BOSTON, MA - JUNE 24: A glove and the rosin bag sit on the mound before the interleague game between the Boston Red Sox and the Atlanta Braves at Fenway Park on June 23, 2012 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Winslow Townson/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA – JULY 29: Sean Newcomb #15 of the Atlanta Braves is congratulated by Ender Inciarte #11 as teammates line up to greet Newcomb after throwing a one-hit game through 8 2/3 innings against the Los Angeles Dodgers at SunTrust Park on July 29, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images) /
The Atlanta Braves put together an amazing 2018 season, but there is still plenty in the farm system. This is the top 125 prospects in a very deep, loaded system!
In October of 2015, I put together my first Atlanta Braves top 100 prospect list. At the time, it was an incredibly challenging undertaking to get the information required to put together a list that deep, even with the Atlanta Braves farm system on its way up already.
By that January, the Atlanta Braves had made even more trades, including trading away shortstop Andrelton Simmons and pitcher Shelby Miller for a plethora of prospects. That required an update to my top 100 list, including a new #1 overall prospect. That prompted what would become tradition – a longer, profiled top 100 list in the fall and an update before the season to take into account all the new prospects acquired over the offseason.
This offseason may be the first that does not require an update due to an influx of prospects, but perhaps due to trades that send away prospects, and that’s a fun place to be at as an Atlanta Braves fan.
As I began reaching out this offseason, I was flooded with the depth of talent still in the system, and getting to the back end of the list, it was difficult to cut off the list at 100, so I didn’t. This year, you will get 125 prospects in the Atlanta Braves system, not 100!
We will cover the top 125 throughout this week with the following schedule:
I welcome your comments on each prospect as I fully admit that on some prospects (especially Dominican Summer League ones), I’ve not had a chance to do video review yet. I trust my contacts that I’ve made over the years for their information, so I will go with it, but I’m more than willing to discuss when I’m wrong. Heck, that first year’s list (before the update in January) had Hector Olivera #2 and Manny Banuelos #3, above lots of guys that should have been much higher.
Of course, that list also had William Contreras at #29 before updates, and no one had mentioned his name before that, which is why I do trust the folks I talk with in Latin America for their eye!!
As always, this list is mine, not Tomahawk Take’s or FanSided’s view on a player. My rankings are my own personal view on the system for team building purposes, not for fantasy baseball, not purely for trade purposes, nothing like that, simply how I feel these players would fit into the Atlanta Braves long-term based on their current skills and talents. I tend to give weight to a player who has performed in the upper minors, and I’ll gladly admit bias to a guy that I’ve seen a number of times in video reviews. All that said, I hope you enjoy!
Let’s get started with today’s portion of the list!
Level(s): Danville Braves, Rome Braves Stats: .213/.291/.391, 68 G, 261 PA, 10 2B, 10 HR, 5 SB, 7.3% BB, 33% K Drafted in the 20th round in 2017, Smith hit very well in Danville (.815 OPS) and flashed his impressive athleticism, but he struggled mightily to control the zone when he moved up to Rome in the latter half of his season. Smith is blessed with plus raw power and plus speed and he can play incredible defense, so he has plenty of upside, but he will need to repeat Rome in 2019 to work on his plate discipline. If he can bring that strikeout rate down, he’d be able to fly up the system.
Level(s): Danville Braves Stats: 0-1, 5 GS, 15 2/3 IP, 2.87 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 15.2% BB, 12.1% K A big right-handed starter that is filled out well, but still has incredible raw stuff. The Atlanta Braves went after Hartman as a draft-eligible player from Westmont College that did not sign within the draft season, so his signing did not count against their draft pool. He has an exceptional fastball spin rate with the ability to manipulate his curve in a hard curve/slider mold and also a looping curve to give him four pitches out of two (two-seam, four-seam, hard curve, loop curve). Hartman is a very intriguing guy that got very good reviews from those who saw him.
Level(s): DSL Braves Stats: .214/.347/.335, 52 G, 213 PA, 11 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 11 SB, 16% BB, 30.5% K There are many who will hang Stevens even higher than this, but I’m still a bit worried right now on the strikeout rate and his big swing for a guy who’s really going to build his game on gap power and plus to plus-plus speed. Stevens has incredible range at second base and could be a plus defender. Stevens will be up to GCL in 2019, and he will be fun to track.
