Atlanta Braves 2018 top 125 prospects: 76-100
95. Jake Higginbotham, LHRP
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.
94. Rusber Estrada, C
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.
93. Luis Marte, IF
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.
92. Eudi Asencio, RHSP
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.
91. Keith Weisenberg, RHSP
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.