If there is one thing that fans of the Atlanta Braves, or any baseball team for that matter, love to see, it is a top prospect finally making their highly-anticipated MLB debut.
Well, which Atlanta Braves prospects, in particular pitchers, could end up making their MLB debuts next year to help the 2025 rotation?
To answer that question, we will look at the top pitching prospects in the Atlanta Braves system who have yet to make their MLB debuts, as well as place a level of probability on that debut coming in 2025. To do this, we will not be using prospects who have made their MLB debuts, which is why you will not see either AJ Smith-Shawver or Hurston Waldrep on this list.
So, let's get to it, starting with the Braves No. 1 prospect. (Prospect rankings according to MLB)
Which Atlanta Braves pitching prospects could make their MLB debut in 2025?
Cam Caminiti, Left-Handed Pitcher
Probability of Debut: Very Low
We begin with the Braves' No. 1 overall prospect Cam Caminiti, who Atlanta selected in the first round of the 2024 MLB Draft. Drafted out of high school, Caminiti only has three innings of experience at the professional level, meaning that an MLB debut for the 18-year-old in 2025 is very unlikely.
He appeared in one game with Low-A Augusta and allowed one run on three hits with four strikeouts over three innings. Caminiti won't be on the mound for Atlanta for at least a couple of years as he has very little experience.
Owen Murphy, Right-Handed Pitcher
Probability of Debut: Very Low
Owen Murphy, who is the Braves' first-round pick from the 2022 MLB Draft, is also very unlikely to make his MLB debut in 2025. The Braves No. 6 prospect has yet to pitch above the High-A level, with the 20-year-old also set to potentially miss some time next season due to his recovery from Tommy John surgery.
He was having an incredible season before going down with his elbow injury. Murphy had a 1.54 ERA through 41 innings with 12 walks, 60 strikeouts, and a .129 opponent's average.
JR Ritchie, Right-Handed Pitcher
Probability of Debut: Low
JR Ritchie fans seven batters in back-to-back starts.
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) August 11, 2024
The @Braves' No. 3 prospect delivers his second five-inning hitless outing of the season for the Single-A @GreenJackets: pic.twitter.com/AgwefgSF6O
Also a top pick from that 2022 MLB Draft, JR Ritchie's probability to make his major league debut in 2025 is low due to the fact that the right-hander would need to have a meteoric rise next season. The No. 7 prospect in Atlanta's system, Ritchie has not seen action above the High-A level, and will potentially begin next season there once again.
He has a 2.90 ERA through 49.2 innings with 17 walks and 56 strikeouts with an opponent average of .214 this season.
Drue Hackenberg, Right-Handed Pitcher
Probability of Debut: High
The Braves No. 9 prospect, Drue Hackenberg is the first prospect on this list who holds a "high" chance of a 2025 debut. Hackenberg, the Braves' second-round pick from the 2023 MLB Draft, has had a strong season that has seen the right-hander rise from High-A to Triple-A, and will likely begin 2025 in either Double-A or Triple-A.
His ERA has dropped with every promotion he's received this season. Collectively, he has a 3.14 ERA over 123.1 innings with 58 walks and 140 strikeouts. Drue is at the Triple-A level right now with a 1.50 ERA over 18 innings (3 starts) with 11 walks and 14 strikeouts. It's good, however, he will need to improve that walk rate to succeed at the MLB level.
Drue Hackenberg tonight:
— Gwinnett Stripers (@GoStripers) September 13, 2024
6.0 IP | 5 H | 2 ER | 1 BB | 7 SO pic.twitter.com/wekEHNzvZl
Cade Kuehler, Right-Handed Pitcher
Probability of Debut: Very Low
Atlanta's No. 10 prospect, Cade Kuehler, also selected highly in the 2023 MLB Draft, is unlikely to make his major league debut next season. Why is that? Well, Kuehler has only one career appearance above the Low-A level.
He has a 3.74 ERA through 53 innings pitched. 50 of those innings came with the Augusta GreenJackets and three of them with the Rome Emperors. Kuehler walked 24 batters while striking out 48. Opponents carried a .241 batting average against him through the 12 games he appeared in.
In conclusion, here are a few of the Braves other top pitching prospects, as well as the probability of each making a potential MLB debut at some point in 2025: LHP Carter Holton (Very Low), RHP Jhancarlos Lara (Low), LHP Luis De Avila (High), RHP Adam Maier (Very Low), RHP Garrett Baumann (Very Low), RHP Blake Burkhalter (Low), RHP Didier Fuentes (Very Low).
There are plenty of talented arms in the Atlanta Braves system who could provide the team with meaningful innings in the next few years. That's an invaluable resource for any baseball team to have at their disposal.