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Atlanta Braves 2018 minor league review: corner infielders

By Benjamin Chase

BALTIMORE, MD - APRIL 21: The glove of third baseman Josh Donaldson #20 of the Toronto Blue Jays sits in the dugout after in the first inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on April 21, 2016 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - APRIL 21: The glove of third baseman Josh Donaldson #20 of the Toronto Blue Jays sits in the dugout after in the first inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on April 21, 2016 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
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Rookie Ball

The Atlanta Braves grabbed Ray Hernandez out of Alabama State in the 29th round of this past June’s draft, and he hit very well, going .283/.357/.486 with a 9.7% walk rate and 19.5% strikeout rate, all very respectable, with 11 doubles and 5 home runs. The 6’3″, 220-pound right/right first baseman surprised the Braves, and they could push him past Danville straight to Rome in 2019 to see how real that bat truly is.

Brett Langhorne could be the definition of an enigma for the Atlanta Braves corners this year, with the 2018 10th rounder out of Tennessee showing very good ability to take a walk (13%), though he had plenty of swing and miss (31%) for a guy who really doesn’t offer big power (0 home runs, 7 doubles). Overall, he hit .281/.375/.341, and he has the defensive chops to handle other positions around the infield, but his upside might be that of a utility guy at best in spite of the big OBP.

An interesting background, Nicholas Vizcaino was born in the Bronx and went to high school in Miami, but he established residency in the Dominican Republic and was signed by the Yankees initially in 2016, but they released him and the Braves jumped on him before the 2017 season. Taking the time to establish residency led to Vizcaino actually being 20 before he ever played a minor league game. After a solid 2017 season, Vizcaino struggled in 2018, hitting .184/.258/.272 this season. His time could be limited in the organization without a cheerleader from within.

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Drafted in the 33rd round this past June out of UNC-Wilmington, Mason Berne had a rough introduction to pro ball with the GCL, hitting .160/.254/.230, but did show an ability to take walks and could get a shot to prove more in Danville in 2018.

Originally signed as a catcher, Kimberling Encarnacion‘s stat line was not great at .250/.312/.306, until you consider that virtually no one in the DSL hit .250 for the Braves, so he was one of the offensive standouts on that team. He’s likely to get his shot at GCL. One interesting tidbit: he did get one relief appearance, and I’ve heard on him that he has a plus to double-plus arm, so he could be a potential conversion candidate.

Signed out of the Dominican, Darling Florentino had a number of positive reports for his athleticism at third base and potential power, though he did put up a 5/40 BB/K ratio. He’ll be one to track coming to the GCL in 2019.

Outside of Encarnacion and Florentino, the DSL corner guys were fairly high-risk guys that really didn’t show a ton to convince to bring them stateside in 2019. Emeli Ferriera, Yandri Lara, and Yerangel Medina each hit under .220 with 1 home run combined among the trio, but there is plenty of potential upside that could get pushed if the Braves see something that I’ve not gotten in reports thus far.

dark. Next. The top 15 leadoff seasons in Braves history

The system’s corner infield crop has one stud, one certainly viable major leaguer, and some very interesting pieces for Atlanta Braves fans to follow in the coming years!

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