Atlanta Braves 2022 Season Preview: OF Drew Waters

An often talked-about prospect in the Atlanta Braves system for years, is 2022 finally the year that Drew Waters makes his anticipated MLB debut?

When looking at Atlanta Braves prospects that could potentially make an impact in the big leagues at some point this season, Drew Waters is certainly a name that sticks out.

A former second round pick by Atlanta, Waters has been a talked-about prospect ever since being selected by the club during the 2017 MLB Draft. Regarded by most as a member of the Braves future starting outfield, Waters would reach Top 100 prospect status in 2019, where he would remain up until the most-recent update.

Still one of Atlanta’s top overall prospects entering the year, the 2022 season is shaping up to be an exciting one for Waters, one that likely sees the 23-year-old make his MLB debut. As for when that could be, which part of the season is the likeliest for that to happen?

Atlanta Braves 2022 Season Preview: OF Drew Waters

Coming off of no minor league season in 2020, Waters you could certainly argue struggled at times a year ago across 103 games with Triple-A Gwinnett, batting for a career-low .240 AVG with 142 strikeouts, the second-most of his career. The 23-year-old did however impress in a few other areas as well, accounting for career-high’s in home runs (11), stolen bases (28), and walks drawn (47).

While there is always the possibility that Waters, a player that can play all three outfield positions, could potentially begin the year in centerfield with the Braves until Ronald Acuna Jr is healthy, the 23-year-old will likely begin the year in Triple-A once again. However, based on how he starts the year, it’s certainly possible that the switch-hitting outfielder could potentially find his way to the big leagues in the summer months.

A .247/.330/.380 hitter across a combined 129 games in Triple-A, expect Waters however to spend a majority, if not all, of the first half of the 2022 season in Gwinnett getting regular at-bats, with a call-up most-likely happening at some point in the second half of the season.

When Waters does eventually get called-up as well, the 23-year-old will likely play a bench role for the Braves, with a majority of his appearances in Atlanta coming in centerfield where he is one of the top defensive options at the position in the entire organization.