Level(s): DSL Braves Stats: 3-4, 14 GS, 66 2/3 IP, 2.43 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 3.9% BB, 20.1% K Jose Olague was a late signee by the Braves who has incredible raw stuff that he can control exceptionally well, which will always play very well at the low levels. He should head to the GCL in 2019, and he could still have success. He works with low-90s stuff and can mix multiple breaking pitches, but what he gets lots of note for is his spin on his pitches that bring late movement that leaves hitters hitting the ball off the barrel, even when they get a good swing.
Here’s Braves CF Jeremy Fernandez lifting a home run in the GCL. Swing tends to get deep but has athletic actions and good lift. pic.twitter.com/UahQFnk09b
Level(s): GCL Braves Stats: .281/.322/.492, 47 G, 199 PA, 9 2B, 3 3B, 8 HR, 5 SB, 5.5% BB, 12.1% K After three seasons playing the middle infield, the Atlanta Braves moved Jeremy Fernandez to center field where he made significant impressions. He handled the position very well and over the course of the year, his instincts went from below-average at the position to above-average in reports I got at the end of the season. Fernandez opened up his bat plenty as well this year. I could absolutely see Fernandez making a jump over Danville after multiple seasons in the GCL, likely spending the year there this year as he learned a new position, straight to Rome, and that would be a very interesting thing to watch!
Level(s): Danville Braves Stats: 2-1, 1 save, 13 G, 34 IP, 2.65 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 8.5% BB, 25.4% K Drafted in the 11th round out of Clemson in the 2018 draft, Higginbotham has been a starter previously, though he was coming off of elbow surgery in 2017, so the Braves limited his innings after time with Clemson this year. He has a low-90s fastball, and he works with a breaker and a change that he can control well, but right now he seems to get by a lot with deception, which makes me think he could be better suited as a 3-pitch reliever for the Braves that makes a handful of spot starts along the way. He could be very effective in that role long-term.
Level(s): Danville Braves Stats: .241/.362/.291, 25 G, 94 PA, 4 2B, 14.9% BB, 24.5% K From Venezuela, Estrada went to college in the United States, which made him a draft pick in the 24th round this June for the Braves. He is incredibly advanced, which is not surprising at 23, but his comfort at the plate in taking pitches is advanced for a guy just starting his pro career, even if his offensive profile is more of a doubles power guy. Defensively is where Estrada shines. One scout told me that Estrada is already the best defensive catcher in the Atlanta Braves system with a plus-plus ability to stifle the run game. That’s very high praise, and with the depth at catcher in the system chipped away with moves over the last year, Estrada could move very quickly. He could be a candidate to jump all the way to Florida for his first full season in 2019.
Level(s): Mississippi Braves, Gwinnett Stripers Stats: .285/.315/.376, 85 G, 335 PA, 13 2B, 4 HR, 9 SB, 3.6% BB, 17% K Marte was signed when the Rangers let him go in May, and he did nothing but hit for the Braves, though that was heavily weighted to his initial time with Mississippi (.313 BA, .765 OPS) as he calmed down in Gwinnett (.266 BA, .640 OPS). Marte is also not a tremendous defender at any one infield position, though he can handle short, so there’s value in a utility profile here that’s already at AAA. We’ll see if the flash was real when he kicks off 2019.
Level(s): DSL Braves Stats: 5-5, 14 GS, 61 2/3 IP, 2.63 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 8.3% BB, 20.6% K Incredibly, the profile of Olague and Asencio in the DSL this year were incredibly similar, with both being late signees that spent a short time in the DSL in 2017 that repeated the level in 2018 and really had very similar stat lines. Asencio ranks higher due to his better frame and already-better velocity at this point, so he has a chance to be the better overall pitcher. The difference between the two is that Asencio has more of a definite two elite pitches rather than a spread of quality pitches. That could lead to more of a bullpen option for Asencio, but he should be stateside in 2019 to work on that third pitch.
Level(s): Danville Braves, Rome Braves Stats: 3-5, 12 G, 11 GS, 60 IP, 4.20 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, 8.3% BB, 20.9% K Weisenberg’s final combined line looks much worse than it did when I started working on this list at the end of August. At that time, Weisenberg was in the midst of an incredible run with Rome in his promotion, but he finished with two very rough starts that hurt his walk rate and added nearly a run to his ERA. Weisenberg is a 6’5″ right-handed pitcher from Stanford that the Braves got in the 14th round in 2017. He has a lot of Derek Lowe to his pitching profile, but he is still very lean and could even have some more there as he fills out further as he struggled through injuries in college, so he’s really getting on the mound consistently for the first time in 2018.
