TomahawkTake’s top-30 Atlanta Braves prospects: Nos. 30-21
By Clint Manry
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).