Welcome to the third annual OFR prospect list! This year we return with another 50 prospects. Unlike last year when I gave you Fifty Prospects in Fifty Days, this year we’re going to roll out the list in 10-player installments, coming your way every Thursday in the month of November. To help with the writing load and my sanity, I will be joined this year by fellow Sunday Farm Report cohort Matt Chrietzberg, who will bring you reports on some prospects starting with next week’s segment.
None of the prospects listed in this post were part of last year’s Top 50, mostly because 6 of the 10 were drafted in 2018. Four players from the Mid-Season Top 30 Prospect List are no longer part of the organization: catcher Brett Cumberland (#13), left-hander Bruce Zimmerman (#19), third baseman Jean Carlos Encarnacion (#20), and outfielder Dustin Peterson (#21).
Also in this series:
Atlanta Braves Top 50 Prospects: #31-40
Atlanta Braves Top 50 Prospects: #21-30
Atlanta Braves Top 50 Prospects: #11-20
Atlanta Braves Top 50 Prospects: #1-10
50. Walter Borkovich, RHP
Age: 23 | Throws: R
1.47 ERA | 3.29 FIP | 34 G, 6 GS | 85.2 IP | 1.58 BB/9 | 5.88 K/9 (A, A+)
Current Assignment: A Rome
Acquired: MiLB Free Agent — 2017
Prior Year Ranking: NA
When a player goes undrafted after posting a 2.01 ERA in his senior season at a Division I school like Michigan State, the tendency among amateur prospect watchers (like me) is to wonder “what’s wrong with him?” A quick look at Borkovich’s stats points out a likely indicator: a 5.55 K/9 in his senior year. That’s not a mark that many pitchers can get away with in college, much less the pros.
Sometimes though it’s worthwhile to not dwell on the numbers, or the age, and just let a player’s performance speak for him. And in 2018, Borkovich performed spectacularly. Spending the first 2/3rds of the season in the Rome bullpen, Borkovich was an easy selection for the SAL All-Star team after posting a 2.08 ERA in 47.2 innings spread over 28 appearances. His strikeout rate still didn’t “wow” anyone, but the 47% groundball rate did. Borkovich was promoted to advanced-A Florida to start August and was immediately pressed into the rotation, where there was a need after Kyle Muller and Ian Anderson were promoted in succession to AA Mississippi and Joey Wentz continued to have trouble staying on the mound after back-to-back oblique injuries. Borkovich really opened some eyes with three starts of 5, 6, and 6 innings pitched without allowing any runs. Borkovich was returned to Rome to close out the month with the R-Braves heading into the playoffs and needing pitching help. In three regular season starts with Rome, he pitched 21 innings and allowed 3 earned runs. He was the starting pitcher in the deciding Game 2 of the semi-finals against Lexington and pitched well matched up against 1st-rounder Daniel Lynch.
Borkovich gets away without striking out too many batters by inducing weak contact with a sharp slider that breaks down and away from right-handers and a sinking 89-91 fastball that is his primary weapon against lefties. When he gets in trouble however, he can break out a mid-90’s four-seamer that surprises hitters. He also has a tight curveball that he uses like a change-up to give hitters another look.
Borkovich is the kind of pitcher that could actually put up better numbers as he climbs the organizational ladder. He rarely makes mistakes in the strike zone, and could benefit from higher-level umpiring. He did so well in the rotation that it seems like the Braves may leave him there in 2019, starting him off in Florida, but I believe he’s better suited to the bullpen where his pitch mix can play up.
Walter Borkovich video from 2080 Baseball
49. Trey Harris, OF
Age: 22 | Bats: R
.302/.409/.434 | 144 wRC+ | 1 HR | 7 SB | 12.4% BB | 11.5% K (Rk+ and A levels)
Current Assignment: A Rome
Acquired: Drafted, 32nd Round – 2018
Prior Year Ranking: N/A
A graduate of McEachern High School in Powder Springs, GA, Harris had long been on the Braves radar, and they had to be surprised and pleased that the University of Missouri senior fell to the 32nd round of the draft. He’s a little undersized at 5′-10″ and doesn’t carry his 220 pounds particularly well, but he has good contact ability and plays a solid corner outfield thanks to above average speed, arm, and athleticism. Everyone from his coaches to his teammates praise his attitude and leadership as well. He’s strong and could add more power to his game with a swing adjustment. Even without that he should continue to hit well at the lower levels of the minors providing he keeps his body in line.
