The MLB regular season is winding down, and most minor league levels have already ended other than Triple-A. With no minor league baseball happening and the playoffs fast approaching, current attention levels on the Atlanta Braves' farm system are not particularly high. However, that may need to change at the beginning of October when the Arizona Fall League gets going.
The AFL is essentially a short offseason instructional league where every MLB club sends several prospects to get extra development and playing time before the heart of the offseason arrives. The AFL has been everything from a showcase of top prospect talent to a way for players who didn't play much in the regular season to catch up a bit. Whatever the case may be for any given player, what happens in the Arizona Fall League is watched closely by teams and experts alike.
It has been a while since the Braves made big waves in the AFL other than Patrick Clohisy last year, although that could change with the talented crop of prospects they are sending this year.
Here are the prospects the Braves are sending to the 2026 Arizona Fall League
Getting sent to the AFL isn’t a guarantee of anything. Sometimes, guys with next to no chance of making it to the majors get sent to the AFL just so Atlanta (or any team) meets their obligations to the league and nothing more. However, the Braves ARE sending some big-time prospects to the AFL this year, and fans will want to follow along with how well they perform.
The top names: Tate Southisene - SS, Briggs McKenzie - LHP, Owen Carey - OF, Isaiah Drake - OF
The two best prospects the Braves are sending to the AFL in 2026 are easily infielder Tate Southisene and LHP Briggs McKenzie. Southisene rebounded from a tough debut after being drafted and had just been promoted to Double-A and named a top 100 prospect. Unfortunately, he was hit by a pitch in his hand/wrist as soon as he made it to Double-A Columbus, which ended his regular season on the spot. McKenzie was on a similar trajectory after multiple promotions before an elbow issue sidelined him in June. Both young players now get a chance for some much-needed playing time after significant injury absences.
Southisene and McKenzie are not going to Arizona alone, however, as outfielder Owen Carey and outfielder Isaiah Drake are both prospects of note that are making the trip. Carey missed time early in the 2026 season before returning and posting a .730 OPS across mostly two levels of the minors.
Drake's stock really rebounded at the start of 2026 after a couple of years of racking up strikeouts, but he last played on June 27 to end a hot streak and landed on the IL a few days later. A strong AFL performance may be Drake's last chance to prove that he should be given a chance in the upper levels of the minors.
The sleepers: Tanner Bauman - LHP, Owen Hackman - RHP, Tyler LaPorte - RHP, Logan Samuels - RHP
You are forgiven if you weren't aware of these Braves prospects until now. All four of Taylor Bauman, Owen Hackman, Tyler LaPorte, and Logan Samuels are relief prospects who have at least two years as professionals under their belts. Keep an eye on LaPorte, as he has the best strikeout numbers of the bunch while posting a 1.84 ERA in 43 appearances at Double-A this season.
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