8. Kyle Kubitza
Kyle Kubitza – 3B
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
Acquired via 2011 Draft by the Braves in the third round out of Texas State.
2014 Stats: .295/.405/.470 // 529 PAs // 440 ABs // 31 2B // 11 3B // 8 HR // 55 RBI // 21 SB // 6 CS // 77 BB // 133 Ks
Projected Major League ETA: 2015
Actual Major League Debut: 2015
At best, Baseball Prospectus projected Kubitza to be an average major league player. They saw him as a high-floor type of player. His floor was high enough that he was ranked as the Braves’ eighth-best prospect on their list prior to the 2015 season.
He profiled to be a solid hitter with extra-base power and an above-average defender at the hot corner.
He was coming off a season in which he blasted 50 extra-base hits, including an excess of 27 doubles for the second consecutive season. He had improved his average from .260 to .295 and increased his on-base percentage from .380 to .405.
Following these rankings and prior to the season, Kubitza was traded from the Braves to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in exchange for Ricardo Sanchez and Nate Hyatt.
Five-Year Checkup
Kubitza ended up raking 43 doubles for the Angels Triple-A affiliate in 2015. He made his major league debut in a June callup with the Halos. He played in 19 games hitting .194/.256/.194.
Kubitza would never see the major leagues again. He bounced between three minor league systems the following season before being picked up by the Braves for one last shot.
He spent 2016 in Triple-A Gwinnett, this time only hitting five doubles and slashing .241/.333/.346 before the Braves released him.
Kubitza spent his age-27 season playing independent ball for the popular Atlantic League team, the Sugar Land Skeeters.
Kyle was set to graduate from Texas State in 2019, where he was also an assistant coach for his alma mater.