Harris was promoted to Rome straight from the GCL in mid-August and he will likely return there to start the 2019 season, but he could be a player the Braves plug in as necessary at any level and can reasonably expect him to hit.
48. Andrew Moritz, OF
Age: 21 | Bats: R
.280/.352/.376 | 97 wRC+ | 1 HR | 4 SB | 9.7% BB | 16.7% K
Current Assignment: Rk+ Danville
Acquired: Drafted, 6th Round – 2018
Prior Year Ranking: N/A
A three-time Southern Conference batting champion for UNC-Greensboro, Moritz is another undersized but high-energy outfielder with great bat control. Moritz got off to a bit of a slow start with Danville, but really turned it on after the Fourth of July, hitting .302/.354/.395 in the final three weeks of July before a hand injury ended his first pro season prematurely. Defensively he is solid in all three outfield positions, but lacks closing speed to be a top-notch centerfielder. If pushed to a corner, Moritz will need to really hit to keep moving through the organization, but Moritz has spent a career beating the odds.
Assuming he’s healthy, Moritz should grab some playing time in Rome to start the 2018 season, but like Harris could move up quickly to fill gaps as they open up in the outfield.
47. Greg Cullen, 2B
Age: 21 | Bats: L
.302/.409/.434 | 144 wRC+ | 2 HR | 0 SB | 12.0% BB | 12.0% K
Current Assignment: Rk+ Danville
Acquired: Drafted, 15th Round – 2018
Prior Year Ranking: N/A
The reigning NCAA Division 1 batting champion for Niagara, Cullen is (stop me if you heard this one before) an undersized hitter with excellent bat control. Cullen’s body type brings to mind classic power-hitting second basemen like Bret Boone and Dan Uggla, but his swing path at least currently keeps his power more in the gaps. Defensively Cullen is steady at second base and won’t make too many unforced errors, but he doesn’t wow with either his range or hands.
Cullen carried the Danville offense for a period in early August when the team was challenging for a division title, but neither he nor the Braves could keep up the production. Nevertheless it was a promising debut for the polished hitter, and he should start at second base on Opening Day for Rome.
46. Matt Rowland, RHP
Age: 20 | Throws: R
3.83 ERA | 5.68 FIP | 13 G, 13 GS | 54.0 IP | 4.33 BB/9 | 6.83 K/9
Current Assignment: Rk+ Danville
Acquired: Drafted, 11th Round – 2016
Prior Year Ranking: N/A
A graduate of Marietta, GA’s Pope High School, Rowland got an well-overslot bonus after getting drafted out of high school in 2016, but almost immediately suffered a torn UCL that caused him to miss both the 2016 and 2017 seasons. Finally making his pro debut with Danville this year, Rowland showed understandable rustiness that translated into walks. He also showed the 92-94 mph fastball and sharp curveball that made him attractive to the Braves in the first place, though the Braves had him hold back on the curveball for much of the year so he could work on fastball command.
Now able to go through his first regular off-season prep in years, he’s a strong candidate to begin the year in the Rome Braves starting rotation. Command is typically the last thing to return after Tommy John surgery, and if Rowland can continue to improve in that area he could be a sleeper to quickly climb up prospect rankings like this one.
45. Jeremy Fernandez, OF
Age: 21 | Bats: R
.281/.322/.492 | 123 wRC+ | 8 HR | 5 SB | 5.5% BB | 12.1% K
Current Assignment: Rk GCL Braves
Acquired: International Amateur Free Agent – 2014/15
Prior Year Ranking: N/A
When I first saw Jeremy Fernandez he was a tallish but thin middle infielder that couldn’t really play shortstop, couldn’t really hit, and was in over his head even as a bench player in Danville. Two years and what looks to be 15 pounds of muscle later, Fernandez is still toiling in the rookie leagues, but probably not for much longer. Fernandez busted out in 2018 for the GCL Braves, leading the team in most offensive categories and re-planting his flag on the prospect map.
Fernandez converted to outfield last year, and this season he almost exclusively played centerfield and he looks like he could stick there. He’s got interesting upside but will need to prove he should move up quickly; he will be Rule V eligible after the 2019 season. I imagine he’ll be the starting centerfielder for the Rome Braves to start the year.
