This year's installment of Baseball America's Top 100 list was released this week and the Atlanta Braves had a couple names make the list. The Braves have slowly been building their farm system up from the basement level as the organization attempts to replenish all the Major League talent that has helped them turn into one of the winningest team's in baseball for the last seven years.
The club hasn't littered any of these prospect lists with a flurry of names, but each year the team seems to find at least one guy come up and make in impact in Atlanta despite not being named in any of these lists. The Seattle Mariners led all of baseball with seven players making the Top 100 list. While the Braves had just two players selected, it's important to see how these prospects (and the one who just missed) is viewed around the sport.
Baldwin, Smith-Shawver crack BA's Top 100, Waldrep just misses
As each of these prospect lists begin to update for the 2025 season you'll likely notice a trend of Braves catcher Drake Baldwin shooting up the ranks. Baldwin was largely unknown entering 2024, but his quick ascension showcased a ton of intriguing tools from a position that is desperate for more talent at the big league level.
Baldwin officially landed at #53 in Baseball America's Top 100 and there's a good chance Baldwin can improve his stock even more by playing nearly everyday in Triple-A in 2025.
Drake Baldwin delivers a blast in the #FuturesGame! 💪 pic.twitter.com/uODOh7CaGh
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) July 13, 2024
AJ Smith-Shawver has already made his pro debut and is a handful of innings for losing prospect status. However, because of his limited action and upside he still qualified for this year's Top 100 installment. Ultimately, Smith-Shawver dropped from his previous BA ranking of no. 49 to no. 83 this year.
The drop isn't necessarily a loss of faith in Smith-Shawver's ceiling, but rather the result of an injury lost year in 2024. He's still barely 22 years-old and has only been pitching full-time for a handful of years. The 2025 season will be an important one for Smith-Shawver to see if he can make it through a full 162 game season as well as entrench himself on the big league squad.
As for the upside arm that just missed, former first round pick Hurston Waldrep saw his shine fade a little in 2024. This was mostly for the same reasons AJSS did as Waldrep was sidelined a few months with elbow inflammation.
The former Florida Gator did make his way back eventually, but the repeated trouble with his command bothered scouts enough to drop him in most prospect lists. Hopefully, with a chance to win a rotation spot this spring Waldrep and AJSS both come motivated and improved enough to provide that yearly rookie spark the Braves always seem to find.
Overall, 2025 is an important season for many Braves prospects as they attempt to make a name for themselves and improve Atlanta's farm system back into an upper echelon level and hopefully bolster the big league roster. Baldwin, AJSS, and Waldrep have established themselves enough to earn high-end prospect status. Which Braves prospects will be the next to follow in 2025?