Braves System Depth 2019: Corner Outfield

Spring training is less than 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.

Corner outfield is an area of organizational depth in the mid- and lower-minor league levels, and there’s a good chance that the eventual successor to Nick Markakis is already in the system. With reigning Rookie of the Year Ronald Acuña manning one of the corner outfield spots in Atlanta, the Braves have one of the most exciting and dynamic young talents in baseball.

Also in this series:
First Base | Second Base | Third Base | Shortstop | Catcher | Centerfield | Starting Pitcher

ATLANTA BRAVES

STARTERS: Ronald Acuña and Nick Markakis

As it stands right now, the outfield corners will be manned by the players who finished 2018 in those spots. Acuña stands as perhaps the most exciting player to make his major league debut in the last five seasons, a true 5-tool talent that quickly brought those skills into major league play. While the rest of offense struggled through a grueling second half, Acuña carried the team on his back, hitting .303/.379/.583 over the final three months of the season and cementing the Rookie of the Year award. Acuña should challenge first baseman Freddie Freeman for the WAR team crown given a healthy season in which he’s permitted to start on Opening Day. Acuña will likely return to left field given how much territory there is to cover in SunTrust Park compared to right field.

Speaking of right field, first dibs on the position goes to veteran Nick Markakis, who accepted a $6 million guaranteed deal to return to the team, well below market value. If Acuña was the second-half MVP of the team, you could argue that Markakis should be the MVP for the first half; he hit .326/.391/.492 through the end of June, earning his first ever All-Star appearance. However, as most fans are aware Markakis fell off hard in the second half, only hitting .266/.340/.385, more in line with is performance during the rest of his tenure in Atlanta. During the rebuild, this was adequate production from a player the team could count on to take the field every day and be an example to younger players, but as what will hopefully be a long stretch of contending seasons the Braves may end up having to alter playing time in right field. Markakis did continue to hit right-handed pitchers well, .304/.379/.450 last season, so there may be a platoon opportunity.

Back-up: The Braves continue to carry Adam Duvall, acquired at the deadline from the Cincinnati Reds. Duvall was brought in to platoon with Ender Inciarte, who was having difficulty hitting left-handers. Unfortunately for Duvall, Inciarte got hot immediately after the trade and stayed hot until the end of the season, while Duvall struggled mightily, hitting only .132/.193/.151 in limited opportunities. Duvall has always had unhealthy contact rates, but over the course of the last several years has been a reliable source of power, though he dropped to only 15 home runs last year after two seasons of hitting over 30. In addition to Duvall, Charlie Culberson has outfield experience and did a nice job filling in for Acuña in June after a knee injury sidelined him for over three weeks. In addition Johan Camargo is expected to see some outfield time this spring. If he works out at the position, he could be the smaller half of a Markakis/Camargo platoon.

 

GWINNETT STRIPERS (CLASS AAA)

 STARTERS: Travis Demeritte and Rafael Ortega

The outfield situation for Gwinnett is fluid, depending on how serious the organization is about giving third base prospect Austin Riley playing time in the outfield to create more potential opportunities for promotion. Until we see however, my assumption is that free agent Rafael Ortega and prospect Travis Demeritte will get the bulk of the playing time in the corners.

Ortega has been up in the majors with the Rockies in 2012, the Angels in 2016, and with the Marlins for 41 games in 2018. The 27-year-old Ortega hit .233/.287/.271 with Miami, but fared much better with AAA New Orleans, where he hit .275/.375/.404 with 2 home runs and 12 stolen bases. While he has experience in centerfield, his recent playing experience has been primarily in left or right field.

Demeritte was a first round pick by the Rangers in 2013. He was traded to the Braves in 2016 for pitchers Lucas Harrell and Dario Alvarez. Demeritte’s calling cards as he’s moved through the minors have been solid infield defense, excellent power, and long cold snaps where he had trouble making contact and leading to alarming strikeout totals. Only a year away from minor league free agency, this is a key season for the 24-year-old’s future with the organization. The Braves moved Demeritte to left field last season in an effort to improve his versatility. While I expect he will continue to see plenty of plate appearances as an outfield, I also wouldn’t be surprised to see him mixed in again at second and third base.

Back-up: In addition to the chance of Riley seeing outfield time, infielder Sean Kazmar has experience at both corners. There also seems to be an opportunity for an outfielder that ended the season in Mississippi to make the jump as a reserve outfield/DH, perhaps Brandon Downes, Connor Lien, or Tyler Neslony.

 

MISSISSIPPI BRAVES (CLASS AA)

STARTERS: Izzy Wilson and Greyson Jenista

Speaking of fluid outfield situations, the outfield assignments for Mississippi and Florida will be interesting to see. Jenista and Wilson represent the top corner outfield prospects in the organization, but both got to the advanced-A level in the second half of last season and neither were particularly productive there. This is a situation where how the players show progress in spring training may be the deciding factor.

