TomahawkTake’s top-30 Atlanta Braves prospects: Nos. 30-21
With the new year upon us and the Winter Meetings behind us, most of the top-tier free agents have signed and trading season is about to crank up for the Atlanta Braves as well as the rest of the major leagues.
The Atlanta Braves have already been named in numerous rumors thus far, as the team is still primarily interested in acquiring a cleanup hitter for the upcoming season, along with any other pieces to improve the current roster.
Trades – if such an acquisition can’t be made on the free agent market – usually involve prospects, and as we already know, prospects come in many different shapes and sizes, hence the need for such a conclusive list of players.
But to arrange such a large listing, we will release our prospect rankings in three different lists, featuring ten players per post. Also, as we always do here at TomahawkTake, the list will run from bottom to top, meaning the series will go as follows:
- Post 1: Nos. 30-21 (today)
- Post 2: Nos. 20-11 (Tuesday)
- Post 3: Nos. 10-1 (Wednesday)
So with the layout of these rankings covered, here are a few other things to keep in mind…
Some nuances to consider
After fighting with several different objective-based models, we have decided to go with a subjective approach for these rankings.
But keep in mind, this list is meant to be the first report for the 2020 season, meaning there will be more versions of these rankings to come later on. Think of this as the Spring report, with a Midseason and End-of-season report to follow. Each version will be updated according to how each player is trending (via performance, upside, promotions…etc).
Obviously, everyone won’t necessarily agree with each and every ranking, as we all have our own opinions regarding these players; although, it’s much easier to look at the list of 30 players overall in terms of tiers instead of attempting to assess the report as a whole.
Consider my tiers for the list below:
- Nos. 1-10 — Tier 1
- Nos.11-20 — Tier 2
- Nos. 21-30 — Tier 3
You could perhaps break the rankings up in to even more tiers or groups if you desired, but the point is that the actual ranking is less important than the tier or group the player is part of. Obviously, the higher the tier means the player has more upside and is closer to the majors.
Remember, these rankings are subject to change, as an updated version of this list will be published around the midseason point of the 2020 season (July-ish).
With all of that now covered, let’s look at the first group of rankings, Nos. 30-21.
Braves Top-30 Prospects: Nos. 30-21
(Spring version)
| RANK | PLAYER | HIGHEST LVL REACHED |
|---|---|---|
| 30 | LHP, Mitch Stallings | Single-A |
| 29 | 2B, Greg Cullen | Single-A |
| 28 | LHP, Hayden Deal | High-A |
| 27 | 3B, CJ Alexander | Double-A |
| 26 | 1B, Bryce Ball | Single-A |
| 25 | RHP, Tyler Owens | Rookie |
| 24 | RHP, Kasey Kalich | Single-A |
| 23 | C, William Contreras | Double-A |
| 22 | LHP, Thomas Burrows | Triple-A |
| 21 | OF, Jefrey Ramos | High-A |
The table above will increase in size as we move through this series, as I’ll simply add to it as we release each new group of ten.
To provide clarity as to why each player is ranked where, check out the following excerpts on each player listed in the table (each player’s listed age is for the 2020 season):
No. 30: Mitch Stallings, LHP
- Drafted: (ATL) 30th RD, 2019
- Duke University
| AGE | 25 |
| HEIGHT | 6’2″ |
| WEIGHT | 180 |
| BAT/THROW | L/L |
After absolutely dominating in Danville (11.1 K/9, 1.8 BB/9), Stallings’ K rate took a big downward slide in Single-A Rome, dropping to a measly 4.7 strikeouts per nine.
RT to congratulate D-Braves LHP @MitchStallings on his @AppyLeague Pitcher of the Week honor! #ChopToTheTop pic.twitter.com/I5tXlXuyRF
— Danville Braves (@DanvilleBraves) July 1, 2019
His strong performance in rookie ball was expected, considering he was a starter for a Power 5 team in college, but his play in Rome this coming season will truly determine whether or not he belongs on this list or not.
