Braves could have many more prospects if a 150 list came out
Prospect lists have been popping up on different websites these past few days and many Atlanta Braves players have been featured in these. Outfield prospect Ronald Acuna has been on the top of most lists, if not the top. But these lists are all cutting off at the top 100. So I though, what if they expanded this to 150 players?
This is an extremely difficult exercise here because it dives deep into other organizations — ones that I’m not familiar with. Though it’s challenging, I thought we’d look at who in the Braves organization would make this expanded list.
MLB.com released this morning their article titled “These 12 prospect just missed the Top 100”. On this list of 12 prospects, the Braves have one player.
That one player is outfielder Cristian Pache. Can’t really argue with MLB on this one. After an impressive first full season in 2017, Pache looks to explode onto the scene in 2018. The 19-year-old played his entire 2017 campaign with the Rome Braves and had a slash line of .281/.335/.343 with eight triples, 13 doubles and 32 stolen bases.
Other prospects on this list put together by Jim Callis, Jonathan Mayo and Mike Rosenbaum were…
Nate Pearson, RHP, Blue Jays
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Mitchell White, RHP, Dodgers
Dustin Fowler, OF, Athletics
Jake Rogers, C, Tigers
Wander Javier, SS, Twins
Cristian Pache, OF, Braves
Ke’Bryan Hayes, 3B, Pirates
Sandy Alcantara, RHP, Marlins
T.J. Zeuch, RHP, Blue Jays
Jorge Guzman, RHP, Marlins
Chance Sisco, C, Orioles
Isan Diaz, 2B/SS, Marlins
These prospects weren’t put in an order, just who barely missed the list. But it got me thinking about the Braves organization and who just missed the cut.
When MLB Pipeline put out their list this past Saturday night, the Braves had eight prospects that made the list. That’s the most of any other organization.
- 97. Austin Riley – Third baseman
- 83. Max Fried – Left-handed pitcher
- 58. Kolby Allard – Left-handed pitcher
- 51. Ian Anderson – Right-handed pitcher
- 49. Luiz Gohara – Left-handed pitcher
- 31. Mike Soroka – Right-handed pitcher
- 30. Kyle Wright – Right-handed pitcher
- 2. Ronald Acuna – Outfielder
With those eight players and Pache, we know that we’d at least have nine in the top 150, but I think there would be a few more.
Left-handed pitcher Joey Wentz and right-handed pitcher Touki Toussaint would be candidates for the top 150.
Keith Law really likes Bryse Wilson. Law placed him 68th in his top 100. He pitched all season with Single-A Rome and had a 2.50 ERA with 139 strikeouts and 37 walks in 137 innings. If he backs that up with another successful season in 2018, he should make the list next year, but I’m not sure he’d make MLB Pipeline’s top 150.
The Big 3 from the 2016 MLB Draft — Ian Anderson, Joey Wentz and Kyle Muller —many are forgetting about the latter pitcher. He only appeared in 11 games because of an injury to start the season so he won’t be on a top 150 list. Next year, expect him to be in the top 100!
One other guy I think would make the top 150 is catcher Alex Jackson. The 22-year-old was drafted #6 overall in 2014 by the Mariners. He was moved to the outfield during his time in Seattle and was in a huge slump. When the Braves traded for him, they moved him back to the catcher position.
Jackson had a great 2017 season. He hit .267 with 19 home runs and 21 doubles. He’ll need to cut down on his strikeouts as he had 106 last year, but I think he would make the top 150 list.
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So if Pache, Wentz, Toussaint and Jackson would make the top 150 list, that would give the Braves 12 prospects. Not too bad, I’ll go out on a limb and say that would be the most prospect from one organization.