27 Feb 1998: A general view of autographed balls in an Atlanta Braves baseball cap during a Spring Training game against the Kansas City Royals at the Disney Wide World of Sports Stadium in Orlando, Florida. The Royals defeated the Braves 3-2. Mandatory
The Atlanta Braves have an impressive farm system still, even after a few graduations. Who are the top 50 prospects in the system as we hit midseason?
Welcoming Benjamin Chase back to Tomahawk Take means that you will get plenty of minor league coverage of your Atlanta Braves on site. We are going to open with a midseason top 50 list, but this will be a different method than you’re likely used to on other places that put together a mid-season list.
Rather than present a list number by number with quick profiles of each number, we will be presenting the profiles of all those players who are seriously considered for the top 50, right now over 100 players in total, and then on Friday, we will cover the list itself. Here’s what the preliminary schedule will look like:
Lopez put on a show in the outfield in the DSL in 2016 and then brought that show stateside last year to get more attention from his big arm in the outfield. While he has plenty of athleticism that could someday translate into something on the field, there is plenty of work needed at the plate. He was transitioned to the mound this season, and though the ERA isn’t pretty, in large part due to control issues, 13 strikeouts in 10 1/3 innings show exactly why the Braves made the change for Lopez.
Many in the Twins organization were disappointed when they drafted Rodriguez as an outfielder out of high school in Puerto Rico last year and could not sign him. He instead went to JuCo, and the Braves picked him in the 31st round. The Atlanta Braves were one of two teams that reportedly saw a full bullpen from Rodriguez, as he pitched less than a handful of innings for Miami Dade this year. They saw enough to go overslot to bring him in, and he’s shown very well, albeit with understandable control issues. He’s pitched to a 1.17 ERA, but with a 16/15 BB/K ratio over 7 2/3 innings. His raw stuff is reportedly incredible to watch, and one scout compared him at his best command/control with his stuff to former Braves closer Billy Wagner, who is a Hall of Famer in many books. Big-time praise!
Catchers/Infielders
CJ Alexander – A talented hitter from a talented family, Alexander watched his younger brother go in the 11th round this year to the Diamondbacks before he was drafted in the 20th round. With plenty of raw power and plus contact and feel at the plate already, the offensive game is obvious. At 6’5″ and 215-225 pounds, his future defensive home is of some question, but if he keeps hitting the way he has, he’ll force his way on the field somewhere!
Griffin Benson – Benson was selected as a big switch-hitting first baseman out of Texas high school in the 23rd round in 2016, a rare guy to sign with such a profile as most such guys can drastically improve their stock by hitting in college. Benson has flashed at times with the bat, but he’s finally putting together the power his 6’5″, 210+ pound frame suggested was viable, especially in the last few months as he’s hit .311/.400/.557 since the 4th of July. with 3 home runs.
Logan Brown – A college pick for the Braves from the University of Southern Indiana, Brown was a rare signee from the round, and the Braves have been happy to have him in the system since he came on board, as he’s flashed solid work behind the plate and put together a solid on base at the plate as well.
Greg Cullen – The Atlanta Braves grabbed Cullen in June’s draft in the 15th round out of Niagara. He was well-regarded for his advanced feel at the plate, and he’s translated that to pro ball, hitting .278/.371 AVG/OBP with Danville. He’s not a terribly powerful guy, but he does have a good line drive swing that could produce plenty of doubles and triples while he plays a solid second base.
Victor De Hoyos – After two seasons with the DSL team where he got just 59 plate appearances, the Columbian De Hoyos got a shot with the GCL Braves this year to get more extended playing time, already seeing 66 PA. He’s taken the extended time and flown with it, hitting for power, taking walks, and putting up a solid .298/.379/.491 line.
Darling Florentino – Signed out of the Dominican last summer, Florentino is playing with the GCL, and while he’s showing that he’s just 17 and in his first pro experience, he’s flashing plenty of possibility both at the plate and with the glove at third base that makes one think there could be a future big leaguer at some level here.
Ray Hernandez – A 29th round pick from Alabama State University in 2018, Hernandez is a big right-handed hitting first baseman, so he’s behind the proverbial 8-ball to begin his pro career, but he’s doing well to overcome that early, hitting .284/.371/.490 with 4 home runs and a very good 13/22 BB/K over 116 PA.
Brett Langhorne – While CJ Alexander’s bat will give him every opportunity at third base, Langhorne’s quick instincts will do the same for him on the dirt. He’s a University of Tennessee pick from the 10th round this season, and his advanced eye has already played well, with a .401 OBP. While he has some work to do with the softness of his hands at third and the touch of his throws, his instincts get raves, and I’ve been told he’d be an absolutely elite 1B if he’s moved over there.
Juan Morales – With the move of a number of infielders out of the system this past offseason, Morales was given plenty of opportunity to break through. A glove-first guy with some speed when the Braves signed him out of Venezuela in 2015, Morales hasn’t been able to break out of the DSL until this year, but he’s been unable to crack .200 at the plate this year.
