An overview of the 10 Atlanta Braves’ prospects making the Fangraphs’ top 100

The most-recent prospect leaderboard is fresh out of the oven, and the Atlanta Braves have several young players included in this year’s rankings.

For you Atlanta Braves fans that don’t read up on a lot of baseball in your spare time, but would like to – there is an outstanding place to do this sort of thing. Fangraphs is a website that specializes in Major League Baseball statistics.

The site puts out several articles daily that inform readers of all kinds of different aspects of Major League Baseball, including stats, sabermetrics and prospect news. It’s a great place to learn the growing advancement of the sport.

If you have read any of my articles lately, you will see me reference Fangraphs a lot. They are, in my opinion, a lot like Baseball Reference, except that Fangraphs provides actual content to read – not just stats.

This all leads up to the topic at hand: Prospects! 

If you follow the Atlanta Braves, then you most likely are aware of the world-class minor league organizations that the Atlanta Braves provide. For multiple years now the Braves have ranked near the top, or at the top, of numerous minor league prospect rankings as a whole.

Today I want to look at the Braves’ prospects once more as a result of Fangraphs’ latest top-100 Major League Baseball prospect rankings. The rankings were published on February 13th (this past Wednesday), and as you can tell by the title – the Braves did very well.

Each page will feature a player that made the top-100 list in the order in which they were selected. The player-page will be somewhat of a refresher on the player, while also including their 2018 and previous season’s stats.

I will add some subjective commentary as well, but will limit my opinion to players that I’ve actually seen play.

So lets see how the Braves did!

Christian Pache (OF/CF)

Standing at the top of the mountain among all Braves’ prospects, the 20-year-old Christian Pache is coming along nicely over his three years in the Braves’ organization. He has now made it up to the Braves’ Double-A team, the Mississippi Braves.

In 2018, Pache played 93 games with the Braves’ Single-A team and 29 games in Mississippi. Most projection sites, including me, look for 2021 to be his time to make his case for the Major League club.

Projected by Fangraphs to be a 70-speed on the 20-to-80 scale (80 the highest), Pache is more of a “slap-hitter” at the moment, but is blessed with exceptional defensive instincts. At this very moment he could play in the Majors on defense.

His Stats

The 6’2″ outfielder has drawn some pretty crazy comps throughout his time in the Braves’ organization. However, hitting is still a work in progress for the Dominican Republic native. Luckily, Pache started the Brave process at the age of 17 and has plenty of athletic ability.

As a teenager in Rookie Ball, Pache played 57 games hitting .309 with 24 stolen-bases and seven triples. Moving on to the Appalachian League, Pache played in 30 games with a .333 batting-average and a .372 OBP. He still didn’t show any power as he failed to hit a single home run, but the talent level was obvious.

The 2018 season featured another year of double-level-duty, as Pache played 93 games for the Florida Fire Frogs (A+) and 29 games for the Mississippi Braves (AA).

In Florida, Pache displayed some power not yet seen, slugging eight home runs and 40 RBI to go along with 20 doubles. His contact skills stayed true as well, as he maintained a solid .285 batting-average. His .431 SLG% would be the highest of his Minor League career.

Once in Mississippi, Pache would hit one home run and bat .260. His ability to get on base dropped tremendously, as he finished the season with a .294 OBP.

Pache was also a participant in the Arizona Fall League – gaining an All-Star nod as well.  As expected, he was a defensive standout and hit .279 (again) with 5 extra-base hits with a .323 OBP.

His strikeout rate remaining under control (18 in 94 plate appearances) against what arguably was better pitching than he’d faced during the regular season, though his OPS was low at .683 – largely the result of low power (slugging) numbers.

All together, Christian Pache would play 122 games in the ‘regular minors’ in 2018. He would amass nine total home runs and 47 RBI with seven stolen-bases. The slash line looked decent at .279/.307/.410 with a .717 OPS. His inability to take walks really caused his overall production to fall (only 20 walks in 495 plate appearances).

The Verdict

It still remains to be seen what kind of hitter Christian Pache will be once he develops fully. However, one thing is for sure – his has the defense and athletic ability to play Major League Baseball. As a projected center fielder, Pache will not be expected to put up 20-30 homer seasons.

He will be expected to play solid defense and hold his own against Major League pitching.