44. Jacob Webb, RHP
Age: 25 | Throws: R
3.15 ERA | 3.86 FIP | 51 G, 0 GS | 54.1 IP | 3.81 BB/9 | 11.43 K/9
Current Assignment: AAA Gwinnett
Acquired: Drafted, 18th Round – 2014
Prior Year Ranking: 53
Webb had a career high 51 appearances and 18 saves in 2018 between Mississippi and Gwinnett, putting him on the cusp of the majors. His fastball regularly sits in the mid-90s with movement and his curveball has become reliable enough to become a true strikeout pitch. That’s the good news.
The bad news is that his walk rate didn’t really improve this season as was hoped, now three years removed from his UCL replacement. It’s high enough to be concerned he could be trusted in a high- or even medium-leverage major league relief situation. Webb still has time to improve in this area having just recently turned 25 years old, but he is eligible for the Rule V draft for the second time, and I believe there’s a good chance that a rebuilding team plucks him away from the Braves and gives him a spin.
43. Nolan Kingham, RHP
Age: 22 | Throws: R
4.56 ERA | 5.68 FIP | 11 G, 3 GS | 23.2 IP | 2.66 BB/9 | 6.85 K/9
Current Assignment: Rk+ Danville
Acquired: Drafted, 12th Round – 2018
Mid-Season 2018 OFR Ranking: N/A
An uneven junior season at Texas had Kingham, once thought to be a Day 1 draft pick, fall to Atlanta in the 12th round. The Braves have to be delighted, because the big right-hander has three potential above average pitches with a fastball that sits comfortably in the 91-93 range, ticking up a few mphs out of the bullpen. The Braves will work with him to clean up some of his arm action, which is noticeably slower when he goes to the breaking ball.
After a long run in the NCAA playoffs — Kingham appeared in three games for Texas after getting drafted — the Braves went easy on him in Danville to preserve his arm. Kingham should start 2019 in a rotation, probably Rome but Florida is also a possibility given his major conference experience.
Nolan Kingham video from 2080 Baseball.
42. Jake Higginbotham, LHP
Age: 22 | Throws: L
2.65 ERA | 4.55 FIP | 13 G, 0 GS | 34.0 IP | 3.18 BB/9 | 9.53 K/9
Current Assignment: Rk+ Danville
Acquired: Drafted, 11th Round – 2018
Mid-Season 2018 OFR Ranking: N/A
Higginbotham overcame elbow and lat muscle injuries while with Clemson to be an 11th-round pick with an overslot bonus for Atlanta. Higginbotham is a rare undersized Braves pitching prospect, but he utilizes deception and command of his low-90s fastball to get on top of hitters quickly. His curveball is still rounding back into form after his injuries, and he had a promising change-up in college, but pitched solely out of the bullpen in limited outings with Danville and he primarily leaned on the fastball and curve.
A Buford, GA native, Higginbotham gets high marks for his baseball IQ and tenacity. My guess is that he will start the season in the Rome bullpen, but could get some looks as a starter if opportunities arise and he can bring three pitches to the table consistently.
Jake Higginbotham video from 2080 Baseball.
41. Alejandro Salazar, IF
Age: 22 | Bats: R
.285/.315/.337 | 86 wRC+ | 1 HR | 6 SB | 4.4% BB | 18.6% K
Current Assignment: AA Mississippi
Acquired: International Amateur Free Agent – 2013/14
Mid-Season 2018 OFR Ranking: 79
Salazar has been in the Braves farm system for five seasons, but makes the OFR prospect list for the first time on the strength of showcasing positional flexibility, helping his chances of making it to the majors. In prior seasons he played shortstop nearly exclusively and showed good range and a strong, if somewhat inaccurate arm. In 2018 the Braves played him all over the infield, settling in at second base with Mississippi playing the keystone with another multi-positional hopeful in Ray-Patrick Didder at shortstop. This should not be construed that Salazar is not good enough to play shortstop, this was simply about giving him alternate avenues of advancement.
As a hitter, Salazar’s calling cards are a strong contact rate and an extreme groundball rate, two things that work together to sabotage any change to let him do any substantial damage or provide value on the bases with his above average speed. If Salazar could elevate the ball off the bat even slightly to help find gaps more consistently, he’d have all the ingredients to make a major league utility player.
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