Atlanta Braves Farm Report: A Preview of the 2019 Mississippi Braves

Moving along in previewing the Atlanta Braves Minor League system, we have reached a level where two top-5 Braves prospects reside, not to mention several other talented players.

Mississippi Braves (AA)

Manager: Chris Maloney (2018 MoY)

2018 record: 67-71 (.414%) 

1st Half: 4th in the South Division

2nd Half: 3rd in the South Division

Opening Day: Thursday, April 4 at 7:35 p.m. (EST)

NOTE: FV (Future Value) is a rating system created by Fangraphs. The max, or best, value is an 80. This is just another standardized component that is a great tool to use for better understanding the true skill level of a prospect.

Pitchers:

(RHP) Ian Anderson – 55 FV – #4 prospect 

(LHP) Thomas Burrows

(RHP) Josh Graham – 40 FV – #26 prospect 

(RHP) Jason Hursh

(LHP) Justin Kelly

(RHP) Elian Leyva

(LHP) Michael Mader

(LHP) Kyle Muller – 45 FV – #13 prospect 

(RHP) Bradley Roney

(RHP) Matt Withrow

Catchers:

(RHB) Carlos Martinez

(RHB) Jonathan Morales – 40 FV – #31 prospect

Infielders:

(RHB) Ray-Patrick Didder – 40 FV – #29 prospect 

(LHB) Daniel Lockhart

(RHB) Alejandro Salazar

(LHB) Luis Valenzuala

(LHB) C.J. Alexander – 40 FV – #25 prospect 

Outfielders:

(RHB) Travis Demeritte

(LHB) Tyler Neslony

(RHB) Christian Pache – 55 FV – #1 prospect 

The Rundown

Don’t let the 2018 overall record fool you, this is a talented team. As you can see, three of the team’s pitchers make the Braves Prospect List, and I’m not quite sure why reliever Thomas Burrows didn’t make the cut for 2019.

We’ve all heard of the top guys like Ian Anderson and of course, centerfielder Christian Pache; but this team offers more with players like Ray-Patrick Didder, newly promoted third baseman C.J. Alexander and Daniel Lockhart.

As far as Anderson and Pache, though, don’t get to comfy watching them play for Mississippi, as it will probably be short lived. Unfortunately for the team’s win/loss record, in Minor League Baseball it’s all about the development of the players. So as a result teams will often lose their best players by mid-season, but that’s OK, we want these guys moving up!

The Southern League of Double-A baseball is a good one, and in the South division, the Mississippi Braves will have their hands full. Although, Opening Day for Mississippi will task them with a North division foe, the Tennessee Smokies.

If I had to project how this season goes for Mississippi, I look for a better season than 2018 for sure, but all will depend on what kind of talent they receive from the lower minors once Christian Pache and Ian Anderson recieve their destined promotions to Gwinnett.

We’ll see them in the next columns of the Series, but Advanced-A and Single-A feature some kids that are bursting at the seams for an advancement of competition; but let’s not get ahead of ourselves.

In a nut shell, try and check the Mississippi Braves out this season, as the roster will most likely look alot different than what’s rolled out on Opening Day in early April.

Now let’s check out the five players that you’re gonna want to look at during the 2019 season. Most of these guys will probably have some short stints in Double-A.

First a quick clarification: I didn’t specify this in the previous report, but I feel like I should now: These five players, or any that I talk about in this report, are not players that I’m ranking in regards to who has the best shot at making the Major Leagues one day.

These are just the five players that I find having either the most interesting case to make the Majors or are just plain and simple, very talented. So please do not take this report as the #1 ranked player being the most likely to play MLB and #5 least likely. There are probably even players that I might not discuss that have better chances at making a Major League roster, though maybe not in this particular report.

NOTE: On each player-page of this report I have provided a VIDEO and PLAYER PAGE link below each player’s name. Clicking on these links will direct you to that specific player’s prospect-video and player-page put together by Fangraphs, with YouTube. This is a great tool to familiarize yourself with these Braves prospects. ETA = Estimated Time of Arrival to MLB.

Previous Reports:

(AAA) Gwinnett Stripers

#5. (SS/OF) Ray-Patrick Didder

#29 prospect – 40 FV – ETA: 2020

VIDEO — PLAYER PAGE

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.