Here’s what the team at Fangraphs said (regarding Pache):

An elite defensive center field prospect like Pache needs to do very little with the bat to be an everyday player, and while his statistics leave much to be desired, he has flashed feel for contact and in-game raw power, just never both for any real length of time.

With the batting-average he has consistently shown that he knows how to hit. I think it’s safe to day that he has upside in the Major Leagues with that ability.  His future will be dependent on how far his offensive skills can take him.

Austin Riley (3B)

Sitting in the top-35 of the list, third baseman Austin Riley has been a player that all Braves’ fans have been patiently waiting to see make his debut in the Majors. At 6’3″ and 220 lbs., Riley has outstanding upside when it comes to power (rated as a 70 by Fangraphs).

He was taken 41st-overall in the 2015 MLB Draft by the Atlanta Braves and has moved up the ladder rather quickly in his time with the organization. In 2018, he got his first taste with the Triple-A team, playing 75 games.

At 21-years-old, Riley might make some kind of contribution this season.  If anything, we could see him up for a nice cup of coffee in September to get some at-bats.

The Stats

Austin Riley’s first year in the organization (2015) consisted of 30 games on two different Rookie-Ball teams. In those 60 total games, Riley hit 12 home runs and hit to a tune of a .933 OPS (.304 BA) – a very nice start for an 18-year-old kid. He also hit 14 doubles and knocked in 40 runs.

As far as last season goes, Riley played on three different teams in the Braves’ organization. He played six games for the GCL (Gulf Coast League) Braves as part of a rehab stint, 27 games for the Double-A Mississippi Braves and 75 games for the Gwinnett Braves (Triple-A)

In total, Riley played 108 games in 2018 and hit 19 home runs with 70 RBI. He kept his batting-average up to a tune of .294 and finished with an OPS of .882.

His 127 wRC+ (runs created) in Triple-A alone makes for a lot of excitement regarding Riley’s future. The only downside is that Riley never posted a strikeout-rate below 25% while playing for all three Minor League teams in 2018. His 129 total strikeouts last season (455 PA) shows that Riley still has some room for improvement.

All in all, Riley has shown that he can hit advanced-pitching and would more than likely make a positive contribution to the Major League team.

The only thing that’s really in his way of making his debut to the Majors is the bottle neck currently at third base. With the newly-signed Josh Donaldson getting starts at the position and Johan Camargo‘s preferred position being the hot corner, playing time at third base will be scarce for Austin Riley.

However, the Braves have been getting Riley some work in the outfield to increase his positional capabilities. This development could help him get on the Major League field sooner.

The Verdict

The two gurus at Fangraphs (Eric Longenhagen and Kiley McDaniel) seem to like Austin Riley and his skillset. In their report they said this:

Riley has big power, solid performance, and improved defense at the hot corner, so now is his chance to fight for a spot on the 2019 Braves.

Also in their report, Longenhagen and McDaniel give some actual projections as to what kind of hitter Riley will be:

What sort of hitter Riley becomes is more a matter of choice for him, but we think he’ll end up in the .250 average, with an average OBP and plus game power, meaning 25 homers or so annually.

BaseballAmerica was even more bullish on him – noting his work ethic to vault him to the #1 prospect spot (subscription required) among the Braves prospects – above Pache.

The future looks bright for Austin Riley and it’s nice to see that the experts in the prospect industry look for him to have some solid power. Home runs and good defense is a hot commodity in the Majors, and it looks like Riley will be able to provide that.

Hopefully we will at least get to see some sort of playing time at the Major League level from the young third baseman this upcoming season. Whether it’s at third base or in the outfield, a chance to see a product of the Braves’ excellent prospect development is nice to see.

Mike Soroka (RHP)

The 20-year-old right-hander from Calgary, Canada makes the list at #36. Soroka was drafted 28th overall in the 2015 MLB Draft and has shown some excellent maturity as he has already made five starts at the Major League level.

A guy that already possesses the intangibles to be successful in the Majors, Soroka moved up rather quickly through the Farm. He only lasted nine starts in Rookie-Ball in 2015, striking out almost ten batters per nine-innings and limiting his free passes to under two walks per nine-innings.

His 2018 season started in Single-A, where he only made one start for the Rome Braves. He would quickly advance to Gwinnett (Triple-A), where he would make a grand total of five starts. On May 1st of 2018 Soroka would make his Major League Debut, completing a unique and quick path through the upper minors.