No. 29: Greg Cullen, 2B
- Drafted: (ATL) 15th RD, 2018
- Niagara University
| AGE | 23 |
| HEIGHT | 5’10” |
| WEIGHT | 190 |
| BAT/THROW | L/R |
Cullen unleashed a little more power in 2019, finishing with 9 home runs in Single-A Rome and showing he might be more than just a slap-hitting middle infielder (which would help his prospect stock greatly).
https://twitter.com/MiLB/status/1129584518577442817?s=19
He has already shown he can hit for a strong average (career .273 hitter), so if he can keep up the power-stroke and get back to stealing 10-15 bases per season, perhaps he’ll move on up by midseason.
No. 28: Hayden Deal, LHP
- Signed: (ATL) June, 2017
- Presbyterian College
| AGE | 25 |
| HEIGHT | 6’4″ |
| WEIGHT | 210 |
| BAT/THROW | L/L |
Deal isn’t a flamethrower, usually working in the low-90s mph, though his 2019 season featured 22 starts and one relief appearance in Hight-A Florida, where Deal didn’t seem to have any problems.
https://twitter.com/MiLB/status/1123431297710481409?s=19
After pitching to a 3.24 ERA and posting strong K/BB rates (7.5 K/9, 2.4 BB/9) with the Fire Frogs in 2019, I expect Deal to be in Double-A Mississippi either to begin the 2020 season or shortly after.
No. 27: CJ Alexander, 3B
- Drafted: (ATL) 20th RD, 2018
- State College of Florida
| AGE | 23 |
| HEIGHT | 6’5″ |
| WEIGHT | 215 |
| BAT/THROW | L/R |
Alexander remains on our list based on pure upside and his 2018 performance alone, as his 2019 season was basically a waste (he played just 43 games between High-A Florida and Double-A Mississippi, hitting .117 with 4 XBHs).
CJ Alexander did not hit a home run in 34 games. Tonight, he hit two.
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) August 8, 2019
The #Braves’ No. 19 prospect launched his first two homers of 2019 into the night for @MBraves, who won 8-2.
Read about Alexander on the @Braves’ Top 30: https://t.co/v0mZPDU6po pic.twitter.com/e3ZmeUUemV
Despite being taken in the latter rounds of the draft, Alexander garnered some excitement a couple of years ago; however, if he doesn’t show a pulse in the first few months of the 2020 season, he’ll be off the list.
No. 26: Bryce Ball, 1B
- Drafted: (ATL) 25th RD, 2019
- Dallas Baptist University
| AGE | 21 |
| HEIGHT | 6’6″ |
| WEIGHT | 235 |
| BAT/THROW | L/R |
It’s hard not to rank Ball higher, considering he took off as a pro and smacked 17 home runs in just his first 62 games as a professional player, also slashing .329/.395/.628.
It’s one thing to rake in Rookie-Advanced Danville and Single-A Rome, but let’s see what he does this coming season before we completely jump onto the Bryce Ball bandwagon (and yes – a line for tickets on that wagon is forming).
Braves Top-30 Prospects: Nos. 25-21
No. 25: Tyler Owens, RHP
- Drafted: (ATL) 13th RD, 2019
- Trinity Catholic HS
| AGE | 19 |
| HEIGHT | 5’10” |
| WEIGHT | 185 |
| BAT/THROW | R/R |
Owens may not have the traditional size of a power-pitcher, but even with his relatively small size he consistently pumps it up into the mid to high-90s mph with his fastball, followed by a strong slider.
With their 13th-round pick of the 2019 #MLBDraft, the @Braves select Trinity Catholic HS (FL) RHP Tyler Owens, No. 199 on @MLBPipeline's Top 200 Prospects list: https://t.co/OHooNdL3XW pic.twitter.com/Pthe6ZwyiS
— MLB Draft (@MLBDraft) June 5, 2019
Currently projected as a two-pitch reliever, Owens still needs to add a pitch or two if he wants to continue as professional starting pitcher (especially as he rises within the Braves’ system); but at just 18-years-old in 2019 he struck out 32 batters in 27.1 innings in the GCL and Danville, posting a decent 4.28 ERA.