#4. (3B) CJ Alexander

#25 prospect – 40 FV – ETA: 2021

VIDEO — PLAYER PAGE 

2017:

(in college)

2018: (A+) / (RK)

• 52 G
• .352 BA
• .924 OPS
• 2 HR
• 27 RBI
• 4 SB
• 21.4 K% – 13.7 BB%

2019 Spring Training:

(N/A)

WHAT HE NEEDS TO DO: It’s hard to say too much when the guy just got a promotion a few days ago:

But in all seriousness, congrats CJ!

If you didn’t know this by now, CJ Alexander was drafted literally just last year by the Braves. He was a 20th-round pick in the 2018 Draft. So him being in Double-A in Year 2 is impressive, even if he was a JUCO pick and is 22-years-old.

Diving in to Alexander’s scouting report and several different ‘unofficial’ reports from various sites, I’ve discovered that most offer a ‘wait and see’ analysis when it come to CJ’s skills. And rightfully so, as he has just 52 games of professional baseball under his belt.

But in terms of going forward, I would say Alexander just needs to continue his most-recent game plan at the plate. It’s working quite well so far!

He’s scouted as a corner infield power-guy from the left side, and 52 games definitely didn’t offer enough of a sample size to confirm how accurate that determination is. But just going by his 17 extra-base hits (2 HR / 8 doubles / 7 triples) in 196 at-bats, I’d say yes… he’s got some pop.

With him just being promoted recently, I would lean more towards Alexander sticking with what’s working right now. He shouldn’t try and do too much, and he’s got pretty solid rates at the moment with barely over a 20% K-rate and a double-digit walk-rate at 13.7%. Those rates will play in Double-A and he’s got some wiggle room to regress if it so happens that he struggles out of the gate in 2019.

WHAT TO EXPECT: If I was a guessing man I’d guess that the Braves are more than likely planning on keeping CJ Alexander in Double-A in 2019, unless of course he gives them no choice.

I don’t always believe the ETA, but 2021 sounds pretty accurate. That gives him all of 2019 with Mississippi and then possibly another half season in Double-A before going up to Gwinnett for a year or so. I think that would be a nice length of development for Alexander, but of course he could always move up quicker.

Given that he is strictly a corner infielder at the moment, position-wise he doesn’t have a very clear cut path to the Major League team; but 2021 could look different by the time we get there.

I may be jumping the gun here, but from watching his film and seeing his numbers in 2018, I think CJ Alexander is a great player and will do just fine this season in Double-A. Don’t expect a .900+ OPS in 2019, but with his power he could post a 15-20 homer season and run a respectable batting average at the least.

20th-round picks aren’t usually tearing it up in their first season, so there’s definitely something interesting about CJ Alexander. We just need to see more to know exactly what it is.

#3. (SP) Kyle Muller

#13 prospect – 45 FV – ETA: 2021

VIDEO — PLAYER PAGE

2017: (RK)

• 11 starts
• 47.2 IP
• 1-1 record
• 4.15 ERA
• 5 HR
• 9.3 K/9 – 3.4 BB/9

2018: (AA) / (A+) / (A)

• 25 starts
• 139.2 IP
• 11-3 record
• 3.03 ERA
• 8 HR
• 8.3 K/9 – 3.0 BB/9

2019 Spring Training:

• 4 appearances
• 4.2 IP
• 0-0 record
• 1.93 ERA
• 0 HR
• 13.5 K/9 – 3.9 BB/9

WHAT HE NEEDS TO DO: After displaying absolute dominance across three levels last season, Kyle Muller has figured something out about pitching, and he’s executing about as well as you can ask. That 3.03 ERA and 11-3 record (I still like a nice win/loss record)  show that Muller is ready for some better competition.

If he’s not careful he’ll get much better competition in the near future, and it’s not like his numbers were just from lower Minor League competitors either; as Muller posted a 3.10 ERA in 5 starts once he got his promotion to Mississippi in 2018.

He generated 27 strikeouts in 29 innings for the Double-A Braves last season, thanks to a mid-to-high 90s fastball, a deadly slider and a sharp changeup. It’s pretty simple for Muller: Keep doing what you’re doing.

