Atlanta Braves: 5 Prospects who are Rising due to 2021 Seasons
As the 2021 campaign draws to a close for the Atlanta Braves minor league affiliates, there are a few top prospects who have enjoyed phenomenal 2021 seasons.
The Atlanta Braves display a strong farm system with four players rated among MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 overall prospects. However, when looking at Atlanta’s current Top 30 prospects list, there are five clear risers among the group based on how they have performed this season.
Atlanta Braves prospects are rising because of their 2021 seasons.
No, not all of these five players are considered among the top overall prospects in the game. What they have done this season however is begin to rise in the Braves Top 30 prospect rankings due to their on-field play.
Let’s look at these five Atlanta Braves fast-rising prospects, starting with three honorable mentions whose 2021 seasons just missed the list, but should not go unnoticed.
HM. OF Jesse Franklin – Atlanta Braves No. 17 Prospect
2021 Season Stats: .246 AVG, .320 OBP, .530 SLG, .850 OPS, 24 HR, 61 RBI, 19 SB
Atlanta’s 2020 third round pick out of Michigan, Jesse Franklin is enjoying a strong first professional season playing in High-A with the Rome Braves. Currently the Braves No. 17 prospect, the 22-year-old outfielder’s left-handed swing has emerged this season as one of the most power-packed in Atlanta’s system.
HM. RHP Joey Estes – Atlanta Braves No. 14 Prospect
2021 Season Stats: 3-6, 2.91 ERA, 0.960 WHIP, 29 BB, 127 K
One Braves prospects’ 2021 season that should be talked about more is Joey Estes, Atlanta’s 16th round pick in the 2019 MLB Draft. Through 20 starts in Low-A with the Augusta GreenJackets, the 19-year-old right-hander has posted an impressive 2.91 ERA with an 11.5 K/9.
HM. RHP Indigo Diaz – Atlanta Braves No. 21 Prospect
2021 Season Stats: 6-1, 0.82 ERA, 0.773 WHIP, 5 Saves, 15 BB, 80 K
Indigo Diaz has had a phenomenal 2021 campaign splitting time between High-A Rome and Double-A Mississippi. Across 42 innings of relief, the former 27th round pick’s 0.82 ERA is among the lowest in the minor leagues.
5. RHP Bryce Elder – Atlanta Braves No. 11 Prospect
2021 Season Stats: 11-3, 2.91 ERA, 1.100 WHIP, 46 BB, 140 K
Arguably the Braves top pitching prospect that has risen the most throughout the minor leagues this season is Bryce Elder, Atlanta’s No. 11 prospect.
The 22-year-old right-hander began the 2021 campaign in High-A Rome where he made nine starts. Across those nine starts, Elder posted a combined 2.60 ERA quickly earning a promotion to Double-A early-on in his first full professional season.
After this impressive start, Elder would not skip a beat with Mississippi making nine starts as well. Across those nine starts, the right-hander posted a 7-1 record with a 3.21 ERA, which included one complete game.
Recently called up to Triple-A Gwinnett, Elder has made four starts allowing seven earned runs across 22.2 innings pitched.
Selected in the fifth round of the 2020 MLB Draft, Elder was coming off two phenomenal seasons at Texas where Atlanta went over-slot to sign the right-hander. After impressing in the instructional league, Elder has certainly turned some eyes with his rise this season through the Braves minor league system this season.
Elder has arguably the best slider in Atlanta’s system to pair with a fastball that sits in the low-90’s, curveball, and changeup. Currently 22-years-old, Elder will remain in Triple-A for the remainder of the 2021 season, but with a fast start next season, the right-hander could be one of Atlanta’s first major league call-ups next season.
4. RHP Spencer Strider – Atlanta Braves No. 10 Prospect
2021 Season Stats: 3-7, 3.87 ERA, 1.121 WHIP, 38 BB, 143 K
One prospect that caught the eyes of most early-on this season was Spencer Strider, Atlanta’s fourth round pick from the 2020 MLB Draft.
Beginning his first professional season in Low-A Augusta, Strider quickly burst onto the scene posting a 0.59 ERA across his first four starts of the season. Across 15.1 innings pitched, the right-hander posted a 32:5 K:BB with the GreenJackets where he quickly earned a call-up to High-A Rome.
Making only three starts in Rome, Strider continued that success posting a 2.45 ERA across 14.2 innings pitched. After seven phenomenal starts across two levels, the former Clemson Tiger would quickly earn a call-up to Double-A Mississippi where he has remained since.
So far across 12 starts, Strider has posted a 4.75 ERA with 23 walks and 82 strikeouts across 55 innings pitched. For the season, Strider’s ERA sits at a combined 3.87 with some impressive strikeout numbers.
In fact, the most impressive thing about Strider’s 2021 season are his strikeout numbers. The right-hander currently posts a combined 14.6 K/9 across three levels so far this season, partly due to his high-velocity on his dominant fastball.
