5 Atlanta Braves Prospects That Could Make Full-Time Debut in 2021
One of the most exciting parts of the Atlanta Braves season in recent years has been when top prospects have gotten the call-up to make their MLB debut.
In fact, these “call-ups” are one of the most looked forward to moments of an entire MLB season. This has become a staple for the Atlanta Braves in recent years as numerous highly touted Braves prospects seem to debut every year.
Throughout the years we have seen some of the Atlanta Braves top prospects make their debuts and go on to become stars and everyday contributors in the Braves lineup.
Atlanta Braves prospect debuts create memorable moments.
Who can forget the highly anticipated debuts and moments such as top prospect Ronald Acuna Jr debuting in Cincinnati, Austin Riley hitting a HR in his first MLB game, or Jason Heyward‘s HR in his first MLB at-bat? These are the moments that make these debuts just so truly special.
Looking back at the 2020 season as well, we saw the debuts of the Atlanta Braves current top two prospects Cristian Pache and Ian Anderson. While we saw just how good these players can be during limited action a year ago, Pache and Anderson have gone on to become full-time members of the Braves MLB roster this season.
Now obviously we will see Pache, Anderson, and catcher Alex Jackson (the Atlanta Braves #16 prospect) full-time in 2021, but what about the other guys? The Atlanta Braves have numerous highly-touted prospects ready to contribute full-time in the big leagues in 2021, but will they get the call?
While their were numerous prospects who shined during Spring Training for the Atlanta Braves, some of these prospects may not debut in 2021 due to their level of inexperience in the minor leagues.
While there will be prospects who won’t debut, there are numerous who will most likely debut and contribute for a full-time basis for the Atlanta Braves. Let’s take a look at six top Atlanta Braves’ prospects who will most-likely debut full-time in 2021.
5. RHP Jasseel De La Cruz – Atlanta Braves #10 Prospect
Even though Jasseel De La Cruz has never pitched above Double-A, he is still a candidate to make his Major League debut in 2021. Yes, De La Cruz was called up with the big league club twice during the 2020 season, but he never appeared in a game.
Jasseel De La Cruz, the Atlanta Braves #10 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, signed with the Atlanta Braves back in 2015, but never quite started to emerge until 2019.
De La Cruz pitched across three levels in 2019, with a majority of his work coming in Double-A at Mississippi. Going 4-7 with a 3.83 ERA in 87 innings pitched while striking out 73 batters, De La Cruz earned himself a spot on the 40-man roster at season’s end catching the eyes of some Braves fans.
As mentioned previously, Jasseel De La Cruz received two call-ups during the 2020 season, partly due to his performance at the Braves alternate training site. While he didn’t appear in a game to make his MLB debut, it was encouraging to see that the Braves see De La Cruz as a legit option making him a prime candidate to debut in 2021, and why not?
Jasseel De La Cruz displays an electric arm with a fastball that consistently sits anywhere from 97-99 MPH, as well as a wipeout slider. De La Cruz struggles at times walking batters making him a potential bullpen option going forward.
With an electric fastball and a wipeout slider, Jasseel De La Cruz displays the kind of stuff that could make him a multi-inning weapon in the Braves bullpen, even as early as this season.
4. LHP Tucker Davidson – Atlanta Braves #9 Prospect
Another top Atlanta Braves prospect that made their debut in 2020, we could see more of Tucker Davidson in 2021.
Davidson, the Atlanta Braves #9 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, debuted during the 2020 season after impressing at Atlanta’s alternate training site. While he only appeared in one game giving up two runs in 1.2 innings pitched, Davidson is a candidate to debut full-time with the big league club in 2021.
As a former 19th round pick by the Atlanta Braves in the 2016 MLB Draft, Davidson was always a quality pitcher, but really started to “take-off” as a prospect during the 2019 minor league season.
Davidson appeared in 25 games during the 2019 minor league season splitting time between Double-A and Triple-A. As you can see by his combined stats between Mississippi and Gwinnett in 2019, it’s clear why Tucker Davidson is knocking on the door of the major leagues.
Tucker Davidson 2019 Stats (via mlb.com)
- Mississippi (AA) – 21 games, 7-6, 2.03 ERA, 45 BB, 122 K, 1.20 WHIP
- Gwinnett (AAA) – 4 games, 1-1, 2.84 ERA, 9 BB, 12 K, 1.53 WHIP
While the Triple-A sample size isn’t ideal for the 2019 season, Davidson spent all of 2020 at the alternate training site. Davidson will start the season in Gwinnett with the Stripers, but don’t be surprised if he gets the call with some early season success to help with either the rotation or bullpen depth.