Jenista was the Braves 2nd-round draft pick in 2018 out of Wichita State and he climbed three levels before the end of the season. Jenista displayed patience at the plate and a quick bat, but his overall swing limited his power potential. Correcting this will be Job One for Braves coaches; if all goes successfully, Jenista could rise rapidly this season and be an outfield option in Atlanta at some point in 2020. As a sign of the Braves confidence in him, Jenista was given an invitation to big league spring training in February.

Wilson has been in the organization since signing with the Braves as an international free agent out of the Netherlands Antilles in 2014. One of the most athletic players in the the Braves minor league system, Wilson has at times shown good power, good plate discipline, good baserunning, and defense in both center in right fields. What he hasn’t shown yet are all those things together for a long stretch of games, and he still has a ways to go on pitch recognition. That said, Wilson doesn’t turn 21 until March, so he still has time to figure it all out.

Back-up: Most of the outfield reserves mentioned for Gwinnett — Downes, Lien, Neslony — could end up sticking in Mississippi to start the season. Other possibilities include 2017 draft pick Garrison Schwartz, fresh off a stint in the Australian Baseball League, or even Drew Waters if the Braves elect to challenge him with a promotion to Mississippi. Waters would likely slide over to a corner with Cristian Pache remaining in centerfield.

 

FLORIDA FIRE FROGS (CLASS A+)

STARTERS: Justin Dean and Jefrey Ramos

The uncertainty about the Mississippi assignments filter down to Florida, as Jenista and Wilson could either or both be assigned here. If they are both promoted to Mississsippi, Ramos and Dean seem to be the most likely to garner starting spots at the outfield corners.

Ramos was a mainstay in the Rome line-up in 2018, demonstrating power and solid contact skills while playing well in left field. Ramos hit particularly well down the stretch, going .304/.340/.565 over the season’s final two weeks. Ramos is very aggressive at the plate which can get him in trouble with ground balls and pop flies.

Dean was a 17th-round pick in 2017 and climbed up to Rome by July. Dean is a superb baserunner and fielder, and his 5′-8″ stature hides good power as well, though his 2018 batting approach and swing emphasizes putting the ball on the ground. Dean’s offensive production in Rome was solid but not spectacular, so a promotion from Opening Day is not assured.

Back-up: If he’s not in Mississippi, Garrison Schwartz would be a top reserve/DH option at this level. Other possibilities include Shean Michel or even versatile slugger Ray Hernandez, who could slot at first, third, or a corner outfield slot in either Rome or Florida.

 

ROME BRAVES (CLASS A)

STARTERS: Andrew Moritz and Trey Harris

A Dean promotion to Florida leaves the corners in Rome open to two guys who are good enough to handle centerfield, giving the team a very strong defensive outfield.

Andrew Moritz was a 6th-round pick out of UNC-Greensboro. Moritz has excellent bat control and can spray the ball all over the field, making him a solid choice for hitting lead-off. A hand injury shortened his 2018 season with Danville, but he was starting to heat up in the weeks before that.

Trey Harris got a late-season call-up to Rome, and hit .286/.351/.393 in his 22 games at the level. There’s a chance it may be Harris that gets the early jump to Florida instead of Dean.

Back-up: There were a ton of outfielders that got significant playing time at Danville that could make the jump to Rome. Nicholas Shumpert can handle both the infield and outfield, and has spent most of his time in the Australian Summer League in the outfield. Ray Hernandez could also see time in a corner outfield spot at Rome, as well as Justin Smith, a 2017 20th-rounder who got a taste of Rome last season. Other possibilities include Carlos Baerga (yes, the son of that other Carlos Baerga), who came one strong at Danville late in the season once given steady playing time, and Henry Quintero, a Cuban import that projects to have more pop in his bat than he has shown to date.

Corner Outfield Depth Chart

1. Ronald Acuña
2. Nick Markakis
   • Adam Duvall
   • Johan Camargo
   • Charlie Culberson
3. Travis Demeritte
4. Rafael Ortega
   • Tyler Neslony
   • Austin Riley
5. Greyson Jenista
6. Izzy Wilson
   • Connor Lien
   • Brandon Downes
7. Justin Dean
8. Jefrey Ramos
   • Gary Schwartz
   • Shean Michel
9. Andrew Moritz
10. Trey Harris
    • Nicholas Shumpert
    • Ray Hernandez
    • Justin Smith
    • Carlos Baerga
    • Henry Quintero

OFR TOP 10 CORNER OUTFIELD PROSPECT RANKINGS:

1. Greyson Jenista (OFR #15)
2. Izzy Wilson (OFR #23)
3. Jefrey Ramos (OFR #24)
4. Travis Demeritte (OFR #33)
5. Justin Dean (OFR #40)
6. Andrew Moritz (OFR #48)
7. Trey Harris (OFR #49)
8. Christian Zamora
9. Charles Reyes
10. Asmin Bautista