The Stats

The 2016 season in Rome was a great one for Soroka, as he made 24 starts (143 innings-pitched) and won nine games. The righty would strikeout 7.87 batters per nine-innings and only walk 2.01 per 9 innings.

That season he actually pitched better than what his stats presented, finishing the season with a FIP of 2.78 and an ERA of 3.02.

The very next season he would build off of that year in Single-A and pitch just as well after his promotion to Double-A for the Mississippi Braves. He would make 26 starts in 2017 and pitch 153.2 innings.

In 2017 at Mississippi, Soroka would finish with 11 wins. His strikeout and walk rates would remain solid at 7.32 K/9 and 1.99 BB/9 respectively. Soroka’s ability to prevent runs also held strong, as he posted a 2.75 ERA and 3.19 FIP. Soroka was ready for the Show.

After a short stint in Triple-A with the Gwinnett Stripers, Soroka got his first taste of Major League Baseball. He made five starts in 2018, completing 25.2 innings. His record of 2-1 and 3.51 ERA showed that the promotion was well-deserved.

His FIP (2.85) in the Majors projected that Soroka actually pitched better than advertised in 2018. Another reason to feel optimistic about his future in the Majors is the fact that he also maintained his strikeout rates and walk rates. He punched out 7.36 batters per nine-innings in 2018, while also keeping the walks down (2.45 BB/9).

Soroka would end up suffering a shoulder injury in 2018 that would force his Major League campaign to a screeching halt. How his shoulder holds up this upcoming season will be the biggest factor in determining what’s in store for him going into the future, though he enters Spring Training with ‘no restrictions’ on his workouts.

The Verdict

Mike Soroka’s tools are pretty solid across the board. On a 80-scale rating system Soroka is rated at 55 on both his fastball and slider, a 50 on his changeup and a 45 on his command, per Fangraphs.

His velocity is nice and consistent, and he seems to maintain his pitch speed with little effort. Soroka usually sits at 90-93 mph and sometimes can tick it on up to 95.

The guys at Fangraphs seem to be pretty optimistic that Soroka should still be on track to be a successful Major League pitcher:

Soroka had an unfortunate shoulder injury in the middle of a successful major league debut, but indications are that he’s ready to pick up where he left off.

Here’s another excerpt from Longenhagen and McDaniel regarding details of how Soroka attacks hitters:

He attacks the zone with a low-90s sinker down in the zone and is a pitch efficient starter who isn’t gunning for the strikeout. He’s also a short strider so his velocity plays down a bit, making his command and off speed pitches even more important.

Like the guys at Fangraphs, I think Soroka’s sinker will be key to his success in the Majors. He’s not really a power-pitcher in the sense that he throws in the high-90s, but if his sinker could unlock a lot of strikeouts for him.

In my opinion, as long as his shoulder is truly healthy, I could see him as the favorite for the last place in the rotation behind Julio Teheran. Of course that prediction is as of right now. Future moves or additions to the starting-rotation could effect that assumption.

Ian Anderson (RHP)

The thirties have been a great range for Braves’ prospects in the latest prospect rankings, as Ian Anderson is the second of three Braves’ farmhands making the list in the thirties (38th overall).

Ian Anderson has made some serious noise in the Braves’ Minor League system, moving up the ranks rather quickly. The 20-year-old was drafted by the Braves in the 2016 MLB Draft as the third-overall pick.

Anderson may be a couple years away, but the upside is legit for this kid. He ran through Rookie-Ball with just 10 total starts and in 2017 made 20 starts for the Rome Braves (Single-A). Last season he made 20 starts at Advanced-A and four starts for the Braves’ Double-A team, the Mississippi Braves.

His stats over the last two seasons have been remarkable, and as a tallish pitcher (6’3) he has some projected growth into his body. Anderson has top of the rotation potential and we might see him real soon.

The Stats

Lets go back to that 2017 season where Anderson is in Single-A (Rome Braves). That season he pitched 83 innings and made 20 starts. The righty struck out 10.95 batters per nine-innings and held a decent walk-rate of 4.66 BB/9. His FIP in 2017 showed his numbers to be a bit worse than he actually performed, as his ERA stood at 3.14 and FIP at 3.04. His luck was actually not too great, coming from a BABIP-against of .345.