I’ve shown you his punchouts, though, Muller only walked 6 batters in Double-A last season. If he can maintain such a low rate of free passes than you can bet he’ll be in Gwinnett real soon, as we all know how bad the Braves have struggled with walks recently.

So basically, Muller needs to continue his current success and good things will certainly follow.

WHAT TO EXPECT: If it wasn’t for stars like Ian Anderson and Christian Pache, than Kyle Muller would be generating way more buzz. This is a lefty who sits at 95-96 mph with a slider he can run it in on right-handed batters anytime he wants — a hot commodity these days.

But the waiting list is rather long for aspiring young pitchers hoping to make it to the Show for the Atlanta Braves. Chances are it will take awhile for all of the current fringe prospect pitchers to be sorted through, as General Manager Alex Anthopolous must decipher whose got what it takes and who doesn’t.

Because of this, a 2021 promotion to the big leagues is a fair assumption regarding Kyle Muller. Although, the Braves could always start employing their young pitchers in the bullpen as an initial ‘taste’ of Major League Baseball — something most, if not all, teams in the Majors have been doing for quite some time now.

We could see Muller do sort of like what Max Fried has done for the Braves in their first series against the Phillies in 2019, if in fact Kyle Muller was called up in the next year or so.

It will all come down to what Muller does moving forward. Will he continue to shutdown hitters in the minors at this rate? We saw how well he did this past Spring, where he pitched to a 1.93 ERA in his four Spring Training appearances.

Is he capable of producing numbers like that full-time against the likes of Bryce Haper and Rhys Hoskins? Certainly not all of the time, but could he get guys like that out on a nightly basis?

Luckily there’s an entire season ahead for Kyle Muller, and this time next year he may be the new Ian Anderson for the Atlanta Braves; and become yet another ultra-talented young pitcher in an organization filled to the brim with such talent.

#2. (SP) Ian Anderson

#4 prospect – 55 FV – ETA: 2020

VIDEO — PLAYER PAGE

2017: (A)

• 20 starts
• 83.0 IP
• 4-5 record
• 3.14 ERA
• 0 HR
• 11.0 K/9 – 4.7 BB/9

2018: (AA) / (A+)

• 24 starts
• 119.1 IP
• 4-7 record
• 2.49 ERA
• 2 HR
• 10.7 K/9 – 3.7 BB/9

2019 Spring Training:

• 2 appearances
• 3.0 IP
• 0-0 record
• 3.00 ERA
• 0 HR
• 6.0 K/9 – 3.0 BB/9

WHAT HE NEEDS TO DO: A 1st-round selection (3rd pick) out of New York, Ian Anderson has done nothing but succeed in the Braves organization. His last two seasons, as you see above, have been excellent in just about every way.

Now the Braves #1 pitching prospect, it feels like Anderson came out of nowhere, but really he’s been there the entire time.

Anderson pitched most of his 2018 season for the Florida Fire Frogs (alongside 2016 draft-mate Joey Wentz) and was basically un hittable with 118 strikeouts and only 40 walks in 100 innings-pitched in his stay at Class Advanced A. His 2.52 ERA was impressive, but even better was the fact that opponents only hit .198 against him.

Those numbers earned his promotion to Mississippi where hitters didn’t do much better, hitting exactly 5 points higher at a cool .203 batting average against for Anderson.

Sitting at 91-94 mph and topping out at 96 mph, the 6’3, 170 pound righty spent this offseason attempting to put on some weight in an effort to to improve his durability even more, as durability is all that looks to be a threat to Anderson’s inevitable future showing in the big leagues.

With the tools he’s already acquired at 20-years-old, Anderson isn’t in need of any specific adjustments. He’s not getting away with bad mechanics, blowing hitters away with just pure velocity nor surviving on any weird batted-ball luck.

He’s just a pitcher with only 19.1 innings of Double-A ball under his belt that has all but guaranteed his future at one day being a part of the Atlanta Braves starting rotation.

You’d think we’d be used to this sort of thing by now, right?

All in all, Ian Anderson needs to stay healthy and not overthink things. He’s obviously plenty capable of one day being a Major League pitcher, it’s just a matter of when.

WHAT TO EXPECT: I hate to close with such a bland statement, but really the expectation for Ian Anderson is the Major Leagues, and soon. It may not be 2019, but 2020 sure looks good at the moment.

