The Atlanta Braves have worked very hard to build back up their prospect base over the last few years. International signing restrictions and promotion of top prospects had left them depleted. However, they are beginning to see some impressive performances from all over the farm system.
Here we will highlight three prospects that fans need to keep an eye on. They could make an impact on the club in the near future.
3 Braves prospects who deserve way more hype than they are getting
Blake Burkhalter
Burkhalter was a standout at Auburn and impressed the Braves enough to draft him as a compensatory pick in the second round of the 2022 MLB Draft. Unfortunately, he needed Tommy John not long after his first season started.
However, he returned in 2024 and had a decent season with a 3.00 ERA over 72 innings. He has continued to impress this season as he has a 3.18 ERA over 39.2 innings with the Columbus Clingstones.
Burkhalter has a good mix of pitches, but like most young pitchers, he needs to work on command. He has 18 walks to just 24 strikeouts. The Braves are giving him a look as a starter for now, but he was a great reliever in college. This allows the Braves to have a great option for either role in the future.
Jhancarlos Lara
Lara is a huge power arm in the Braves' farm system. His fastball can reach 102 mph. He has worked his way up to Triple-A Gwinnett this season and could reach the MLB level in the next couple of years.
While his fastball velocity has been impressive, Atlanta's 11th-ranked prospect needs to work on his command. His strikeout rate is nice at 27.8%, but his walk rate is concerning at 21%. His 10.62 ERA over 20.1 innings with 23 walks and 30 strikeouts also highlights this struggle.
Lara is just 22, so he has time to improve his two-pitch mix with that triple-digit fastball and upper-80s slider. If he can hone in on his command and possibly add in a third pitch, he is going to be an incredible piece for the Braves' bullpen.
Brett Sears
Sears may not be a name on Braves fans' radar yet, but he is worth paying attention to. He was selected in the seventh round by Atlanta in last year's draft out of Nebraska. It's been a nice first season for him, and he's been promoted twice. Sears recently joined Atlanta's Double-A affiliate, the Columbus Clingstones.
His has an impressive 1.96 ERA over 36.2 innings with six walks and 48 strikeouts. If he keeps this up, he will land with Triple-A Gwinnett before we know it. Sears is someone fans need to keep their eyes on.