Atlanta Braves prospects are perhaps the biggest winners of the calendar year, with many of the organization's top guys blossoming in 2026. The 2025 draft class in particular is shaping up to be one for the ages. Among that draft class, top pick Tate Southisene and Briggs McKenzie have performed so well in the Arizona Fall League that they earned AFL All-Star selections.
Southisene continues to shine with his impressive exit velocities and elite on-base skills. Meanwhile, McKenzie is among AFL strikeout leaders despite being the youngest pitcher in the league. Both Southisene and McKenzie are probably too young to make their way to Atlanta in 2027, but they are playing their way into a fast track to the big leagues.
Briggs McKenzie tosses four scoreless and punches out six!
— MLB's Arizona Fall League (@MLBazFallLeague) November 4, 2026
The @Braves No. 8 prospect has the second-most strikeouts this Fall (25) in six starts. McKenzie is the youngest pitcher this Fall. pic.twitter.com/3EqfdUz6uG
Tate Southisene and Briggs McKenzie earn AFL All-Star nods, could rise through the Braves system in 2027
The Arizona Fall League features some of the best prospects in the sport, so Southisene and McKenzie being selected for the Fall Stars game speaks to how well they are playing. In 13 games, Southisene slashed .341/.482/.432 while showcasing his high-end speed. His impressive plate discipline, barrel rate, and athleticism create a ton of buzz around the possibility of him filling the shortstop void at the big league level.
McKenzie had a couple of rough starts to begin his AFL tenure, but he rebounded very well. McKenzie finished strong by tossing four shutout innings with six strikeouts on Tuesday. Injuries limited his action in 2026, so it's nice to see McKenzie earning more reps this fall. For such a young pitcher, McKenzie has simple and repeatable mechanics; when you pair that with his impressive command and elite spin rates, it's easy to see why the Braves are so excited about their 2025 overslot pick.
The uncertainty around a possible lockout this winter isn't as impactful for Southisene and McKenzie. Thankfully, minor league baseball can go as scheduled even if MLB games are halted while the owners and MLBPA negotiate. That is great news for Atlanta's top prospects, as another year of development and success could place them within striking distance of a big league promotion.
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