Carlos Paraguate – Just 17 in February, Paraguate is in his first pro season with the DSL, and ht’s put up a .363 OBP and shown a ton of speed. He has work to do with the glove to find consistency, but there is a ton of raw talent here with some comparisons to Randy Ventura in his time in the DSL with his ability to simply run on anyone in the league.
Braulio Vasquez – Unable to find consistent time last season with the depth of middle infielders in the GCL, Vasquez really shuffled, though he played well. This year, he had a bigger opening for playing time, and he’s shown more power, but his plate discipline, one of his best attributes, has seemingly backed up. Incredible amount of raw talent here that is still flying under a lot of radars, even though he’s a “talent-first” guy producing well (.286/.326/.454 this year).
Outfielders
Asmin Bautista – Not a tall guy, Bautista drew plenty of comments from those I asked about him for his stout size. He’s going to be a tough guy to find a defensive home, but every single person said the same thing – underway, he’s remarkably quick, so he could end up being at least passable in left. Bautista packs surprising punch in his lefty swing for a shorter guy, and it will be very interesting to see how he handles stateside work in 2019.
Jeremy Fernandez – Shuffling a bit with “good enough” foot speed, but below average first-step quickness, Fernandez was at the DSL/GCL for three years working in the middle infield before the Braves tried him in the outfield last season as the year wore down. It opened up a huge door for him, and he’s shown very well even in center field this year, where that first step is overcome by fringe-plus speed when underway in the outfield and good instincts off the bat. He’s been able to see his bat take off as well. He’s got a quick bat, and work in his selectivity has allowed him to generate more consistent power, with a .198 ISO.
Trey Harris – A Georgia high school kid, Harris was a standout in his first year in college at Missouri, but didn’t play up to that same level the rest of his collegiate career, which is why he dropped to the Braves in the 32nd round. Harris has a well-rounded skillset and feel for the game that is showing through with more walks than strikeouts. While he’s not taken a ball out of the yard, he has hit 11 extra base hits in 30 games with a .308/.442/.433 line.
Andrew Moritz – Selected in the 6th round from North Carolina-Greensboro, Moritz is a guy who may be more floor than ceiling, but his ability in the corners defensively in the outfield should give him plenty of run in the outfield for the Atlanta Braves minor league system. His bat has gotten mixed reviews for his long-term future, but he gets high marks for his work ethic.
Henry Quintero – Signed from Cuba, Quintero made a quick impression last summer that was very positive in the DSL, but with Danville, he’s been finding more struggle. There is plenty of contact ability there along with some raw power, but at 24 already, he may be destined more for an org guy unless it clicks quick.
Christian Zamora – Signed along with reliever Daysbel Hernandez (who was an outfielder at the time) last September from Cuba, Zamora has an incredible physique at 6’4″ and a surprisingly-cut 210-220 pounds for a kid who just turned 17 on the 4th of July. He certainly has the power and the arm, but his reads defensively need work, and his pitch selection also could use work, but there’s a reason the Atlanta Braves started his pro career in the GCL rather than the DSL this year.
Starting Pitchers
Ronaldo Alesandro – A righty from the Dominican, Alesandro is an older signee and has been dominating in the DSL, likely in large part due to his age. Alesandro has struck out 37 over 25 2/3 innings in the DSL this year.
Eudi Asencio – A long, lean righty from the Dominican, Asencio generates excellent plane on his pitches and has learned to work his fastball around the plate much better in his second trip through the DSL, resulting in excellent numbers. His secondary stuff is still needing work, and his body still needs to fill in, but he could be one to track as he comes stateside next year.
Tristan Beck – Beck made his season debut yesterday in the GCL, tossing a perfect inning with 2 strikeouts. The Atlanta Braves were big fans of Beck last season, and many thought he would be a selection by the team in the first three rounds. Instead, Atlanta got him in the 4th round this June after Beck returned to school and didn’t blow the doors off of his competition. He has a perfect frame for a workhorse mid-rotation starter, and he has the stuff to match, but he needs to fill in his frame and calm injury questions that led to his drop out of the first two days of the draft last year.
Alger Hodgson – A strong, well-developed kid from Nicaragua, Hodgson is out all this season and likely into next year with elbow issues, a sad turn of events for a pitcher whose promise was significantly higher than the raw stats he generated last season in the GCL.
Miguel Jerez – Jerez is not the guy with the best stuff you’ll ever meet, but his results have been fantastic thus far. A strike-thrower who pounds the zone and has really taken strides to set up hitters, Jerez, has posted over a 4/1 K/BB ratio over his career, and has posted a 45/6 ratio this season in 49 1/3 innings. His change has come along significantly, giving him a chance to start long-term, even with a low-90s fastball at its top end.
Nolan Kingham – The University of Texas workhorse fell some in the draft due to worries about his workload with the Longhorns, but the Atlanta Braves took a chance on him in the 12th round and have been cautious with his innings so far this season, meaning there really won’t be good sample sizes in his pro debut to discuss this offseason. The real test for Kingham will be next year in his first pro season.