Fast-forward to the beginning of last season when Anderson got his promotion to Advanced-A (Florida Fire Frogs). Anderson made some improvements in those 20 starts there, while keeping his strikeout-rate intact at 10.62 K/9. Anderson would do better at limiting walks (3.60 BB/9) and once again the ERA was excellent, at 2.52 (2.64 FIP).

Later into the 2018 season, Anderson saw another promotion, moving up to Double-A (Mississippi Braves). He didn’t get a lot of starts there, but in his four starts he would perform great. His strikeout-rate was even better, at 11.17 K/9. His ERA at the end of the season would hold at its usual spot, a cool 2.33.

The Verdict

This is just another perfect example of the depth that the Atlanta Braves’ have in starting-pitching. Ian Anderson is another talented pitcher that has plenty of potential and could be in the Majors soon. Fangraphs gives Anderson a FV (future value) of 55, with his highest-rated pitch being his fastball.

Here’s what Fangraphs has to say about Ian Anderson’s quick trend upwards:

In two seasons, Anderson has progressed from upstate New York prep standout to Double-A without many speed bumps, with above average stuff and pitch ability helping him project as a likely No.3 or 4 starter.

A lot of people in the baseball industry are taking notice to Anderson’s progression. He is now living up to the potential that was expected of him from being a first-round draft pick.

Anderson is a lot like Soroka in that he doesn’t possess super-high velocity on his fastball. He usually sits around the low to mid-90s with solid command.

The guys at Fangraphs had a little to say about Anderson’s tools as a pitcher:

Anderson is the most advanced in terms of his combination of stuff now, command, and size, and evidenced by reaching Double-A a the age of 20 with excellent stats at every stop. He isn’t the sexiest prospect in terms of spin rates, so his command will need to continue to be a separator as the hitters he faces continue to get better.

The quick promotions that Anderson has received is likely a good sign that the right-handed pitcher knows how to make positive adjustments along the way. Each stint he has had in the Minors has been successful, which shows that he’s ability to learn from his mistakes has been a consistent priority.

The thinning of the herd at the starting-pitcher position will most likely take place over the next season or two, and with this, a place on the Braves’ rotation will be easier to project. Their could always be the possibility that a pitcher in the current rotation (Julio Teheran) could be moved, which would open up a spot. A chance like that would be all that Ian Anderson needs to get his first taste on a Major League mound.

If anything, we could see Anderson as a September call-up in the near future, but it may need to happen after he gets some experience at the Triple-A level first.

Kyle Wright (RHP)

Staying in the thirties at #39, the 23-year-old and former Vandy stand-out, Kyle Wright has made his way into the rankings quickly. Wright was the Braves’ first selection (5th-overall) in the 2017 MLB Draft. We seen him make his debut in the Majors for the Braves last season, as he came into four different games as a reliever.

Like several of the other Braves’ pitching prospects, Wright moved up through the Minors very quickly, only making three starts in Rookie-Ball and six starts on the Braves’ Advanced-A team.

In 2018, the Huntsville, AL native started 27 games across two levels of the Minors (Double-A and Triple- A) and also made three appearances out of the bullpen.

The Stats

Kyle Wright’s combined stats from his time with the Mississippi Braves (AA) and the Gwinnett Stripers (AAA) were impressive, as he won eight games and finished with a 3.46 ERA. In his 138 total innings, Wright struck out 133 batters and walked 51 – giving him an 8.7 K/9 and a 3.3 BB/9.

He was called up the big leagues and made his Major League debut on September 4th as a reliever. Across four appearances in the Majors, Wright showed some solid upside with a nice 4.50 ERA in six total innings. He wasn’t used a lot, but it was an important experience for his development.

Wright is yet another 55 FV pitcher in the mix for starts for the Atlanta Braves. His two best pitches are projected to be his fastball and slider, as both are tabbed at being future 60s on the rating scale (70 being the highest).

The Verdict

It’s hard to see Kyle Wright in the starting-rotation in 2018, but the Braves may be inclined to use him as a multi-inning reliever in the very near future. His breaking-ball is very advanced and is already an extremely effective pitch in the Majors.

