athleticism should put him in an elite defensive category and I wouldn’t be surprised to see multiple gold gloves from him. Fangraphs Eric Longenhagen did a piece on the Braves Top 32 prospects and had this to say about Albies:
“Albies has arguably the best bat control in prospectdom, spraying hard contact to all fields, spoiling tough pitches and grinding out at-bats. He also has exceptional hand-eye coordination and makes natural adjustments to breaking balls in mid-flight. I was not at all discouraged by Albies’ lackluster showing in his few weeks at Triple-A. In fact, I find it encouraging that a 19-year-old (just a few months older than Yankees 2016 first-rounder Blake Rutherford) was able to carry such favorable peripherals to the precipice of the major leagues.”
What needs to step forward? There’s nothing holding back this young stud from reaching the Majors other than health. It’s a scary thing when a top prospect gets injured, but it’s even scarier when it’s a break that happens on such a routine part of baseball.
If Albies can prove healthy and that this injury was merely fluke, he’ll be spraying baseballs all over Suntrust field in no time.
Feb 21, 2017; Disney, FL, USA;Atlanta Braves second baseman Travis Demeritte (81) throws the ball in a practice following media day for the Atlanta Braves during MLB spring training at Champion Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Travis Demeritte
Acquired July of 2016 in a desperation move for pitching by the Texas Rangers, Demeritte might be the most intriguing hitter in the Braves MILB system.
He has light-tower power and grades out as a well-above average defender at 2nd base (although there’s rumor that the Braves might consider a move to 3B as 2nd is obviously blocked by Albies), but Demeritte does come with some taint.
Here’s Longenhagen’s thoughts on Demeritte:
“He does have plus raw power, though, something that was clear when I saw 50 at-bats or so from Demeritte last fall. He’s also a potential 70 defender at second base with remarkable range and athleticism.”
What needs to step forward? How many Major Leaguers in the history of baseball carried a K-rate north of 30% in the Minor Leagues and collected 10 WAR or more in the bigs? The answer? Not many.
If I recall correctly, the answer was 2 and one of those was Rob Deer. Putting it mildly, Demeritte needs to go to the school of Seitzer and get his contact rate up.
30% K-rate in the minors likely means a 40-45% K-rate in the bigs, and that just won’t cut it…no pun intended.
If Demeritte can lower his K-rate by 5-7% while maintaining good power and patience, he could turn into the Braves version of Javier Baez, and that is a very valuable piece to have in one’s pocket.
Dustin Peterson
After a lost 2015 in which he bottomed out after the dreadful Mississippi Braves bus crash, D-Pete showed his pedigree by slashing .282/.343/.431 in the most notorious home pitchers’ park (and league) in organized ball. He was a steady presence all year and, at 21, is much younger than what most people that watch him realize. Here’s Longenhagen again:
“Peterson has improved his stride direction and unlocked more of his natural pull power in the process. It’s pull-only power but he’s short to the ball, creates good extension through contact, and can go down and get balls down in the zone and still make authoritative contact.”
More from Tomahawk Take
- Atlanta Braves sign free agent outfielder Jordan Luplow
- Atlanta Braves 2023 Preseason Top 30 Prospects List: 16-20
- Braves News: Reacting to Dansby’s departure, Michael Brantley, more
- Atlanta Braves: Best Option at Shortstop Now That Dansby Swanson is Gone
- Atlanta Braves GM Alex Anthopoulos’ views on the offseason so far
He’ll be at Gwinnett to start the year and I think that there are 2 aspects he’ll have to show in order to make the final step.
1. Repeat success– Peterson gets a pass on 2015 due to the bus crash, but let’s not forget that ’13 or ’14 were not favorable either. He’ll have to show that 2016 wasn’t the fluke.
2. Move around the outfield– Peterson came into the Braves org as a 3rd baseman and made a rather easy adjustment to left field.
Praised for his athleticism, I think Peterson is going to have to show that he can play another position outside of left field as I’m not sure his bat will play there. Look for the Braves to give him time in right field, and possibly some (very brief) stops in center.
That’s a wrap for now, folks! This is part 1 of 3 so look out for the next 2 parts coming over the course of the next week. Let me know if you think there’s a prospect that’s on the cusp that you’d like to see discussed in these pieces!
Next: Meanwhile, Check This Prospect Out
I’m really excited for this year and the next 10 seasons in Braves country! You ready? Let’s say it together! 1, 2, 3….