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Atlanta Braves 2018 top 125 prospects: 76-100

By Benjamin Chase

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)
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) /
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100. Justin Smith, OF

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.

99. Matt Hartman, RHSP

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.

98. Eliezel Stevens, 2B

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.

97. Jose Olague, RHSP

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.

96. Jeremy Fernandez, OF

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!

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