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Atlanta Braves Top Players at Each Minor League Level

By Jake Mastroianni

MEMPHIS, UNITED STATES - 2021/08/01: Gwinnett Stripers infielder, Johan Camargo (17) during the baseball game between the Gwinnett Stripers and the Memphis Redbirds. Gwinnett defeated Memphis 4-2. (Photo by Kevin Langley/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images)
MEMPHIS, UNITED STATES - 2021/08/01: Gwinnett Stripers infielder, Johan Camargo (17) during the baseball game between the Gwinnett Stripers and the Memphis Redbirds. Gwinnett defeated Memphis 4-2. (Photo by Kevin Langley/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images) /
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Freddie Freeman #5 of the Atlanta Braves. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
Freddie Freeman #5 of the Atlanta Braves. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) /

Augusta GreenJackets (59-61)

MVP: Vaughn Grissom — Another pretty obvious one as he was by far the best player in Augusta all year long. He finished slashing .311/.402/.446 with a .848 OPS, 52 runs scored, 34 walks to just 49 strikeouts, and 13 stolen bases.

Honorable mention: Landon Stephens (.239/.348/.470, .818 OPS, 21 HR)

Cy Young: Joey Estes — Again, pretty easy choice here as Estes dominated Single-A with a 2.91 ERA in 99 innings with 127 strikeouts and a WHIP of 0.96 over 20 starts.

Honorable mention: Tanner Gordon (3.43 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, 57.2 IP, 65 Ks)

Braves MiLB Overall MVP: Shea Langeliers

There weren’t nearly as many options for the best hitter (MVP). Langeliers and Harris II were the only legitimate candidates. I give the edge to Langeliers because of the home run totals and the work behind the plate.

I’m glad they left him in Double-A all year and allowed him to just mature there with the bat. But it was also great for him to get a taste of Triple-A at the end of the season. It’s very possible we see him make his big league debut towards the end of 2022 as he tries to take hold of that catcher position for the Braves for a long time.

Braves MiLB Overall Cy Young: Bryce Elder

I went back-and-forth on this one between Elder and Strider. I went with Elder because he was better at the higher levels, especially his work in Gwinnett where he had a 2.21 ERA across 7 starts with 40 strikeouts in 36.2 innings to go along with a WHIP of 1.04.

Again, Elder very nearly won the Cy Young at three different levels this year — that’s insane!

Across all three systems in 2021 he had a 2.75 ERA in 25 starts with 155 strikeouts in 137.2 innings with a WHIP of 1.10. He’ll be knocking on the door of the big leagues next season.

The pitching in this system suddenly looks very strong again, a lot of it coming from that shortened 2020 MLB Draft.

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Those were my picks as the most outstanding hitter and pitcher at each level for the Braves minor league teams this year. Let me know your picks in the comments below.

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