In Wright’s excerpt from the top-100 leaderboard, the Fangraphs writers went in a little more detail on just that:

His best route to early big league success may be to lean on his breaking ball and throw it as often as his fastball, like Chris Archer or Patrick Corbin do. Given the Braves young pitching depth, there may not be a rotation spot for Wright, but his stuff and approach would definitely work in a multi-inning relief role until that spot is available.

At 6’4″ and 220 lbs, Wright has the size to get his fastball up in velocity. He usually sits at around 91-95, but at times can get up to right under 100 mph when he wants.

If he indeed is used as a reliever we may see Wright in September of 2018, or if their aren’t anymore plans to add a pitcher to the Major League bullpen – their could be chance he is brought into the pen earlier.

Whether he is forced to wait until there’s a spot for him to start or not, once Kyle Wright pitches in the Majors, it will be exciting.

Drew Waters (OF)

Now we are getting down into the meat of the Braves’ prospects. Waters, 20-years-old, is reported to be comparable to stand-out Christian Pache, with more upside at the plate.

Waters has yet to make it out of Single-A, with 30 games down in Single-A Advanced in 2018 for the Florida Fire Frogs. However, 2019 should probably include a promotion to Mississippi (AA).

The pace that Waters is currently on is really very good, as he was just drafted in 2017 as a second-round pick by the Braves. With the way he has been able to handle professional pitching, it’s not too far-fetched to predict a 2021 debut in the big leagues.

There is always the possible September call-up that could occur between now and then, but we may get to see him in some Spring games this year as he holds a workout invite on the major league side.

The Stats

In 2017 Drew Waters played 50 total game for the Braves’ Rookie-Ball teams, amassing four home runs and 24 RBI with six stolen-bases. He hit .278 with a solid .791 OPS in that span, showing an outstanding ability to get on base (.362 OBP).

In 2018, Waters played a total of 114 games between stints with both the Florida Fire Frogs (A+) and the Rome Braves (A). Overall, he hit a superb .293 with a .343 OBP, good for an .819 OPS. He showed some pop as well, hitting nine home runs total with both teams; and his speed played up, as Waters stole 23 bases.

Drew Waters has already out-pacing his speed projection, with Fangraphs giving him a FV of 55 in the speed category. In the updated prospect rankings Waters is now rated at 60 in speed, but is projected to slow down some once in the Majors and over his career.

He’s rated as a 60 in other areas as well, including “Hit”, “Raw Power” and “Throws” – all very important aspects for a developing young outfielder. His hitting and power still has a ways to go, but his throwing ability has reached his projected future value.

The Verdict

Fangraphs really likes Waters and has some very promising comments in his top-100 excerpt. The Fangraphs’ projection team likes how quickly Waters was able to handle pro pitching at such a young age:

Waters has a rare skillet, with 55 or 60 tools across the board. He reached Hi-A as a teenager with a breakout 2018 campaign.

Here is some more exciting projections for Waters provided by Fangraphs:

Waters’ raw power is a 55 that will likely be a 60 as he fills out, and his speed is a current 60 that likely becomes a 55. His center field instincts are above average, so he’s still got a solid chance to stick at the position and is arm is an easy plus.

Having guys like Christian Pache and Drew Waters in the Minors is a great luxury for the Braves to have, and if both young players can develop their hitting than we may see an absolutely loaded outfield in the near future.

William Contreras (C)

The younger brother of Chicago Cubs’ catcher Wilson Contreras, the young Contreras from Venezuela is currently the future at catcher for the Braves.

After the J.T. Realmuto sweepstakes finally ended with the Braves losing out, the focus must turn to developing William Contreras into a Major League player. At 21-years-old the upside is there for Contreras.

Contreras has not made it out of Single-A (Rome Braves) yet, but after his impressive performance in 2018, a promotion should be due, and indications are that the Braves may push him more quickly than might be normally expected.

The Stats

As a teenager (17) he played 49 games for the Braves in the DSL (Dominican Summer League) in 2015, where he hit .314 with 32 RBI, but unfortunately no home runs. Despite his lack of power that year he still posted a great OPS of .783, due to his impressive on-base skills (.370 OBP).

Moving on to last season, in 2018 Contreras played for two different Braves’ Minor League teams (Rome Braves and Florida Fire Frogs). He was especially good while playing for the Rome Braves (A), where he hit 11 homers.

