Atlanta Braves 2018 minor league review: corner infielders
A-ball
The big story out of the 2018 Atlanta Braves draft class has to be 20th round selection CJ Alexander. Alexander is a lefty-swinging third baseman that may end up moving to an outfield spot or across the diamond down the line, but wherever it is, the bat will definitely play, as he hit .352/.429/.495 across three levels with 8 doubles, 7 triples, 2 home runs, and 4 steals in 52 games, finishing in high-A Florida. Alexander’s got a strong swing that should produce 40-double, 20-homer seasons down the road with a big arm that could translate plenty of places, though his glovework still needs some polishing. That’s not uncommon from a community college draft pick, however, so even though his bat has shown advanced play, Alexander taking some time due to his glove is really not a concern.
The Atlanta Braves selected Braxton Davidson in the first round in 2014 out of high school in North Carolina. He’s yet to post a .150 ISO at any level coming into 2018, never making it out of A-ball, not even able to flash power in spite of his massive swing. He has a terrible contact ability and strikes out way too much, but he did finally hit 20 home runs for the first time in his career in 2018. He’ll head to the AFL. One has to believe that’s hoping to gain some trade value.
It was an interesting year for Kurt Hoekstra in 2018. He played primarily corners for both A-ball levels, hitting .239/.309/.327 with 4 home runs and 9 steals. He showed solid glove work at both positions, especially arm work. However, his arm could be where things get interesting going forward. Hoekstra made 5 reliev appearances in 2018, tossing 5 innings, and while he gave up a few runs, he also struck out 4 runs and showed some impressive stuff. He could end up returning to the Atlanta Braves on the mound in 2019.
In his second season out of Tennessee, Jordan Rodgers essentially did what he did in 2017, which was offer little offensively but offer quality defense around the infield. He had a .219/.268/.329 line with 3 home runs and 5 steals, posting a 3.2% walk rate and a 21% strikeout rate. He’s an organizational depth guy, but a solid one at that.
The big switch-hitter drafted out of Texas high school in 2016, Griffin Benson has taken his time to flash, but he definitely did that with Danville, ending his season with a shot at Rome after hitting for a near-.800 OPS in Danville in spite of a slow start. Benson did strike out plenty, and he still has a long swing, but he showed better pitch recognition and will still just be 21 to open 2019 with plenty of power upside.
Originally drafted as a catcher in 2017 in the 12th round out of East Tennessee State, Hagen Owenby has hit well enough that he’s found his way out from behind the plate primarily. His swing in 2018 was solid, and while he didn’t show a lot of over-fence power, he did get 6 doubles in 46 games and a home run with a .281 batting average. His limited usage and age (23) could put his roster spot in question in the org for 2019.
The Atlanta Braves picked up Marcos Almonte after he was let go by the Astros organization this season. He struggled to hit with Rome. Almonte’s got a strong glove that plays around the infield, and that should get him more chances, but heading into minor league free agency, he may choose to head elsewhere.
The Braves picked Brendan Venter out of Auburn in the 13th round this past June for his big arm and bat. He then spent a lot of his time at first base, really negating the arm. Venter was inconsistent with the bat as well, flashing big when he did hit, but struggling big at times as well, putting up an overall line of .186/.357/.311 between Rome and Danville, but he is just 22 entering next year, and the rarity of a South African-born player is always an intriguing thing to have on the organizational roster!