The 22-year-old right-hander is still likely a year away from reaching the big leagues, but with a strong 2022 season, could see himself debut next year. While Strider is a starter right now, the Braves No. 10 prospect is certainly a player to watch that could potentially contribute in the bullpen next season.
3. C Shea Langeliers – Atlanta Braves No. 2 Prospect
2021 Season Stats: .254 AVG, .331 OBP, .483 SLG, .814 OPS, 20 HR, 46 RBI
Is it possible for the Atlanta Braves No. 2 prospect and No. 72 prospect in baseball to rise any more? In fact yes, that is exactly what Shea Langeliers continues to do throughout the course of this season.
Atlanta’s first round pick in the 2019 MLB Draft, Langeliers came into the 2021 season already considered as one of the top catching prospects in baseball. Spending the entire season up to this point in Double-A Mississippi, Langeliers has done nothing but rise up the prospect ranks.
Across 86 games so far this season, the 23-year-old backstop has slashed .254/.331/.483 with 20 home runs and 46 RBI’s in what is the largest single-season sample size of his professional career.
While the offensive numbers including 13 doubles and more are certainly impressive, Langeliers is gaining some attention due to his impressive defense behind the plate. Posting a 99.6% fielding percentage this season, Langeliers has only allowed three passed balls in 796 defensive chances, as well as a 42% caught stealing percentage.
Widely regarded as the Braves catcher of the future, Langeliers will likely spend the remainder of this season in Double-A, while beginning the 2022 season in Triple-A Gwinnett. If the Braves No. 2 prospect starts fast next season, we will likely see Langeliers in Atlanta at some point next season.
2. SS Vaughn Grissom – Atlanta Braves No. 13 Prospect
2021 Season Stats: .320 AVG, .415 OBP, .472 SLG, .887 OPS, 7 HR, 42 RBI, 15 SB
One Atlanta Braves prospect that has quietly had arguably the best season of all is infielder Vaughn Grissom.
A former 11th round pick by Atlanta in the 2019 MLB Draft, Grissom entered the 2021 campaign coming off an impressive first showing with the GCL Braves back in 2019, as well as impressing at the Braves training site last season. Currently Atlanta’s No. 13 prospect, Grissom has continued his impressive play from game one this season.
Beginning the year with Low-A Augusta, Grissom spent a majority of the season with the GreenJackets where he slashed .311/.402/.446 with five home runs, 33 RBI’s, and 13 stolen bases across 75 games. Dominating Low-A pitching in the process, the 20-year-old would recently earn a call-up to High-A Rome where he currently is.
Since joining Rome, Grissom has appeared in seven games so far where he has slashed .435/.538/.783 with two home runs and nine RBI’s across 23 at-bat’s.
A versatile defender who has experience at almost every infield position, Grissom is vastly emerging as one of the Braves top prospects ranked outside of the Top 10. However, after showcasing some impressive all-around tools this season, Grissom may find himself rise into Atlanta’s Top 10 prospects in the very-near future.
With an ETA of either 2023 or 2024, Grissom is still a couple years away from the big leagues, but his 2021 season is showing that the 20-year-old is making his case to be one of Atlanta’s top infield prospects going into next season.
1. OF Michael Harris – Atlanta Braves No. 4 Prospect
2021 Season Stats: .293 AVG, .361 OBP, .434 SLG, .795 OPS, 7 HR, 61 RBI, 27 SB
If you’ve paid attention to any minor league baseball this season, Michael Harris might not just be the Braves fastest rising prospect, but arguably the fastest rising in all of baseball.
After a strong 2019 campaign combined with being arguably “the” talking point at the 2020 alternate training site, Harris entered the 2021 campaign with a ton of hype, and he sure has delivered.
Atlanta’s 2019 third round pick, Harris has spent all of the 2021 season up to this point in High-A playing with the Rome Braves. Getting off to a fast start, Harris slugged from day one acting primarily as Rome’s everyday center fielder.
Currently rated as the Braves No. 4 overall prospect, as well as the No. 92 overall prospect in baseball, Harris’ 2021 campaign has included a .795 OPS with seven home runs and 27 stolen bases.
Representing the Braves in the 2021 MLB Futures Game over the All-Star break, Harris continues to improve over the course of this season leaving some to believe he might be Atlanta’s top overall prospect.
Capable of playing any outfield position, Harris displays plus-power potential to combine with consistent solid contact, phenomenal speed on the basepaths, and elite arm strength. While he is still at-least a year-or-two away from the big leagues, there is no-denying that the 20-year-old has arguably the biggest upside of any Braves prospect as he continues to rise up the ranks.
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Each of these Atlanta Braves prospects have had phenomenal 2021 campaigns, and are seeing themselves rise up the prospect ranks because of it. Looking ahead, will we see any of these highly-rated prospects in the big leagues next season?