During that 82-game span for Contreras in Rome, he hit .293 with an .822 OPS. The power he provided last year was a welcomed surprise, along with 8.5 BB% (second-highest walk-rate of his career).

Overall as 20-year-old, Contreras posted very solid numbers between Rome (A) and Florida (A+) combined:

• 105 games
• .285 BA
• 11 HR
• 49 RBI
• .783 OPS

The Verdict

As a catcher, the expectations shouldn’t be too tremendous for William Contreras. His ability to hold his own with Major League pitchers and contain base runners will be more focused on.

If he can continue the trend he’s on with the bat then he has a nice future ahead. Longenhagen and McDaniel really think Contreras is going to be an above-average Major League player. They have some quite exciting comments:

William is the younger brother of Cubs catcher Wilson Contreras, but he’s a slightly different kind of catcher. William projects to be an above average defender who is ‘hit over power’ right now, and multiple scouts we spoke with expect another breakout campaign in 2019.

This is good news regarding the Braves. The catching position can be a hard one to fill, particularly with offensive production. Here are some more comments by Fangraphs that describe just this:

Contreras stands out because there are not many 21-year-olds who project for average-to-above offense along with above average defense, and have the makeup/mental part of the game under control without any major red flags like injuries.

Hopefully Contreras can continue his success this season. More than likely he will see some time in Double-A in 2019, if not all of 2019.

A promotion to Mississippi will be perfect for his development as a catcher, and will be a great opportunity for the Braves’ Front Office to see if last year was a fluke or a the continuous of an upward trend for Contreras.

Luiz Gohara (LHP)

Wow what a rough year 2018 was for Luiz Gohara.  It’s hard to really even focus too much attention on his stats from last season knowing what he went through. However, he still has plenty of talent and should be considered to a future Major League pitcher.

Gohara, 22-years-old, was born in Brazil and spent ages teenage years with the Seattle Mariners, where he pitched in Rookie-Ball all the way up to Single-A in their organization.

In 2017 Gohara was involved in a trade between the Braves and Mariners, and was put in A+ in the Atlanta organization. He would debut in the Majors in 2017, on September 6th, and make five starts for the Braves that year.

The 2018 season was supposed to be huge for Gohara, after his 2017 stint, but death in his family cause him to miss time as well as injuries. Last season he ended up spending most of the year Gwinnett (Braves Triple-A team) where, even there, he only made 12 starts.

His Major League playing time in 2018 was a measly one start and eight relief appearances. It was truly sad to see a player with so much potential have to deal with such horrible circumstances as a 21 and 22-year-old.

The Stats

In 2017 and across three Minor League levels, Gohara made 25 starts and one relief appearance, sporting a 2.62 ERA in 123.2 innings-pitched. His 10.7 K/9 and 3.2 BB/9 really made a name for himself and made Braves’ fan believe that his time was coming soon to in the Majors.

The next season in 2018, personal tragedy took over his season, but he still managed 13 starts between Double-A and Triple-A. In those 58 innings at the Minor League level, Gohara understandably regressed a bit to a 4.81 ERA .

In his one start and eight relief appearances last season for the Braves, Gohara just wasn’t the same. He posted his second-highest ERA of his career (5.95) and gave up three home runs in a little over 19 innings-pitched.

He did maintain his strikeout and walk rates in 2018, with excellent rates of 8.2 K/9 and 3.7 BB/9. The fact that he even played last season is a testament to how strong-willed he is as a human being.

The Verdict

Thankfully, the baseball world knows about the adversity that Luiz Gohara had to go through. It would be easy to just call him a dud after that 2018 season. The guy has plenty of talent, and once he puts it all together, and gets another full season to pitch, he will succeed in the Majors.

Here’s what Fangraphs offered about Gohara:

He has high octane stuff with plus fastball/slider combo and a changeup that’s come to be average, along with better control and command than you might expect from a young power pitcher.

As long as Gohara can stay in half way decent shape he will be able to continue to progress in his pitching development. He’s got three solid pitches at the moment, with his slider looking the best out of the three.

Regarding that ‘shape’ thought, though…

However, note this from 3 full months ago…

So it’s unclear that he done anything more since then, but is still reported to be around the 270 lbs. mark.  Let’s just say that there might be more room for the 6’3″ Gohara to improve here.

