Atlanta Braves 2018 top 125 prospects: 26-50

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:

Monday – 101-125
Tuesday – 76-100
Wednesday – 51-75
Thursday – 26-50
Friday – 1-25

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!

50. Walter Borkovich, RHP

Level(s): Rome Braves, Florida Fire Frogs
Stats: 5-1, 2 saves, 34 G, 6 GS, 85 2/3 IP, 1.47 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 4.5% BB, 16.6% K
Standing 6’5″, Borkovich came out of Michigan State in 2017 and performed very well at three levels pitching purely out of the bullpen, with a 2.30 ERA and 1.17 WHIP over 27 1/3 IP. He opened the season with Rome, and he was pitching multiple innings for a lot of the season, but things took a different turn when he was put into the rotation at the end of his time with Rome. Borkovich absolutely dominated as a starter, and he blew away those watching him at Florida as he used pinpoint command and incredible late movement to make 3 scoreless starts for Florida without a single walk over those starts. Borkovich doesn’t offer overpowering stuff, but he has developed more confidence and feel on his secondary pitches to go along with his dominant sinker, and that could certainly allow him to project in the middle of a rotation. He’ll likely open at Florida in 2019, but he could be a guy that moves quickly if his finish to 2018 was more truth than mirage.

49. Odalvi Javier, RHSP

Level(s): Rome Braves
Stats: 3-10, 26 G, 25 GS, 126 IP, 4.14 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, 10.3% BB, 23.5% K
Javier has been productive throughout his time in the Atlanta Braves organization. He took a big step forward in his first full season. Odalvi’s delivery is simple and focuses on his release point as the point of variance that can cause issues for him. If he keeps his arm at a normal 3/4 release point, he works low in the zone with excellent late movement. He has a habit of dropping just a touch with his arm slot to a low-3/4 slot, and when he does, he tends to throw more of a flat fastball that stays up in the zone, and his change and breaker don’t get the depth that they do when he’s in his true 3/4 slot. Javier will likely move up to Florida in 2019, but more consistency in his arm slot could allow for Javier to really push forward with a back-end starter profile, but a ceiling of a mid-rotation inning eater.

48. Braxton Davidson, 1B

Level(s): Florida Fire Frogs
Stats: .171/.281/.365, 121 G, 481 PA, 19 2B, 20 HR, 12.1% BB, 44.3%
Former Atlanta Braves first-rounder Davidson played his third season at the high-A level. The adage of a three true outcomes player is that he either hits a home run, takes a walk, or strikes out. Incredibly, Davidson strikes out nearly half of the time, even though he finally reached a point where he was actually getting to his power. Braxton’s ISO of 194 in 2018 was nearly 60 points higher than he’s ever produced before, but even then, he produced an extra-base hit roughly 8.5% of the time, and if you add in his walks, that’s 20.5% of his plate appearances that he delivers a walk or powerful hit. He is getting a chance to showcase in the Arizona Fall League, and he could be a trade candidate this offseason as his future in the Braves organization is growing dim and there are young first sackers that will be pushing for more time soon.

47. Dilmer Mejia, LHSP

Level(s): Danville Braves, Rome Braves, Florida Fire Frogs
Stats: 5-7, 1 save, 19 G, 17 GS, 90 1/3 IP, 3.99 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, 8.4% BB, 18.1% K
Mejia showed out in his first season in the Atlanta Braves system as a 16-year-old in 2014, but injuries have hampered ever since. At 20 in 2018, Mejia pitched multiple games at 3 different levels, showing some of the same exciting stuff from the left side as he did in 2014. Mejia is limited in his size at 5’11”, 165-pound frame, and he might end up a long reliever if his body is an issue with health, but as he showed in 2018, when he’s healthy, his stuff is definitely legit!

46. Luis Valenzuela, IF

Level(s): Mississippi Braves
Stats: .282/.306/.369, 114 G, 386 PA, 22 2B 2 3B, 2 HR, 5 SB, 3.4% BB, 17.1% K
Watching his smooth play, it’s hard to believe that the Atlanta Braves originally got Valenzuela for roughly a month and a half of Jonny Gomes. Valenzuela was part of the intentional work the Mississippi squad did in getting their infielders work at multiple infield positions throughout the year, and Valenzuela excelled at 2B, 3B, and SS defensively. With the bat, he’ll never be a major power hitter, but he does have excellent gap power and good contact ability, though he isn’t a guy that will draw a high rate of walks. Valenzuela’s ceiling may be limited, but his floor is very high, which should give him a legitimate chance at an infield bench role.

