Atlanta Braves Farm Report: A Preview of the 2019 Mississippi Braves
By Clint Manry
#5. (SS/OF) Ray-Patrick Didder
#29 prospect – 40 FV – ETA: 2020
2017: (A+)
- 118 G
- .230 BA
- .661 OPS
- 5 HR
- 44 RBI
- 25 SB
- 29.4 K% / 10.5 BB%
2018: (AA) (A+)
- 122 G
- .232 BA
- .656 OPS
- 4 HR
- 39 RBI
- 27 SB
- 30.4 K% / 11.7 BB%
2018 Spring Training:
- 15 G
- .250 BA
- .833 OPS
- 1 HR
- 1 RBI
- 1 SB
- 31.2 K% – 12.5 BB%
WHAT HE NEEDS TO DO: It’s gonna take some acceptance when it comes to Didder, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. At 24-years-old, you’re basically getting what you get from Didder, as his ceiling should not be much higher than a 25th-man or 1-2 WAR utility player in the Majors.
But for him to become something more than that he’s going to have to either breakout like crazy or find one or two things that he does pretty well and absolutely dominate at those things.
For example, Didder is a fast player, as shown from his 116 career stolen bases in the minors (averages 19 per season in his 6 seasons). However, every level he moves up his steals have gone down; and it’s not that he’s getting caught more, he’s just not attempting as much thievery.
Didder needs to embrace the speed he’s blessed with and use it as a way to help his case for a Major League promotion one day.
He will never be a master with the bat, at least it’s not looking like that’s the case from his .658 career OPS so far. However, Didder’s speed — of course along with some improvements to his hitting — should be his main focus.
Sure, the game isn’t what it used to be and teams don’t run as much. But if Didder can be a lock to steal 25-30 bases per season and provide a decent slash line to boot, he’ll have a chance to provide teams with Billy Hamilton type value; and that is value for some teams.
WHAT TO EXPECT: Ray-Patrick Didder had a fantastic Spring Training in 2019, as you see by his numbers above. That strikeout-rate isn’t ideal (31.2 K%), but an .833 OPS sure is. Yes it was just 15 games of data and sure it was just Spring Training. But there’s a reason I included Didder amongst this group of 5, and it’s really not because of his bat.
The Braves organization is frankly a little thin at the middle infield position, and though Didder can also play outfield (which will only help him), it wouldn’t be crazy to predict him playing Major League baseball at some point.
I wouldn’t guarantee it, but if he has indeed made some adjustments and can provide even half of the value he gave during Spring Training of 2019, than he’s got a chance.
Didder has been scouted as a plus-defender and has a cannon for an arm. So given his ability to play anywhere in the infield and play a solid centerfield, there will most likely be a path for him.