Atlanta Braves Midseason Top 50 Prospects: Top Ten

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Jun 4, 2017; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Atlanta Braves relief pitcher Luke Jackson throws against the Cincinnati Reds during the ninth inning at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports /

Atlanta Braves Midseason Top 50 Prospects

Every season, I have tried to bring a midseason update to the Atlanta Braves top 100 prospect list that I work on every winter. This year will be a little earlier than most, but we’ll discuss the reasoning for that more in the Friday AQA post.

The focus here is on an increasingly difficult task, narrowing a list to 50 Atlanta Braves prospects. The Braves’ system is one of the top 5 in the game without question, and while there are some elite prospects at the top end, what makes the Braves’ system so incredible is the depth within the system – players who are not even on this list are viable guys that could be major league contributors, if even in a bullpen or off the bench.

We’ll look at all players within the system currently, including those who were recently drafted, but only those who have signed and been assigned. The guys who I will be excluding are those who are or have been in the majors and likely to surpass their rookie limits this season if they haven’t already. That meant that guys like Rio Ruiz, Johan Camargo, Luke Jackson, Sean Newcomb, and Jason Hursh did not make this list. While only Newcomb would have factored in the top of the list, it’s still important to note when you do not see the other names, that is why.

That said, any guys who may make it to the majors possibly this season and burn through their rookie eligibility would require projection, so I won’t exclude them as we just do not know.

The schedule will be as such:
Monday – 50-41
Tuesday – 31-40
Wednesday – 21-30
Thursday – 11-20
Friday – AQA (with a BIG announcement!), Top Ten, and a post with the full list and other names to know outside the top 50

I think that’s enough qualifiers for now. Enjoy, and feel free to comment below!!

Next: 9, 10

10. Travis Demeritte, IF, Mississippi Braves

The Atlanta Braves have executed a number of stunning trades in their favor in the last few years as they’ve built up the top farm system in the game, but the trade that brought Demeritte to the Braves may take the cake as far as improbability. Demeritte, a top 10 prospect in the Rangers system, which was a good system at the time, was acquired on July 27th for Lucas Harrell, who the Braves had signed off the scrap heap on May 20th, and Dario Alvarez, who the Braves claimed off of waivers on May 25th. In other words, two players who had barely over 2 months in the Braves organization brought back a top 10 prospect.

A Georgia native, Demeritte was known most previous to his trade for being part of a monster lineup at low-A Hickory in the South Atlantic League, where he hit 25 home runs but also struck out 171 times. He faced a suspension for a performance enhancing substance after that season, which led to starkly lower numbers in 2015.

Demeritte was on his way to a similar season in 2016 in the hitter’s haven of High Desert in the high-A California League before the deal. He didn’t hit for the same type of numbers with Carolina, but he showed excellent on base skills and defense with the Braves. Even more, he was considered one of the most impressive defenders in all of the Arizona Fall League after the season.

The Braves have split Demeritte between third base and second base this season. After a strong start to his season and a huge streak in May, Demeritte has cooled in June, so his numbers at this moment may look less than impressive, but there are few who can match Demeritte’s athleticism in the entire system.

He’s currently hitting .231/.315/.418 with 14 doubles, 3 triples, and 10 home runs, adding in 5 stolen bases. Demeritte has continued to walk at a double-digit rate. What has been pleasant to see is that a guy who has struck out at rates of 28%, 36.7%, 36.4%, and 33% in his career has cut that rate to 26.5% this season.

9. Luiz Gohara, LHP, Mississippi Braves

Receiving the highest bonus ever for a Brazilian (though the Blue Jays may exceed it with diminutive righty Eric Pardinho in a few days), Gohara was able to still be 16 when he debuted in the Appalachian League with Pulaski. He made 6 starts, throwing 21 2/3 innings and striking out 27.

Gohara made the short-season A-ball Northwest League in 2014, but while he struck out over a batter per inning, he struggled with his control and BABIP bad luck. He repeated the level and moved to low-A, but injuries and the hitter-friendly Northwest League continued to plague Gohara as he never threw more than 65 innings.

