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Atlanta Braves 2018 minor league review: middle infielders

By Benjamin Chase

MIAMI, FL - AUGUST 25: Dansby Swanson #7 of the Atlanta Braves jumps in the air while J.T. Realmuto #11 of the Miami Marlins steals second base during the third inning of the game at Marlins Park on August 25, 2018 in Miami, Florida. All players across MLB will wear nicknames on their backs as well as colorful, non-traditional uniforms featuring alternate designs inspired by youth-league uniforms during Players Weekend. (Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - AUGUST 25: Dansby Swanson #7 of the Atlanta Braves jumps in the air while J.T. Realmuto #11 of the Miami Marlins steals second base during the third inning of the game at Marlins Park on August 25, 2018 in Miami, Florida. All players across MLB will wear nicknames on their backs as well as colorful, non-traditional uniforms featuring alternate designs inspired by youth-league uniforms during Players Weekend. (Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images) /
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Rookie Ball

The other guy who benefitted plenty with additional middle infield spots open this year was Braulio Vasquez. Shifted around the infield in 2017, Vasquez struggled to find his true identity, but the power in his bat and his natural defensive strengths played up in a return trip to the GCL in 2018. He seems most comfortable at 2B, and with his power and speed, he could be a player that puts up very good numbers down the road. Look for him to possibly be skipped up to Rome in 2019.

Of course, he’ll be challenging 2018 15th round selection Greg Cullen for the Rome 2B position most likely. Cullen came out of Niagara University and had a very solid draft year in Danville, hitting .280/.373/.396 with plenty of gap power and good plate discipline. He’s not a guy who was expected to have a ton of ceiling, but his consistent play on both sides of the ball could keep him advancing in the system.

Raw but with good baseball blood when drafted in 2016, the Braves are still working to develop Nicholas Shumpert beyond his raw tools, which are definitely immense. He hit .245/.298/.393 with 2 homers and 7 steals. His 10/52 BB/K over 178 plate appearances is a sign of the raw-ness that is still there.

Signed in the same class as Cruz and Pache, Juan Morales was highly lauded for his defense coming out of Venezuela. He was hurt in 2017, and now with more chances in the GGCL this year, he was able to flash the glove, but the bat has a lot of work to do to even be viable in the upper levels as he hit .202/.281/.233 with a 9/45 BB/K ratio over 150 plate appearances.

In his second season in the GCL, Luis Ovando didn’t make the strides that many thought he could make with a solid line-drive-oriented swing. He hit just .220/.254/.271, though in just 23 games. He hasn’t had a ton of work over the last two years, and his bat could allow for more, but he’s an interesting guy in that his impressive arm got him onto the mound multiple times in 2018, and he struck out 5 guys in 3 1/3 innings on the mound. He could be a conversion candidate to the bullpen.

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After just a couple of games in 2017, Luidemid Rojas got more run in 2018 with the GCL, and he flashed a little that could get him more looks. He has very smooth actions in the infield and his switch-hitting is still a work in progress, but he has the ability to control the strike zone, with a 10.7% walk rate, though he did strike out over 30%.

In a tough year in the DSL, the name that guys keep mentioning is Carlos Paraguate, who made a bunch of errors at shortstop, but he showed a boldness in the field that many 17 year olds don’t have. He also was able to have solid underlying stats (12.2% walk rate, 22.8% strikeout rate) while flashing a bit of power and exhibiting his definite plus-plus speed with 20 stolen bases. Paraguate has a plus arm, plus-plus speed, and an above-average glove, giving him a good base to start with at least when he comes stateside in 2019.

After Paraguate, one of the two or three names mentioned among the DSL Braves this year was Eliezel Stevens. Stevens has a power/speed combo at the plate from the left side that I heard compared to Indians infielder Jason Kipnis. Obviously, Stevens has a long way to go to get to that level, but he has that base level of tools, and that’s a very exciting thought.

Much more of a dart throw, Hector Sierra was known for his blazing speed, and he struggled to get a chance to show it off in 2018. He’s a guy that could make a move to the outfield to use his speed defensively, but he still needs to make consistent contact and could end up back in the DSL for a second DSL year.

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The system’s middle infield crop may have been decimated last offseason, but there is plenty of hope here that could produce at least a solid bench piece or two. The Atlanta Braves could even have a future second-division starter in this group, which is pretty impressive for the talent removed in this area!

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