Anderson doesn’t have a blunder anywhere in his professional resume. His highest ERA has been 3.74, when he was still 18-years-old and pitching for Danville in the Appy League (Rookie Ball).

It’s been amazing that he hasn’t had at least one season where he somewhat struggled, but there’s none. Nothing.

The past two seasons just leave you shaking your head: In 2017, Anderson pitched 83 innings for the Rome Braves (Single-A) and never surrendered a home run. Not one single dinger. In 2017 and 2018 combined, Anderson pitched 202.1 innings and only surrendered 2 home runs.

So yeah it may be boring and too easy, but as a fan, I would expect much of the same for Anderson in 2019. No Minor League level has given him trouble thus far, and I don’t expect this one to. His first full season in Mississippi may just surprise us with how well he pitches, but then again… should it?

#1. (OF) Christian Pache

#1 prospect – 55 FV – ETA: 2021

VIDEO — PLAYER PAGE

2017: (RK)

• 27 G
• .309 BA
• .740 OPS
• 0 HR
• 21 RBI
• 11 SB
• 10.9 K% – 5.9 BB%

2018: (A+) / (AA)

• 122 G
• .279 BA
• .717 OPS
• 9 HR
• 47 RBI
• 7 SB
• 20.5 K% – 4.2 BB%

2019 Spring Training:

• 22 G
• .361 BA
• 1.061 OPS
• 2 HR
• 10 RBI
• 2 SB
• 27.7 K% – 5.5 BB%

WHAT HE NEEDS TO DO:  This is what it’s all about, right? The team drafts or signs a player and hopes they made the right choice, as in many cases it can take up to 4 or 5 years before their decision directly impacts the big league club. The odds of choosing a franchise leader or superstar are slim to none.

Much like with Ronald Acuna Jr., the Braves nabbed a good one in 20-year-old Christian Pache. Just two seasons ago, Pache was still learning to hit in Instructs, and now he’s the best prospect in the Braves organization; not to mention the 19th-best in all of baseball. But that’s not to say that he doesn’t have any weaknesses.

Only just a year ago, Christian Pache had finally showcased some inclination of power — and not that his future depends on his ability to hit for power — but before 2018 it was absolutely non existent. His 9 home runs in 2018 were not only the most for him, but the only ones for him up to that point.

In terms of what ‘he needs to do’, Pache needs to continue what he started in 2018 and carry over some of that slugging into 2019. It will only make him more of a complete player.

Another aspect of his game that needs to get better are his strikeout and walk-rates, both at unacceptable levels right now (more so his walk-rate). Across Advanced-A ball and Double-A last season, Pache never could get above 5.5% with his walk-rate. With his tremendous speed it’s critical for him to get on-base as much as possible, for he’s a threat on the basepaths.

So as most of us already know, Christian Pache is still a work-in-progress on the offensive side, but defensively he is a Major League Gold Glove finalist; and I’m talking about this very second. With his defense and running-ability, to go along with his consistency to hit for a good average, Pache just needs to keep working and he’ll be just fine.

WHAT TO EXPECT: Christian Pache has created some high expectations, especially as we’ve seen a similar player in Acuna make his name known in such a short time.

There’s a lot to like about Pache, as he not only brings great defense, but also has shown improved skills at the plate. He, like Acuna, brings excitement and passion to the game, which is something Major League Baseball has been in need of for awhile now.

Spring Training was great for Christian Pache in 2019, where he posted a 1.061 OPS and slugged 2 home runs to go along with 10 RBI. When looking at the rates, the walks and strikeouts were very similar to 2018, but Spring Training only allowed Pache 22 games to show a change in that regard.

Pache is basically a Sophomore in college at 20-years-old, and already possesses a plus-plus glove at centerfield; not to mention his 70-grade arm. Also, even though his power isn’t where we want it to be, Pache has outstanding bat-to-ball skills, and with his quick legs he’ll be a BABIP king with all those infield singles he will most likely run out.

2019 may or may not involve Christian Pache in the majors, but for now I think it’s best to expect many great things from the athletic centerfielder. We should all enjoy his talents on an every day basis down in Mississippi, and be thankful that as Braves fans our team once again made a dang good choice.