Atlanta Braves 2018/2019 top 125 prospects: 101-125

115. Ricardo Rodriguez, C

Level(s): Danville Braves
Stats: .228/.308/.331, 36 G, 156 PA, 6 2B, 2 HR, 6.4% BB, 16% K
After working with Atlanta Braves coaching for two seasons in the GCL on his defense, the raw talent that Rodriguez has behind the plate shined through in 2018. He’s still raw behind the plate, which is surprising, considering his status as the top catcher in the 2016/2017 international signing class at signing, but he’s been open to coaching and worked hard to both improve his defense and improve his ability to access the gap power in his swing. He needs to improve his contact ability, but improving his defense strides again the way he did in 2018 would give him a shot as a backup with nearly any team.

114. Zach Seipel, RHRP

Level(s): Danville Braves
Stats: 3-0, 3 saves, 15 G, 24 IP, 2.63 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, 14% BB, 28% K
The first player ever drafted from the University of Minnesota-Crookston into Major League Baseball, Seipel was a 27th round selection by the Atlanta Braves that had a very good showing in his draft year to put him on the radar for much more going forward. Built well at 6’4″ and 210 listed pounds, Seipel works with multiple pitches and saw his velocity tick up to mid-90s in relief, allowing him to be very difficult to square up, but also giving him a new level of velocity on his pitches that at times he didn’t know exactly how to control. Keep an eye on Seipel as he likely opens in Rome in 2019 as he could be one to move quickly.

113. Miguel Jerez, LHSP

Level(s): GCL Braves, Florida Fire Frogs
Stats: 5-5, 13 G, 11 GS, 60 2/3 IP, 4.45 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 3.8% BB, 19.9% K
After two seasons pitching primarily out of the bullpen, Jerez spent nearly all of 2018 as a starting pitcher for the GCL Braves with one start for Florida midseason. Jerez is not a guy with an overpowering fastball, but he has a great feel to pitch, controls the ball, and has multiple above-average offspeed offerings. He could work at the back of the rotation as he develops. With his breaking stuff, he doesn’t have a definitive split between righties or lefties, so he could work as a middle relief guy.

112. Brett Langhorne, 3B

Level(s): Danville Braves
Stats: .281/.375/.341, 52 G, 216 PA, 7 2B, 2 3B, 8 SB, 13% BB, 31% K
The Atlanta Braves drafted Langhorne in the 10th round this spring, and as a senior sign pick, the expectation was that he would be good roster filler in the minor leagues. While the strikeout rate was higher than you’d like, Langhorne showed a lot of positives that could be a potential bench piece down the road. He will open 2019 in A-ball, whether that’s Rome or Florida will likely depend on roster construction through the system.

111. Albinson Volquez, RHSP

Level(s): GCL Braves, Florida Fire Frogs
Stats: 2-4, 13 G, 12 GS, 59 1/3 IP, 4.70 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 9.7% BB, 18.7% K
Volquez stands 6’3″ with lots of arms and legs that make his stuff play up. He works well low in the zone with stuff that moves well on everything he throws. He will be 21 next season, and he’s tossed one game beyond the GCL, so he will need to harness that excellent stuff more consistently to be an impact guy down the road, but with stuff that’s tough to square up, he could do well as a reliever.