Back to pitching…his velocity is another tool that he should use to his advantage. Gohara sits at around 93-96 mph, but when he wants to reach back and bring it, he can get get up to a tick under 100. This upcoming season will be huge for him, and a second chance to build off of the outstanding 2017 season.

Bryse Wilson (RHP)

Wilson is my favorite Braves’ starting-pitcher prospect, and a possible top of the rotation piece. Bryse Wilson is often called a “bulldog”, and for good reason. Taken in the fourth-round of the 2016 MLB Draft by the Atlanta Braves, the North Carolina native goes after hitters.

He got to see what the Show was like last season, making his debut on August 20th against the Pittsburgh Pirates. He’s progressed beautifully so far in the Braves organization.

Wilson made six starts in Rookie-Ball in 2016 and then was moved up to the Rome Braves (Single-A), where he would make 26 starts. The 2018 season would be a busy one for Wilson, as he would pitch for three different Minor League teams in the Braves organization (A+, AA, and AAA), including the in the Majors.

Overall, in 2018 Wilson would make 23 starts in the Minors as a 20-year-old. After his August debut in the Majors last season he would stay on the Major League team and and appear in two other games as a reliever.

The Stats

Bryse Wilson probably has one of the highest floors of any of the pitching prospects in the Braves’ system. Last year Wilson was lights out in the Minors.  Across all three Minor League stints, in Wilson’s 23 starts he had an ERA of 2.44 and 10.2 K/9. Not to mention his tiny walk-rate of 2.6 BB/9.

That success from the Minors didn’t really translate as well in the Majors, but he had an excellent start against the Pirates in his MLB debut. In the Majors, Wilson would make two other appearances as a reliever with mixed results.

As a whole in the Majors, Wilson would post a 6.43 ERA and a 7.7 BB/9. That may seem rough, but all of the ugliness came from his relief appearances, not from his lone start.

The Verdict

I’m not the only one that is high on Wilson. He might not be great at everything, but he isn’t bad at anything either. His fastball is rated as a 55 right now, with the potential to be a 60; and is changeup and command both rate as a 50 currently.

The only pitch that needs some work is his slider (rated a 45 by Fangraphs). Being a Major League starting-pitcher will really be dependent on whether or not he can get that third pitch going, as he already has the perfect mentality of attacking hitters and he rarely nibbles around the plate.

Here are some Fangraphs comments from the leaderboard:

Wilson is a scout-favorite, as an aggressive bulldog who relies on spotting his fastball in all quadrants of the zone, with the velocity, movement, and command all grading above average on his various fastballs.

As of now his Wilson’s fastball is his best pitch, sitting in the mid-90s and peaking at 98 when he needs a little more. If he can maintain his dominance with that pitch and work on his slider, he could be a potential rotation option in the future.

Until then, Wilson has a pretty good shot of making appearances out of the ‘pen for the Braves in the very near future.

The Future

For a team to have 10 players in this leaderboard is pretty amazing, and that should get Braves fans excited.  Having none ranked lower than 72 is even more remarkable.

Most likely, we won’t see all of these players become future Major League All-Stars. Some of them will be a bust and never be heard of again. However, there’s a solid chance that a few of these guys will make it.

The more high-quality prospects, then the better chance of hitting it big with one; and ten is a pretty nice number to work with. Some of the guys might even be a part of trades that help land Major League talent for the Braves.

A lot of Braves fans are still upset about the lack of signings or trades this off-season, and rightfully so. It was promised that this season was the year to all in and spend big… or at least ‘bigger’. For some reason that’s not really happening yet.

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But unless Alex Anthopolus just goes nuts and starts giving away prospects, these ten Braves’ prospects bring a lot of value to the Major League Team. They also show how great of a scouting-department this organization has to have drafted and signed – or otherwise targeted via trade – these players.

Sometimes you have to give credit where credit is due. You may not like some of the decisions by the Front Office, but you have to admit that the previous regime new how to develop baseball players. It is still unknown whether the current regime can do the same.

I will say letting go of Jeff Bridges (Scouting Director) wasn’t the best first-step, but who am I? The debacle of not signing high school pitcher, Carter Stewart, was just embarrassing.

Time will tell whether or not this batch of Front Office decision-makers will continue to grow the Farm. But one thing’s for sure, the Braves’ farm system is legit right now.