Before the 2016 season, Gohara showed up to camp having lost nearly 60 pounds, having ballooned to nearly 300 pounds. He lost even more weight during the 2016 season, finishing the season down to 225-230ish. He’s gained some of that weight back, but has still maintained between a 50 and 60 pound weight loss from his peak weight.

The lighter weight has allowed Gohara to be more consistent in his delivery, which was shown with his tremendous performance last season with a 1.81 ERA and 81 strikeouts in 69 2/3 innings. The Braves acquired Gohara in the deal that sent Mallex Smith (momentarily) to Seattle.

Gohara opened this season with Florida, where he was dominating the Florida State League before the Braves promoted him to Mississippi. Injured in his first start at AA, Gohara struggled in his first start back, but has been very good since, and his season combined line is 14 appearances (13 starts), throwing 63 innings, allowing a 2.57 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, and a 19/69 BB/K ratio.

He’s shown a fastball that can get into the upper 90s with a dominant slider and an improving change that seems to get better every start. He could make a legit argument for a top 30-50 prospect in the entire game by the end of the season.

Next: 8, 7

8. Kevin Maitan, IF, GCL Braves

More from Tomahawk Take

Considered one of the most impressive 16 year-old international prospects since a Miguel – whether it’d be Sano or Cabrera, depending on your take, Maitan is a legit plus future power and plus future contact. Scouts have said one or both tools could even grade as double plus in the future.

Defensively, Maitan won’t be a shortstop long-term, as he’s already filled out to roughly 6’4″-ish and 215ish “cut” pounds based on videos and pictures I’ve seen from extended spring and scouting reports I’ve read/heard as well.

Maitan does have high-level skills in the infield with a legit plus arm and smooth actions in the infield that will play to a plus defensive level at third, essentially giving Maitan to have four legit plus tools, which is why you see him ranked so highly.

A switch-hitter, Maitan has two distinct swings, but they’re both oriented well for each side of the plate, and he has very good pitch and zone recognition for a teen. It will be very exciting to see how he develops, and there is every reason to think that he could be as high as #1 on this list if he shows out this season in his pro debut.

7. Ian Anderson, RHP, Rome Braves

Just a year later, I’m not sure that if you drafted the 2016 draft all over again if Anderson wouldn’t go top 5 again regardless of his signing bonus. He was rumored to have been the Braves selection at #3 overall primarily due to his willingness to take a certain signing bonus, but from the folks I’ve talked with within the team, he was #2 on the team’s board going into the draft (and the #1 guy went #1 overall), regardless of his signing bonus and moved to the top of the board when signing bonuses came into play.

Anderson was seen very little in his senior year, which led to less known about him going into the draft, but he has legit ace stuff, with a fastball that can reach the upper 90s with excellent movement, along with an elite curve and change.

Anderson has had some issue with his consistency in his delivery this year, and I’ve been curious if there’s some fatigue involved with adjusting to his first year on a professional schedule as his leg work and arm slot typically stay in line, typically the points of issue in inconsistency. Anderson seems to have his inconsistency in his mid section within his delivery, not getting the same snap and restraint in his hips and obliques.

Even with those inconsistencies, Anderson has flashed, in my opinion, the best raw stuff in the minor leagues this year from any arm that I’ve watched. His line has been 14 starts, 65 1/3 innings, 3.72 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, and a 34/83 BB/K ratio.

Next: 6, 5

6. Cristian Pache, OF, Rome Braves

A guy who was really catching my eye coming into the year, Pache has shown even more than I could have expected. While certainly still raw, Pache will be 18 all of this season in full season ball, and he’s certainly done nothing to show he doesn’t belong.

Pache was part of a two-prong signing that the Atlanta Braves undertook in the 2015 July 2nd class, signing he and Derian Cruz as the two primary expenditures. While Cruz has struggled outside of the GCL, Pache simply has not slowed down since he has hit the ground in the Braves system.

Pache split 2016 almost evenly between GCL and Danville, hitting .309/.349/.391 with 7 triples and 11 stolen bases over 57 games. While he did not hit a home run, he showed excellent barrel to ball ability that gave excellent hope for future power.

