Atlanta Braves 2018 top 125 prospects: 26-50
45. Tyler Pike, LHP
Level(s): Mississippi Braves
Stats: 0-4, 20 G, 1 GS, 30 2/3 IP, 5.87 ERA, 1.99 WHIP, 26.8% BB, 22.8% K
Pike was acquired by the Atlanta Braves before the 2017 season, and he came out like gangbusters in Florida in 2017 before he got to Mississippi, and he struggled to find the zone. Moving to the bullpen in 2018, Pike lost his footing and lost his feel in his delivery completely. Pike’s stuff as a LOOGY would be elite in that role, but he still would need to get his control significantly better. The ceiling is still incredibly high on Pike, but at 25 in the offseason, he could end up a casualty of the new regime after seeing a performance like he gave in their first season doing evaluations on what is in-house.
44. Josh Graham, RHRP
Level(s): Florida Fire Frogs, Mississippi Braves
Stats: 6-8, 3 saves, 47 G, 63 IP, 5.71 ERA, 1.62 WHIP, 14.3% BB, 25.8% K
A converted catcher at Oregon, the Atlanta Braves selected the stout Graham in the 4th round in the 2015 draft. He was highly regarded that season, with some believing he could even take his elite changeup along with mid-90s fastball and above-average breaker to the rotation. However, Graham has never really been able to put it all together, seemingly struggling for a significant section of each season. In 2017, he was elite with Mississippi after being mediocre with Florida. The script was flipped in 2018, with a solid season for Florida, but completely losing the strike zone once he got to Mississippi. Graham has the raw arm strength and stuff to be an elite back-end bullpen arm. Whether he will be able to harness it remains the question.
43. Matt Withrow, RHSP
Level(s): did not play
Stats: did not play
Many forget that over his first half-dozen starts with Mississippi last year, Withrow posted a 1.74 ERA, 0.81 WHIP, and a 12/29 BB/K ratio. When a scout saw that M-Braves rotation, which also featured Max Fried, Mike Soroka, Kolby Allard, and Patrick Weigel at the time, he remarked that he’d never before given five big-league starter grades in one minor league rotation. That included Withrow, who has an impressive pitch mix that would be elite in the bullpen and work well in the middle of a rotation. He missed the whole year injured, and after a college career marred by injury, Withrow could be a guy that has to move to the bullpen, but he certainly shouldn’t be forgotten.
42. Derian Cruz, IF
Level(s): Rome Braves
Stats: .222/.254/.308, 112 G, 432 PA, 15 2B, 4 3B, 4 HR, 4 SB, 2.8% BB, 26.4% K
A big-money signing in the same season that the Atlanta Braves signed now-elite prospect Cristian Pache, many thought Cruz was the better prospect when they were initially signed. Instead, he’s in a holding pattern at Rome and may be spending some time at extended spring this coming year. After a season where he committed 30 errors trying to simply move to the other side of the middle infield, Cruz is rumored to be destined for center field in 2019 from good sources. However, he could make strides defensively and still have a long ways to go offensively to even have a big league future. Cruz has legit plus speed and raw power with strong, quick wrists that should allow for an excellent contact rate, but he’s simply not been able to do that in the minor leagues.
41. Wes Parsons, RHP
Level(s): Mississippi Braves, Gwinnett Stripers, Atlanta Braves
Stats: Minors: 8-6, 1 save, 24 G, 21 GS, 117 1/3 IP, 2.76 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 7.2% BB, 21.4%; Majors: 0-1, 1 G, 5 IP, 7.20 ERA, 1.80 WHIP, 13% BB, 13% K
Undrafted out of Jackson State Community College, Parsons was long and lean when he signed with the Atlanta Braves in 2013. He’s filled out over time, and he’s become a great multiple role pitcher. In 2018, he worked his way all the way to the big leagues. Parsons may not have a high ceiling future, but he would have value to a lot of big league pitching staffs around the league. He mixes his pitches well, and when it’s on, his slider is a devastating pitch to hitters.