If you’re looking for one of the top prospects to potentially help in both the rotation and bullpen in 2021, it’s Tucker Davidson.
3. C William Contreras – Atlanta Braves #7 Prospect
William Contreras made his MLB debut in the Opening Series of the shortened 2020 season against the Mets in New York due to the unavailability at the time of Travis d’Arnaud and Tyler Flowers.
Even though he appeared sparingly for the Atlanta Braves during that time, Contreras went 4/10 at the plate in his 4 games played showing Braves fans why he is considered as arguably the Braves catcher of the future.
You could’ve made the argument for Contreras to stay with the big league club a year ago as the back-up catcher, but the Atlanta Braves #7 prospect was sent to the alternate site for the remainder of the season.
While one could make the argument that Contreras is major league ready right now, it’ll probably benefit him to start the season in Triple-A. While a career .279 hitter in the minor leagues, the highest level aside from the shortened MLB stint in 2020 that Contreras has played is Double-A.
Still, Contreras came to Spring Training this year with a chance to win the back-up catcher role. While the job went to the more experienced and arguably more MLB ready Alex Jackson, Contreras impressed during his limited Grapefruit League action.
William Contreras 2021 Spring Training Stats (via baseball-reference.com)
- (20 at-bats) – 7 H, 5 R, 1 HR, 7 RBI, 6 BB, .350 AVG, .500 OBP, .650 SLG, 1.150 OPS
Still only 23 years old, William Contreras is one of the best catching prospects in all of baseball. While Contreras will start the season in Triple-A, don’t be surprised if we see the young catching prospect in Atlanta again in 2021.
2. LHP Kyle Muller – Atlanta Braves #6 Prospect
Arguably the top Atlanta Braves pitching prospect yet to debut in the major leagues, is this the year that Kyle Muller cracks the Braves rotation?
The Braves #6 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, Muller was selected by the Atlanta Braves in the Second Round of the 2016 MLB Draft out of high school. Other high pitching draft picks out of high school in that same draft, Anderson and Bryse Wilson have already debuted, is Muller next?
Muller dominated in Double-A during the 2019 season where he went 7-6 with a 3.14 ERA in 111.2 innings pitched, while also striking out 120 batters. While Muller had been one of the Atlanta Braves top pitching prospects for years, he started to emerge as a potential piece of the 2021 rotation during the 2020 season.
Muller spent the shortened 2020 season at the Braves alternate training site where he continued his development. Muller already displayed a wipeout fastball and an above-average curveball, but also added a slider and improved his changeup. Combine those three pitches with a fastball that consistently sits in the upper-90’s, and you have one of the top pitching prospects in baseball ready to make his major league debut.
While it is unknown when we will see Kyle Muller make his MLB debut, it should be during the 2021 season. Due to his success in the minor leagues combined with his impressive 2020, Muller was added to the 40-man roster this past offseason.
Keep an eye on Kyle Muller, an MLB debut might just be happening during the 2021 season for the hard-throwing lefty.
1. OF Drew Waters – Atlanta Braves #3 Prospect
Ronald Acuna Jr, Cristian Pache, and Drew Waters.
Widely considered the Atlanta Braves outfield of the future, we’ve seen two of the three now fully in the major leagues and just how good they are and will be. Will we see Drew Waters this season?
Waters is rated as the Atlanta Braves #3 prospect and the #35 prospect in baseball according to MLB Pipeline. It’s obvious why Braves fans are so ready to see Waters in Atlanta, and rightfully so, his play has backed up the hype.
Waters was selected in the Second Round of the 2017 MLB Draft by the Atlanta Braves, and has been one of the best Braves players in the minor leagues in recent years.
In 2019, Waters won a batting title and MVP in the Double-A Southern League where he hit .319 in 420 at-bats. Waters also reached Triple-A during the 2019 season where he hit .271 in 107 at-bats.
Only 22 years old, Drew Waters could debut during the 2021 season completing the Braves outfield of the future. If he does debut, you should expect Drew Waters to be exactly what he has been as a member of the Braves organization, a dynamic hitter and defender who can step in and contribute from day one.
Next. 5 Predictions for Atlanta Braves 2021 Season. dark
While any Atlanta Braves prospect could debut during the 2021 season, it could be different for these six. If any of these six top prospects get the call to the big leagues, it could be to stay in Atlanta for good.