MLB is unveiling their top prospects list for each position and today is left-handed pitchers which features 3 Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves farm system is known for having an embarrassment of riches when it comes to pitchers. However, yesterday, shockingly no Braves were in the RHP list.
Today MLB released their LHP section for their top positional prospects list of 2018 and Braves fan should be happy. Luiz Gohara lands at #4, Kolby Allard sits #7 while Max Fried slides in at #10.
Welcome to Brazil
Luiz Gohara made his debut last year and impressed a lot of folks that saw him, seeing the potential he has for the Atlanta Braves future. Some even has compared him to C.C. Sabathia. Making 5 starts, Gohara had a 1-3 record with a 4.91 ERA but had 31 strikeouts and only 8 walks.
Gohara moves up from #8, his spot last year. He sits behind only San Diego Padres top prospect Mackenzie Gore, Oakland A’s A.J. Puk, and New York Yankees Justus Sheffield.
"“Gohara was one of the hardest-throwing — if not the hardest-throwing — lefties in baseball in 2017. He flirted with triple digits regularly while consistently sitting 96-98 mph.” (MLB)"
The 21-year-old is only the 5th player ever in MLB that is from Brazil. Gohara was signed as an international free agent by the Seattle Mariners in 2012 and was later traded to the Braves with Thomas Burrows for Mallex Smith and Shae Simmons.
The Drafted One
Next up is Kolby Allard, who was the 14th overall pick by the Atlanta Braves in 2015. He is expected to be one of the top prospects to make their major league debut in 2018.
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Allard was expected to be a top 10 pick but injured his back during the season prior to the draft. The Braves took a gamble/risk and so far he has been a good choice.
In his first season in the system, he pitched only 3 games before being shut down but struck out 12 batters without allowing a run. Soon after, he had a minor back surgery done.
Allard was part of the 2016 Rome Braves that won the South Atlantic League Championship, posting a 2.98 ERA and 8-3 record.
He spent the entire 2017 season with the AA affiliate, Mississippi Braves. There he pitched to a 8-11 record with a 3.18 ERA.
Allard has been compared to Jon Lester, similar to another young Braves left, Sean Newcomb. Newcomb graduated from his prospect status, otherwise he may be on the list as well.
West Side
The Braves acquired Max Fried from the San Diego Padres back in 2014 during the big 6-player trade, also knows as the “Justin Upton trade”.
The 23-year-old from Santa Monica made his major league debut with Atlanta last August and did fairly well on the season. In his debut appearance, Fried pitched 2 scoreless innings and ended the year with a 1-1 record on a 3.81 ERA.
Fried’s dominance in 2017 came when he pitched in the Arizona Fall League for the Peoria Javelinas and had a 1.73 ERA, a 3-1 record and a league-leading 32 strikeouts.
Fried will be one of the young pitchers competing for a spot on the roster or bullpen when spring comes and would well deserve a spot if he pitched like he did in the AFL. Comparison for Fried are Clayton Kershaw and Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax.
Catching is the next position MLB is to release tomorrow and one Braves prospect that could be on the list is Alex Jackson who has been on fire and possibly even Brett Cumberland who is doing well in the Australian Baseball League.
Next: From L.A. to Atlanta, Now Boarding
The Atlanta Braves future is, again, very bright everyone.