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Atlanta Braves 2018 top 125 prospects: 51-75

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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70. Connor Lien, OF

Level(s): Mississippi Braves
Stats: .198/.289/.343, 99 G, 305 PA, 16 2B, 7 HR, 8 SB, 8.5% BB, 37% K
Lien is a guy that many will say should not even be on a list like this as he’s going to be 25 in 2019 and he’s just completed his third season at AA with no indication that he’s going to push forward to the major leagues soon. Lien simply has elite defense in the outfield that he’s able to translate to any spot in the outfield, and he has a rare blend of power and speed. If he could harness his swing and miss, he’d immediately be an impact player at the major league level, and for that purpose, he’s here.

69. Connor Johnstone, RHSP

Level(s): Florida Fire Frogs, Mississippi Braves, Gwinnett Stripers
Stats: 3-3, 2 saves, 30 G, 12 GS, 87 1/3 IP, 3.30 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 7.2% BB, 19.6%
Johnstone was drafted in the 21st round of the 2017 draft out of Wake Forest, and his ability to repeat his delivery and keep the ball in the zone allowed him to be used as a fill-in at multiple levels in 2018, pitching less than 25 innings at both AA and AAA, but giving innings where needed for both squads at times that it was needed. Johnstone has a three-pitch mix that could work as a long man, but probably would need to see a tick up in movement to even work as a backend starter.

68. Griffin Benson, 1B

Level(s): Danville Braves, Rome Braves
Stats: .256/.338/.403, 35 G, 145 PA, 8 2B, 3 HR, 2 SB, 9% BB, 31% K
A mammoth 6’5″ switch-hitter the Atlanta Braves drafted in teh 23rd round in 2016 out of high school in Texas, Griffin Benson is still learning how to combine a swing that maximizes his raw power and also can have quality contact rates, but he made significant strides in 2018. Benson is very smooth around the bag for a big guy, and he’ll look to build on his 2018 success with Rome in 2019, but there are few that have the raw potential power in the system that Benson possesses.

67. Nicholas Shumpert, SS/OF

Level(s): Danville Braves, Gwinnett Stripers
Stats: .245/.298/.393, 50 G, 178 PA, 12 2B, 3 3B, 2 HR, 7 SB, 5.6% BB, 29.2% K
Shumpert has the name recognition that made him a well-known player for a 28th round pick in 2016. He’s struggled to establish himself since being drafted in spite of obvious raw skills. Shumpert worked hard defensively in the offseason coming into 2018, and his increased athleticism allowed him to handle the shortstop position very well for Danville. In his promotion at the end of the season to Gwinnett, Shumpert played center field, giving him his first exposure to the position, and he acquitted himself well. With gap power and plus speed, Shumpert has upside along with high marks for coachability, but he will need to see further strides in his approach at the plate to see his offensive skills maximized.

66. Michael Mateja, IF/OF

Level(s): GCL Braves, Danville Braves, Rome Braves
Stats: .304/.454/.402, 37 G, 131 PA, 7 2B, 1 HR, 2 SB, 15.3% BB, 16.8% K
The Atlanta Braves selected Michael Mateja in the 25th round out of North Central College in Illinois, but there’s no way they expected what they got in 2018 from the utility man. Mateja was a force in the GCL before being promoted, where he still got on base at an incredible rate with Danville. He even went 1-3 in a one-game fill-in for Rome. He’ll likely head to Rome to open 2019, and after playing second, third, and left in 2018, the Braves could attempt to find him a long-term position, or they could develop Mateja as a high-OBP utility man.

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