4 Braves prospects who are quickly becoming the team's best trade chips

For several years, the Atlanta Braves farm system has been widely viewed as lacking the high-end talent needed to facilitate trades for established major leaguers. While rising prospects like Didier Fuentes and JR Ritchie could undoubtedly command significant returns, both are either nearing—or have already reached—the major league level. As a result, a contending club such as Atlanta may prefer to explore trade options involving talent from other areas of the system.

If the Atlanta Braves intend to pursue impact talent at this year’s trade deadline, they must rely on a sufficiently deep pool of prospects to facilitate potential deals. General manager Alex Anthopoulos should have the financial flexibility in late July, aided in part by Jurickson Profar’s suspension, further positioning Atlanta to be active. The question then becomes: which prospects can the club realistically deploy as viable trade chips?

Here are 4 Braves rising prospects who could serve as trade chips at the deadline

Garrett Baumann

Outside of Fuentes, no pitching prospect made a stronger impression in camp than Garrett Baumann. The towering right-hander, currently ranked as the No. 12 prospect in the Braves system, showed clear signs of development this spring. During a Spring Breakout matchup against the Yankees, Baumann recorded five strikeouts across three innings, displaying a smooth, repeatable delivery and an increasingly refined pitch mix.

John Gil

Perhaps the most dynamic prospect on this list, Gil has impressed evaluators within the Braves organization with his intriguing blend of speed and power. This spring, Gil (Braves' No. 10 prospect) has built on the power surge he displayed late in the 2025 season, highlighted by a pull-side home run in the Spring Breakout game.

The 19-year old Gil could emerge as the Braves’ long-term solution at shortstop—a reasonable projection given his upside—but the organization’s depth at the position could also create trade flexibility. If Atlanta ultimately prefers another prospect such as Tate Southisene, Alex Lodise, or Cody Miller, Gil could become an attractive centerpiece in a package for a high-impact major league player.

Owen Murphy

If opposing teams seek a high-upside pitching prospect and the Braves are unwilling to part with Fuentes or Ritchie, former first-round pick Owen Murphy could emerge as a compelling alternative. Ranked as the organization’s No. 6 prospect, Murphy generated plenty of swings and misses this spring and appears to be fully recovered from his 2024 Tommy John surgery.

This spring, Murphy has expanded his repertoire and is showing a maturity beyond his years. While lower-level pitchers such as Cam Caminiti may offer higher upside, Murphy remains a formidable talent in his own right. Consistently effective on the mound, a strong first half in 2026 could rapidly elevate him into the national conversation as one of baseball’s top emerging pitchers.

Eric Hartman

Suddenly, the Braves boast a collection of intriguing outfield prospects. Ranked as the organization’s No. 20 prospect, Eric Hartman spent most of 2025 with Low-A Augusta GreenJackets, where he impressed with elite speed and advanced on-base skills at the plate.

The 19-year-old Hartman joins fellow outfield prospects Owen Carey, Luis Guanipa, and Connor Essenburg to form a quartet with enough upside to attract interest from other teams should trade inquiries arise.

With a mix of high-upside position players and pitchers now emerging, the Braves farm system has transformed into a respectable toolbox for potential trades. From established prospects like Gil and Murphy to promising outfielders such as Hartman, Atlanta now has multiple pieces capable of drawing interest from opposing teams—positioning the Braves to strengthen their roster at the trade deadline while still preserving their long-term talent base.