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.

40. Drew Lugbauer, C

Level(s): Rome Braves
Stats: .232/.317/.374, 114 G, 461 PA, 22 2B, 12 HR, 9.3% BB, 33.2% K
After powering through Danville and Rome in his draft season last year, many had big expectations for what “Slugbauer” would be able to do in 2018. While Lugbauer provided plenty of oomph in his swing, he spent a lot of 2018 focusing on his work behind the plate in 2018. He’s still very raw back there (14 passed balls), but he’s got the arm strength behind the plate to be effective, and if he can get the glove work to a passable level, being a power-leading backup could be a very productive future path for Lugbauer, who has experience playing infield and outfield corners as well.

39. Adam McCreery, LHRP

Level(s): Mississippi Braves, Gwinnett Stripers, Atlanta Braves
Stats: Minors: 2-5, 2 saves, 42 G, 54 2/3 IP, 3.62 ERA, 1.61 WHIP, 14.7% BB, 28.3% K; Majors: 1 G, 1 IP, 18.00 ERA, 4.00 WHIP, 0% BB, 28.6% K
A towering 6’9″ lefty, McCreery moved up the farm system slowly since being acquired from the Angels. Over the last two seasons in the minors, McCreery has struck out 161 hitters in 117 innings with his tough arm angle to square up and 3-pitch mix. He made it all the way to the majors in 2018, though his one inning was not what he hoped. He should get more chances and while he’s not a guy that’s going to supplant A.J. Minter as the top lefty in the bullpen, he could work very well in the 5th and 6th inning.

38. AJ Graffanino, SS

Level(s): Danville Braves, Rome Braves
Stats: .318/.344/.382, 43 G, 184 PA, 8 2B, 1 HR, 5 SB, 4.9% BB, 14.7% K
When the Atlanta Braves drafted AJ Graffanino in the 8th round this past June out of the University of Washington, many felt it was likely due to his father’s connection to the organization. After seeing his work in Danvill and Rome in 2018, there’s definitely no concerns about nepotism remaining. Graffanino is sharp with the glove, not double-plus defensively, but fringe-plus to plus across the board in all defensive characteristics. On top of that, he has a line drive approach and, while he didn’t draw a ton of walks, he showed an excellent knowledge of the strike zone. He’ll open in Florida in 2019, and it will be interesting to see if he can keep up his impressive debut.

37. Matt Rowland, RHSP

Level(s): Danville Braves
Stats: 1-4, 13 GS, 54 IP, 3.83 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 11% BB, 17.3% K
The Atlanta Braves drafted Matt Rowland out of high school in Georgia in the 11th round in 2016 and then proceeded to see him disappear for two years due to injury. Finally able to get on the mound in 2018, Rowland had his moments of impressing evaluators along with showing his rust. He’s got a very high ceiling as he works to get his delivery consistent to home plate and his trust in all of his pitches consistent every game. He’ll get to spend 2019 in Rome.

36. Nolan Kingham, RHRP

Level(s): Danville Braves
Stats: 2-0, 1 save, 11 G, 3 GS, 23 2/3 IP, 4.56 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, 6.9% BB, 17.8% K
Kingham was a highly-regarded arm with the University of Texas that fell to the Atlanta Braves in the 12th round. In spite of checking all the boxes teams typically look for in a college starter with upside, Kingham struggled in his draft year with the Longhorns, which allowed him to slide from a feasible 2nd round pick to the Braves in the 12th. He showed flashes of what the Braves are hoping they’ll see more consistently going forward in 2019. Kingham should open 2019 in Rome, but he could move quickly.