No. 24: Kasey Kalich, RHP
- Drafted: (ATL) 4th RD, 2019
- Texas A&M
| AGE | 22 |
| HEIGHT | 6’3″ |
| WEIGHT | 220 |
| BAT/THROW | R/R |
Topping out at 97 mph with his heater, Kalich was a force out of the A&M bullpen in his final collegiate season, leading to a nice showing in the 2019 MLB Draft.
The @Braves select @AggieBaseball right-hander Kasey Kalich with their 2019 fourth-round pick. pic.twitter.com/Fdww7FqtpV
— Bally Sports: Braves (@BravesOnBally) June 4, 2019
The Braves quickly moved him up to Single-A Rome in his first pro season this past year and Kalich flourished, posting a 1.31 ERA to go with 22 strikeouts in 20.2 innings pitched. The guy has the body, the stuff and the talent to move quick in 2020.
No. 23: William Contreras, C
- Signed: (ATL) February, 2015
- Venezuela
| AGE | 22 |
| HEIGHT | 6’0″ |
| WEIGHT | 180 |
| BAT/THROW | R/R |
I’ll admit, I’ve never been as high on Contreras as most, though I believe he still has potential to one day become a decent major-league catcher.
Here is the 391-foot 💣 hit by the @Braves #8 prospect William Contreras yesterday! #ChopOn pic.twitter.com/RCmVq3R7Dd
— Mississippi Braves (@mbraves) August 15, 2019
Unfortunately, as the Braves pushed Contreras in 2019, he still didn’t get much going offensively and his 60 games in Double-A Mississippi only featured a .246 AVG and 3 home runs.
I realize as a catcher the kid isn’t expected to hit .300, but I need to see more to rank him higher than some of the other catchers in the Braves’ system.
No. 22: Thomas Burrows, LHP
- Drafted: (SEA) 4th RD, 2016
- Alabama
| AGE | 25 |
| HEIGHT | 6’1″ |
| WEIGHT | 205 |
| BAT/THROW | L/L |
As a lefty who can run his fastball up to the mid-90s mph, the 2019 season was a big one for Burrows as he built off a strong 2018 campaign.
4 #Braves prospects added to Arizona Fall League's Peoria roster:
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) September 13, 2018
LHP Kyle Muller
LHP Thomas Burrows
LHP Adam McCreery
RHP Jeremy Walker
Muller & Burrows are Nos. 11 & 19 on the @Braves' Top 30 Prospects list: https://t.co/AkfjjcxoJ8 pic.twitter.com/31bEuIxBUY
His 2019 featured a bit of a drop-off in run prevention (4.42 ERA in ’19, compared to a 2.66 mark in ’18), but almost three years ago former TT prospect expert Benjamin Chase projected Burrows as a future 7th-inning arm in a major-league bullpen, and I agree. We could even see him in the majors relatively soon.
No. 21: Jefrey Ramos, OF
- Signed: (ATL) July 2nd International signing period of 2016
- Dominican Republic
| AGE | 21 |
| HEIGHT | 6’1″ |
| WEIGHT | 185 |
| BAT/THROW | R/L |
This is my attempt to get out in front of the hype, as I believe Ramos has a real future after he belted 16 home runs in Single-A Rome as a 19-year-old in 2018.
Jefrey Ramos lays out and robs @shorebirds RF Will Robertson of an RBI in the 6th inning! #ChopOn #SCTop10 pic.twitter.com/0gZEh6s5EU
— Rome Braves (@TheRomeBraves) August 10, 2018
The 2019 season was more of a challenge, consisting of a full season in High-A Florida (where power goes to die), but Ramos still somewhat held his own and hit 9 homers with 16 doubles, a sign that the power tool is still there. I could be wrong, but this kid appears to have legit power as a corner outfielder.
The Beginning of the End?. dark. Next
That’s our first of three prospect reports – look for the second group tomorrow.