Spring training is just a month away, and though there will be acquisitions before (and possibly after) pitchers and catchers report, this series will take a look at the players mostly likely to suit up at each level of the organization.
Also in this series:
First Base | Second Base | Third Base | Catcher | Centerfield | Corner Outfield | Starting Pitcher
ATLANTA BRAVES
STARTER: Dansby Swanson
Only 29 months away from his electrifying debut with Atlanta and 22 months from being the consensus top prospect of a loaded Braves farm system, Dansby Swanson is entering his age 25 season with questions hanging around his future with the franchise. The Marietta native improved on a horrendous rookie campaign in 2017, but the Braves and their fans had much more than .238/.304/.395 and a 80 wRC+ when thinking about the shortstop when he was acquired from Arizona. Swanson’s improvement in the field however was substantial, and likely kept manager Brian Snitker from replacing Swanson during the 2018 campaign. That same defense makes him worth a line-up spot, but the word that second baseman Ozzie Albies would see some work this spring at shortstop couldn’t be seen as anything other than an unspoken shot across the bow that it was time for Swanson to up his offensive game.
That said, there is reason for optimism. Swanson was hitting the ball with some authority early in 2018, hitting .289/.336/.430 when he suffered a wrist injury. While he returned to the line-up only 17 games later, it seems clear that the sore wrist was affecting him all season long, punctuated when he re-injured the wrist on a swing on September 25. In a case of absence making the heart grow fonder, Swanson’s defense was clearly missed at shortstop in the National League Division Series tilt with eventual NL champion Los Angeles, though back-up Charlie Culberson performed gamely. Swanson had surgery on his wrist immediately after the season concluded and is expected to be at full speed at the start of spring training. The Braves are hoping that Swanson can return to the offensive form he showed in the five weeks to start the season; being able to sustain that kind of production while also maintaining his 2018 level of defense would make Swanson a top 5 shortstop in the NL.
Back-up: While Johan Camargo substituted for Swanson during his wrist injury early in the season and Charlie Culberson subbed in after the re-aggravation in September, the Braves seem to be strongly entertaining moving Albies to short when Swanson needs to the night off. There’s good reason for this; Albies has better range and hands than either Camargo or Culberson, and plenty of arm strength for shortstop. It was even money on if Albies would play shortstop in the majors and Swanson second base or vice versa. Camargo has the best arm strength of the bunch of them, but all other factors would favor Albies.
GWINNETT STRIPERS (CLASS AAA)
STARTER: Pedro Florimon
The Braves will be Florimon’s fifth organization in his 9-year pro career. On one hand, he’s well under-replacement level as a hitter; even in the minors he only owns a .251/.324/.363 career batting line, and his 867 major league plate appearances have been even worse. On the other hand, that he has amassed 867 major league plate appearances indicates how well-regarded he is in the field. That said, going into his age-32 season Florimon has shown lesser range at shortstop, which means he’s probably not going to see much in the way of major league service time anymore except in emergency cases. He should be plenty good for the Stripers however. If third baseman Austin Riley ends up playing in the outfield, look for Florimon to slide over to third base.
Back-up: Luis Marte was released last May frin the Rangers organization, with whom he signed with out of the Dominican Republic in 2011. The Braves were getting no value either at the plate or in the field from their AA shortstops at that point, and they quickly signed him to a minor league deal. After a slow first week, Marte suddenly became a very tough out, going on long hitting streaks. When the Braves elected to move essentially all of their starting shortstops up a level in mid-july, Marte became a Striper. With Gwinnett, Marte’s offensive production settled back closer to his career norms, but he remains a steady defender and could potentially start at shortstop if Florimon is needed at another position. Luis Valenzuela can also fill in at shortstop.
MISSISSIPPI BRAVES (CLASS AA)
STARTER: Ray-Patrick Didder
Another year, another role for Ray-Patrick Didder. Originally signed out of Aruba in 2013 as an infielder, Didder was moved to the outfield and was a key member of the 2016 SAL champion Rome squad, especially while filling in for the injured Ronald Acuna in centerfield for most of the season. The following year in advanced-A Florida, the Braves experimented with him playing at second and short in addition to the outfield. Last year Didder went full-circle, settling in at shortstop for the whole season. Didder has easy range and an arm to handle the position, but his instincts were understandably rusty and the errors piled up. By the end of the season however the position was coming back to him. While Didder’s future role in the majors is moving around to multiple positions, playing at least a steady shortstop would be a big feather in his cap.
At the plate, Didder has had a long, loopy swing that causes him to be late on good velocity and ground the ball or rack up strikeouts. While Didder has above average foot-speed, this wasn’t a formula for continued success as he climbed up the organization, and with his promotion to Mississippi in July last season he shortened his swing and started seeing more line-drives. If Didder continues this path, he could find his time in Mississippi abbreviated with another promotion mid-season.
Back-up: When Didder isn’t at short, Riley Unroe or Alejandro Salazar can move to shortstop with Daniel Lockhart filling in at either third or second base.
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FLORIDA FIRE FROGS (CLASS A+)
STARTER: Riley Delgado
Delgado is a well-rounded player with a good hit tool and a feel for situational hitting as well as a solid defensive game. He’s exactly the type of player an organization wants on teams focused on pitcher development, but there’s a chance he could hit is way to the major leagues as a multi-positional option. While his lack of power or foot-speed will likely hold him back form being more than that, its a solid base of skills to build from. Last season saw the Braves promote all of their shortstops — Didder, Delgado, and A.J. Graffanino — in the middle of July to get them better competition. It’s not inconceivable that something similar happens in 2019.
Back-up: The Fire Frogs will likely continue to employ the dependable Marcus Mooney to back-up multiple positions, not least of which will be shortstop.
ROME BRAVES (CLASS A)
STARTER: A.J. Graffanino
The Braves 8th-round pick out of the University of Washington, Graffanino didn’t waste any time forcing himself to Rome by basically putting the bat on everything and quickly showing some of the best hands and reactions at short in the organization. Graffanino has some speed as well and should continue to be a solid table-setter. The 21-year-old is fairly polished already and there’s at least some possibility of his starting the season in advanced-A Florida with Delgado moving over to second base.
Back-up: Nicholas Shumpert is a 2016 draft pick who had an offensive surge late in 2018 with Danville. He has been holding his own in winter league play in Australia and should see playing time in the multiple positions with Rome. Minor league veteran Luis Mejia could also be a factor here.
Third Base Depth Chart
- Dansby Swanson
- Johan Camargo
- Charlie Culberson
- Pedro Florimon
- Luis Marte
- Sean Kazmar
- Ray-Patrick Didder
- Riley Unroe
- Alejandro Salazar
- Riley Delgado
- Marcus Mooney
- A.J. Graffanino
- Nicholas Shumpert
- Luis Mejia
OFR TOP 5 SHORTSTOP PROSPECT RANKINGS:
- A.J. Graffanino (OFR #22)
- Riley Delgado (OFR #27)
- Ray-Patrick Didder (OFR #28)
- Carlos Paraguate
- Nicholas Shumpert
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