Defensively, Pache is flat-out elite. He has an incredible arm, having struck down 21 hapless runners via assist in just 124 defensive games in his minor league career thus far. He has double-plus instincts in the outfield with plus range.

Pache’s swing still needs some work for sure. He has an almost cross-handed effect to his swing, which certainly saps the power from his lightning-quick wrists. This year, Pache has worked to clean that up, and it’s led to more strikeouts as he adjusts his swing slowly but surely, but he has seen more consistent solid contact.

On the year in Rome, he’s hit .287/.342/.346 with 6 doubles and 5 triples with 17 stolen bases. After walking 5.5% of the time and striking out 10.2% of the time in 2016, Pache has seen those numbers move to 8% and 19.3% this season, which is an increase in both, but notably a change from a 2-1 K/BB ratio in 2016 to roughly 2.5-1 in 2017.

One of the youngest players in full season ball, it will be interesting to see if the Braves push Pache beyond Rome this year, though they typically like to let guys spend a developmental year with Rome if at all possible.

5. Mike Soroka, RHP, Mississippi Braves

One of the most polished pitchers in the entire 2015 draft, high school or college, no one could have predicted how well Soroka would have adapted to pro ball, even with all of his known polish and feel for pitching coming into the pro game.

Instead, he’s a guy whose stuff is probably on paper best seen as a back end starter yet the way he manipulates his pitches and sequences allows him to play up those raw pitches to a legit top 50 prospect in the entire game.

Soroka was jumped over high-A entering the 2017 season after a successful year at low-A at 18 years of age for the majority of the season. That meant that he’d be 19 for the season at AA. That was a considerable jump, but he has not just handled it, but thrived, earning a spot on the Futures Game roster for All Star game weekend.

For Mississippi in 2017, Soroka has already matched his 2016 win total as he’s sitting at 9-3 over 14 starts and 82 2/3 innings with a 2.18 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, and a 17/71 BB/K ratio.

Next: 4, 3

4. Kyle Wright, RHP, GCL Braves

For many, the top prospect in the 2017 draft was Wright, above widely-hyped Hunter Greene and eventual #1 overall selection Royce Lewis. Wright was the most highly regarded college pitcher in the draft class this season, so when he was somehow still on the board at #5 overall, the Braves jumped at the opportunity to bring him into the fold.

Wright in the eyes of many is a guy who has less of a ceiling than a number of the high school pitchers, but I’d personally say his floor is incredibly high while he still has a very high ceiling – perhaps not dominant starter level like a peak Justin Verlander or Max Scherzer, but the comp that I’ve heard over and over has been Mike Mussina, and that is a huge compliment to a player.

Wright is a guy who works at his best when his fastball is sitting 92-94, generating incredible movement on the pitch at that speed. Wright throws his slider in two ways, one that’s more of a pure slider with sharp break, and the other a combination slider and cutter, “slutter”, pitch. His curve is his best breaking pitch in pure movement, but he often is most effective with the pitch when he’s burying the pitch into the dirt, which batters can learn to lay off.

The pitch to watch, especially in the Braves organization, will be his change as I had one scout this spring report that he believed the change had a double-plus ceiling on it, but he’s thrown it so infrequently in college that it’s been hard to grade for many scouts, but the guy I was chatting with happened to see a pair of Wright complete games with around 10 changes in his estimation.

Wright will open in GCL this season, but after a heavy college workload, he’ll likely have short outings and take plenty of time in between outings.

3. Kolby Allard, LHP, Mississippi Braves

Considered a legit option for the #1 overall selection in 2015, Allard fell to the Atlanta Braves at #15 overall due to concerns about his back. After making 3 appearances without allowing a run or even a walk in his draft year, Allard did have a back procedure to take care of the issue that concerned teams at draft time.

Allard took some time to get going in 2016, but once he did, he was brilliant, making 16 starts between Rome and Danville, throwing 87 2/3 innings with a 2.98 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, and a 25/95 BB/K ratio.

Allard works with a tremendous fastball, curve, and change combination, and the Braves believed that his ability would allow him to handle a skip over high-A this season, moving from Rome to AA Mississippi to open 2017.

