The Atlanta Braves have done a great job at rebuilding their prospect capital over the last few years. That hard work is beginning to bear great fruit for the organization. Drake Baldwin emerged as a star last season behind the plate, and JR Ritchie and Didier Fuentes have both shown their ability to succeed at the MLB level in 2026.
Atlanta has seen continued progress from some of their younger prospects, like Cam Caminiti. However, there is an unexpected prospect surging up the prospect ranks this season. With the latest Baseball America Top 30 prospect rankings, outfield prospect Eric Hartman has moved into the top five thanks to an incredible start to 2026.
Braves prospect Eric Hartman has made a very strong case for himself in 2026
Hartman has a .317/.400/.662 slash line over 35 games with High-A Rome. He has slugged more than anyone could have expected. The 19-year-old has one triple, ten doubles, 12 homers, 15 stolen bases, 31 RBI, and a 1.062 OPS. The Canadian standout is ranked fourth in Baseball America's latest prospect update. The top five look like this:
1. Cam Caminiti
2. JR Ritchie
3. Didier Fuentes
4. Eric Hartman
5. John Gill
It's impressive to see Hartman make a jump into the top five, as he is virtually unknown to most fans.
For the unfamiliar, Hartman was drafted 611th in the 20th-round of the 2024 MLB Draft. Being a team's final selection in the draft is tough, but Hartman has been up to the challenge since he signed over slot around $340,000.
Hartman is doing all that he can to show the Braves just how good he can be. He is one of the fastest players in Atlanta's system, with a 30-foot-per-second sprint speed. That speed allowed him to steal 48 bases in 2025 and is well on his way to stealing just as many bags in 2026.
The power stroke Hartman has found is a tad surprising, as Hartman was mostly a great contact hitter last season. Something has unlocked in him this season, and if he keeps it up, he'll be knocking on the door of the big leagues in the next couple of years.
Hartman has spent time in the outfield and at second base. However, he's mostly in the outfield and does need to work on his arm. But that's something that should develop over time. The Braves have another impressive prospect to excite fans, and it should make them even more confident in their front office's ability to secure top talent.
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