Dilmer Mejia – Mejia had a ton of hype coming out of Nicaragua and especially so after his first pro season in 2014 when he pitched his way to the GCL at 16 years old. Injuries and lack of growth in Mejia’s stuff have led to him still being in Danville currently, but he is putting up a season that looks more like the pitcher of 2014 than has been seen since that year, with a 2.10 ERA over 55 2/3 innings with the D-Braves, posting a 14/44 BB/K ratio.
Jose Montilla – With deceptively long levers at 6’1″, Montilla gets good plane on his fastball and tends to challenge hitters, which has meant that he worked well as a starter in complex leagues. His approach is working well in the Appy League this season as well, though his lack of a third pitch is beginning to show, and it could determine his future role if he can’t balance his repertoire when moving into full-season ball next year.
Gabriel Noguera – While Noguera was signed as an older player, he may have blown his chance already after posting a very good first year in the system in 2017 due to a suspension from a drug of abuse. The Atlanta Braves did not release Noguera, though, which is an indication of the potential they still see in his left arm.
Jose Olague – Olague didn’t get much time in last year, but what he did do was intriguing, and this year, he’s simply built on that, with tremendous control of hard, heavy stuff that plays well in the DSL. Developing a third pitch and making it deep into games will be the call of the day next season when he comes stateside, but 2018 has been a success for sure.
Trey Riley – One of the most intriguing JuCo arms in the entire 2018 draft, Riley has the velo and the breaking stuff to profile as a high-end reliever, but his well-built frame and recency to top-end stuff leaves the potential for even more there, and that has the Atlanta Braves working with Riley to develop his third pitch and potentially be a mid-rotation starter.
Matt Rowland – Rowland drew the ire of Braves Twitter for nearly two full seasons due to being injured after the Braves drafted him in the 11th round out of high school in Georgia, giving him a notable above-slot signing bonus and then losing a few other deals due to not enough slot space left. Rowland’s finally healthy and back on the mound, and his stuff for a guy who really hasn’t thrown for two years has been incredibly impressive.
Lisandro Santos – Santos has worked in the DSL for two seasons, leading to plenty of swing and miss, and he’s finding the strikeouts coming just as well stateside. The biggest issue for Santos’ impressive raw stuff is his ability to be consistent in his delivery. If he can, he could start and have a very intriguing future from the left side. Even if he’s inconsistent in that delivery, he could have some level of bullpen future from the left side.
Albinson Volquez – Volquez’s high arm angle drew some note his first year in the DSL, and he’s altered it some since, but he still works in such a way that he’s attempting to generate contact, and that’s bit him some this year in the GCL. There’s projection for more velocity than his current low-90s top end, but it’s not come yet and how long the Braves will hold out for that is anyone’s guess.
Relievers
There are a host of guys at each level that will likely get some big league time as a reliever, and a few of them could succeed and have a much better big league career than any of the guys I’m looking at, but these are the guys with a shot to be among the elite of relievers if all goes well.
Tanner Allison – Allison was the Atlanta Braves 19th round pick in 2017. he threw very well with the GCL, earning him a move directly to Rome to open the season. The incredible control that got him so much note in 2017 was not present at all as Allison walked 18 and struck out 19 over 24 innings with Rome before being sent down to Danville. It took a bit of time, but he’s gotten his head square, and that same solid stuff is starting to show up, as is the elite control, tossing 25 1/3 innings with the D-Braves, posting a 1.78 ERA and an 8/32 BB/K ratio.
Carlos Caminero – An older sign, I had an unconfirmed report last year that Caminero touched triple digits in an off-day workout with the DSL Braves. Coming from the left side, he would not need much more than just that to have a shot at a big league career. So far in 2018, hitters haven’t been able to do much with his stuff, but he’s struggling to keep the ball over the plate, leading to some questions still, but the 6’4″ lefty has tremendous angle and velocity on his stuff and could be a very intriguing one to watch if the Braves bring him stateside in 2019.
Jake Higginbotham – A Georgia high school guy, the Atlanta Braves drafted Higginbotham out of Clemson in the 11th round this past June, and he’s pitched multiple innings each time out, but his stuff as a pro likely plays best in the bullpen due to a lack of premium velocity and size. Higginbotham has been incredibly elite at getting himself and others out of messes this year, with a 0.76 ERA and 0.93 WHIP on the year.
Brooks Wilson – The Braves 7th round pick out of Stetson this June, there were some initial rumblings that the Atlanta Braves may treat Wilson akin to how they handled Patrick Weigel, but instead, he’s really been focused on bullpen work, where his velocity and breaking stuff play up well when he’s consistent in his mechanics. It’s rare that a reliever has “significant” upside, but Wilson is one of those guys, a guy who could end up a closer-type if all goes well as he moves through the system, but he should also have a fairly high floor as a middle inning guy as well.
So that’s the guys from the rookie ball level for the Atlanta Braves that will be considered for the top 50. Anybody missed here? Anyone that is profiled incorrectly? Comment below!!