Level(s): GCL Braves, Florida Fire Frogs Stats: 4-4, 14 G, 7 GS, 58 1/3 IP, 4.94 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, 8.3% BB, 15.1% K A guy with the type of stuff to be a multi-inning reliever from the left side with more command, Sanchez works with a hard sinker that catches a lot of bats, but rarely gets square contact. After three seasons in complex leagues, Sanchez finally broke through with 4 games, 3 of them starts, with Florida to finish the 2018 season. He might end up more of an org arm, but his combination of sink and sharp control could allow him to play up in a relief role.
Level(s): Danville Braves Stats: 1-1, 6 G, 6 IP, 16.50 ERA, 3.00 WHIP, 17.9% BB, 17.9% K Mora has an arm that can generate upper-90s velocity with relative ease, but his lack of consistent secondary stuff, lack of control, and his injury issues have held up Mora’s progress. Now 23 on Opening Day 2019, Mora is quickly going the route of guys like Mauricio Cabrera and Carlos Salazar, guys that had incredible velocity, but could not harness anything beyond that and washed out of the Braves system. The raw arm talent is such that he still ranks here, but he could be dropped off by update quickly.
Level(s): Danville Braves, Rome Braves Stats: .186/.257/.311, 52 G, 210 PA, 8 2B, 5 HR, 7.1% BB, 22.9% K Venter was born in South Africa, and if he were to make the major leagues, he would be just the second player ever born in the country to make the major leagues. Venter has excellent raw power and a strong arm at third base, but the Auburn grad struggled to make consistent contact after being a 13th round selection in 2018. The raw tools and pedigree is there for Venter to possibly move quickly, but he has to be able to control the zone better.
Level(s): GCL Braves, Rome Braves, Florida Fire Frogs Stats: 2-1, 18 G, 30 2/3 IP, 3.82 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, 8.2% BB, 22.4% K The Atlanta Braves certainly like their big lefties. Camacho is one of multiple lefties that appear on this list that stand 6’6″ tall or better. Camacho has incredible velocity, able to touch triple digits, and he has a pair of interesting offspeed options and he used both in games during the year. As with many taller guys, consistency in his delivery will determine his success, but if Camacho can get it together with his elite size and talent, he’ll move quickly up the Braves farm system.
Level(s): Danville Braves Stats: 2-3, 11 G, 3 GS, 27 2/3 IP, 3.90 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 2.5% BB, 17.6% A sinker/slider pitcher from Texas Tech is a formula that the Atlanta Braves have gone after multiple times in recent years in the MLB draft. Shetter is another excellent example, and if he can continue with his performance, he’ll continue to defy FIP with his hard, heavy sinker that will generate plenty of contact but a lot of that contact will be right at fielders, and Shetter works heavily in the zone.
Level(s): Florida Fire Frogs, Gwinnett Stripers Stats: 5-7, 1 save, 29 G, 4 GS, 66 1/3 IP, 3.26 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 5.7% BB, 21.1% K Kennedy is an interesting guy. He was originally signed at 16 by the Atlanta Braves, but he chose to remain in his native Australia, coming over in 2016 at age 21, and he immediately made a big impression. Kennedy is listed at multiple different heights, ranging from 6’5″ to 6’8″, but his unique arm angle (just a bit above Pat Neshek‘s arm angle, for reference) from the left side is incredibly hard for batters to square up, which explains his 7 home runs allowed in 175 1/3 minor league innings to this point. Kennedy does pound the zone with a multiple-pitch approach that resembles a starter, and when he’s on, his breaker along with his control could allow him to be a multiple-inning weapon out of the bullpen.
Level(s): DSL Braves, Danville Braves Stats: .263/.289/.358, 47 G, 188 PA, 8 2B, 3 3B, 1 HR, 2 SB, 2.7% BB, 21.8% Quintero came stateside for the first time in 2018, and he struggled with the adjustment to the United States and the culture around the country. Quintero has impressive abilities in the outfield, especially in right field with a powerful arm. He is a natural athlete with above-average raw power and plus raw speed. Quintero was known for having good control of the strike zone in Cuba, but he struggled with that in his initial look in Danville. Quintero will likely open 2019 in Rome, and his raw talent should have a chance to shine through with the tremendous coaching the Atlanta Braves focus at the Rome level.
Level(s): Danville Braves Stats: 1-4, 13 GS, 70 IP, 4.37 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, 6.3% BB, 17.4% K With a very good low-ball profile, Jose Montilla moved up past DSL and GCL in his first year in the farm system in 2017. In his second year, he spent the entire year with Danville, and he showed tremendous control, but he struggled to miss bats with his fastball, showing very good control and seeing hitters miss on his breaking pitches. He will work on finding that late movement that caught scouts’ eyes in 2017 on his heater in Rome in 2019.