Allard’s performance has been excellent, making 15 starts, going 80 innings, allowing a 2.93 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, and a 29/64 BB/K ratio. He’s shown an ability this season to work without his best stuff at times, working to create weak contact from hitters and keep them off balance, rather than just strike out anyone and everyone, which is huge maturity growth for a young pitcher.

Why do I have Allard over both Wright and Soroka? With Wright, I have to go with Allard producing thus far even at AA, but with Soroka, a big reason is that Allard throws with his left hand, but also because Allard still possesses that legit “ace” stuff that could front a rotation down the road – not that it’s any knock on either other guy, as I really think the Braves trio of top pitchers is tough to match anywhere.

Next: 2, 1

2. Ozzie Albies, IF, Gwinnett Braves

With Dansby Swanson graduating the first time he registered an official at bat this year, Ozzie was the assumed #1 prospect in the organization from that point. Heck, you could have made a good argument before the season that Ozzie was the #1 prospect over Swanson and not gotten much argument from me.

Another in what seems like a Braves factory the comes into the organization from the tiny island of Curacao since Andruw Jones made the island famous (unless you thought Hensley Meulens was the driving force to the island, but I don’t think “Bam Bam” created quite the stir that Andruw did!). He’s been producing big ever since being signed for roughly what the Braves will be maxed at this coming July 2nd (Ozzie signed for $350K, Braves are maxed at $300K for any one player).

Last season, Ozzie was in line to make a major league debut as a teenager before fracturing his elbow in the AA playoffs with Mississippi. In talking this offseason with an orthopedic surgeon from Mayo Clinic in Rochester, I was told to expect that it’d be in the range of 9-12 months before Albies had full comfort in the arm, even if he was able to get back to his sport before then. With the injury happening in September, 9 months was June.

Lo and behold, this season, Albies showed significant struggles with his left-handed swing in generating hard contact, which makes sense with his lead elbow being the one that was broken. He also struggled some with the angle throwing from second on his arm, which led to a few extra starts at shortstop to ease the stress angle on his arm.

Interesting to note, coming into June, Albies was hitting .266/.309/.382 with 13/48 BB/K. In June, he’s hitting .303/.361/.562 with 4 triples and 4 home runs. He’s actually posted a 19/1 ratio on the base paths this year as well, which is incredible to see, utilizing his elite speed well.

1. Ronald Acuna, OF, Mississippi Braves

Some may wonder about Albies at #1, but Acuna is a guy who I will tell you that many guys around the league consider now one of the top 5-10 prospects in all of baseball. One baseball scout told me that he would trade a “front line” starter that the Braves are rumored to be interested in (Gray, Quintana, Archer, etc.) straight up for Acuna and be happy with that. That’s the level of value Acuna has attained within the game.

Acuna is 19 for the entire season, not turning 20 until mid-December. The Braves opened Acuna in high-A, where he got off to a slow start, but by the time he was promoted, he was arguably the hottest hitter in the entire minor leagues, let alone in the Florida State League. He then moved up to AA Mississippi, and he came out on fire. He’s cooled off some with Mississippi, but he’s still hitting for incredible numbers on the season.

Combined on the year between both levels, he has already put up a .300/.352/.468 slash line over 74 games with 13 doubles, 6 triples, 8 home runs, and 30 stolen bases. His strikeout rate is higher than you’d like (26.7%), but that’s in large part from an early season spike over the first 15 games of the season, when he opened the year .230/.266/.361 with a 38.5% strikeout rate. Since that spike, it’s been 23.7%.

Acuna has shown that he is incredibly adept in both corners and can handle center. I do think the rumors of him being an elite center fielder are a bit exaggerated, but he does have tremendous feel in the outfield for the ball off the bat and has an above-average arm, which should allow him to be a plus defender in either corner.

Next: Braves Minor League Database

Check back later tonight for the entire 50 in a easy list form along with a whole list of names of other guys to follow (you didn’t really think I’d be able to just name 50, did you?!)!

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Atlanta Braves Midseason Top 50 Prospects: The Top Ten