30. Thomas Burrows, LHRP

Level(s): Rome Braves, Florida Fire Frogs, Mississippi Braves
Stats: 6-2, 11 saves, 45 G, 67 2/3 IP, 2.66 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 12.6% BB, 30.1% K
Burrows came to the Atlanta Braves along with Luiz Gohara from Seattle, and he’s been tremendous in the bullpen in the Braves system, showing closer stuff from the left side. He did struggle for a stretch in 2018 in Florida with his command, but he performed tremendously well as closer with Mississippi to finish the year, posting a 1.42 ERA, 0.84 WHIP, 8.2% walk rate, and 37% strikeout rate in that role. Burrows is in Arizona and could be getting some work as a multiple-inning sort of reliever, but he certainly has the stuff to be a lefty closer and should factor into the Atlanta bullpen during the 2019 season.

29. Tucker Davidson, LHSP

Level(s): Florida Fire Frogs
Stats: 7-10, 24 GS, 118 1/3 IP, 4.18 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 11.3% BB, 19.3% K
After receiving plenty of notice for the way he pitched once moved into the rotation last season, Davidson spent the entire year in the Florida rotation, but he struggled mightily to open the season. Over his first 7 starts, he posted an 8.04 ERA, 2.07 WHIP, 18.3% walk rate, and 17.6% strikeout rate. He quickly turned things around, starting in early May, and the rest of his season was a 2.99 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 8.9% walk rate, and 19.8% strikeout rate, including finishing strong, with two shutout performances in his last two starts, totaling 13 1/3 innings with a single walk and 13 strikeouts. Davidson’s not a future frontline guy, but with a repeatable delivery and excellent low-zone stuff from the left side, Davidson could work well as a 3/4 starter. He’ll get his first taste of the upper minors in 2019.

28. Braulio Vasquez, IF

Level(s): GCL Braves
Stats: .269/.317/.407, 45 G, 183 PA, 7 2B, 2 3B, 4 HR, 5 SB, 6.6% BB, 21.9% K
Arguably the most raw talent in the system is that of Vasquez, who was signed by the Atlanta Braves out of the Dominican Republic. After struggling to get playing time with the deep middle infield group that was present before the punishment of last offseason, Vasquez repeated the GCL level. He showed up significantly changed in his body, going from a lean, 6′, 155-160 pounds to a much more cut 175-180 pounds, showing off much more raw power from both sides of the plate. Vasquez has likely moved to 3B going forward, but he showed well at second as well, so he can still handle middle infield, but his arm works best at third. He will bump up to Danville in 2019 and could finish with Rome if he can show an adjustment back to contact along with his increased power in his new physique.

27. Jasseel De La Cruz, RHSP

Level(s): Rome Braves
Stats: 3-4, 15 G, 13 GS, 69 IP, 4.83 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, 11.3% BB, 21.6% K
De La Cruz was signed out of the Dominican Republic, and he’s been one of the most impressive players to watch on the mound since he came into the Atlanta Braves system. De La Cruz started out his season well before injury changed his season’s direction. He missed a month and a half, and he re-aggravated his injury after coming back, but he was able to pitch through it. Before that re-aggravation, De La Cruz had a 2.41 ERA over 7 starts and 33 2/3 innings with a 1.10 WHIP, 8.8% walk rate, and 24.1% strikeout rate. He’ll hope to find that same success in Florida in 2019.

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26. Alex Jackson, C

Level(s): Mississippi Braves, Gwinnett Stripers
Stats: .201/.286/.360, 99 G, 377 PA, 23 2B, 3 3B, 8 HR, 8.5% BB, 31.8% K
The Atlanta Braves have been working with Jackson to strengthen his catching since he was acquired from Seattle before the 2017 season. He really did not see big strides behind the plate in 2018, and he also took significant steps backward offensively, unable to tap into his raw power at the plate due to a significant issue with swing and miss.

Jackson’s defense will be final determining point for his future with the Braves. Most likely, the Atlanta Braves will be shopping Jackson in deals this offseason, hoping his showing in 2017 and especially in the 2017 Arizona Fall League at the plate can inspire a team to give him a shot and put him into a deal. If he’s still in the org to open 2019, he’ll likely be at Gwinnett.

So that’s the #26-50 prospects in the annual countdown of the Atlanta Braves top prospects. Anyone too high? Too low? Comment below!