Level(s): Danville Braves Stats: .280/.373/.396, 55 G, 241 PA, 12 2B, 3 3B, 2 HR, 12% BB, 12% K The Atlanta Braves 15th round selection out of Niagara in 2018, and he showed tremendous maturity of approach both in the field and at the plate. Cullen has a tremendous line-drive stroke that could produce 30+ doubles with double-digit home runs if he maxes out his ceiling as a player. Cullen is more of a high-floor guy than a high-ceiling guy, but if he can keep up the work he did in 2018, he would be a very valuable piece that could move quickly.
Level(s): Danville Braves Stats: .280/.352/.376, 31 G, 144 PA, 7 2B, 1 HR, 4 SB, 9.7% BB, 16.7% K The Atlanta Braves 6th round pick out of UNC-Greensboro, Moritz has a very good approach at the plate with more range than arm in the outfield, but the ability to handle all three outfield spots passably. Moritz is a high-floor sort of guy, but he has the plus speed and line drive power that could profile along the lines of the current Atlanta Braves starting center fielder offensively.
Level(s): GCL Braves Stats: 0-1, 14 G, 14 1/3 IP, 8.79 ERA, 2.37 WHIP, 21.4% BB, 21.4% K One of the most gifted arms in the entire system from the outfield, the Atlanta Braves moved Lopez to the mound in 2018. Reports were mixed based on when he was seen. His fastball ranged from 94-98 on most guns for holding velocity, with some peak velocity readings into triple digits on some guns. Grades on the movement of the fastball ranged from straight as an arrow to late wiggle when he stays on top of the pitch. His breaker was very inconsistent, ranging from a fringe average grade from one evaluator to a plus ceiling grade from another. Lopez likely will remain in complex to open 2019, but he could move quickly to a full-season assignment if he shows consistency in his mechanics.
LIGAS MENORES | Epidemia de la operación Tommy John alcanza a los nicas: Alger Hodgson, de los Bravos de Atlanta, es el tercer "cliente" en lo que va de este año. ✍️https://t.co/qWt6GE8Rj2 📸Jeff Morris pic.twitter.com/o7rO7tjvxy
Level(s): Did not play Stats: Did not play Hodgson had Tommy John surgery and missed all of 2018. In 2017, Hodgson flashed big-time potential between the DSL and GCL with wicked fastball movement. He will be tracked as a rare pitcher from Nicaragua. Hopefully, he will return strong next year, but he will be fun to track.
Level(s): Rome Braves, Florida Fire Frogs Stats: .217/.280/.248, 45 G, 176 PA, 5 2B, 4 SB, 7.4% BB, 24.4% K Josephina is from Curacao, and he has incredible athleticism, especially on the defensive side of the ball. The issue is that his bat hasn’t really developed after an excellent showing with Rome and Danville in 2016. Josephina doesn’t have great zone recognition, so he relies on his contact ability. Even though he’s struggled now the past two seasons, Josephina is still just 22 years old.
Level(s): Florida Fire Frogs Stats: 1-0, 17 G, 19 2/3 IP, 3.20 ERA, 1.81 WHIP, 13.8% BB, 20.2% K Johnson-Mullins is a physical beast on the mound, standing 6’8″ tall and weighing in between 270 and 300. His stuff matches his size when he’s healthy, with an upper 90s fastball and a wicked curve. CJM was hurt for a lot of 2018, and when he was on the mound, he struggled to find his feel, with major issues locating. If he’s healthy in 2019, he could be a major factor from the left side.
Level(s): Rome Braves Stats: 9-1, 2 saves, 27 G, 5 GS, 78 2/3 IP, 2.17 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 5.3% BB, 25.7% K This will be lower than many have Deal, and I’m okay with that. This is currently a gut-feel placement, and I’d love to be proven wrong, but in watching Deal this season, he reminds me a ton of Drew Harrington putting up big numbers with stuff that’s solid, but not great.
Out of the bullpen, Deal would be a very impressive option as a multiple-inning option, but as a starter he doesn’t really have the depth of repertoire to be effective as a starter once he hits the upper minors. Deal, unlike Harrington, seems very accepting of his role as a multi-inning reliever, rather than insisting on starting.
Next. My week as Braves GM. dark
So that’s the #76-100 prospects in the annual countdown of the Atlanta Braves top prospects. Anyone too high? Too low? Comment below!
