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. Look for new installments every Monday and Friday until all players officially report on February 17.
For the first time in many years, the Braves have some real depth at first base in the minor leagues thanks to increased positional flexibility and the emergence two major draft selections in the 2019 draft.
Second Base | Third Base | Shortstop | Catcher | Left Field | Centerfield| Right Field | Starting Pitcher
ATLANTA BRAVES
STARTER: Freddie Freeman
Freeman, entering his age 30 season, will open up the new decade with fittingly his 10th consecutive Opening Day assignment at first base. An All-Star for the 4th time in 2019, Freeman entered the break with a .309/.394/.584 batting line and what has become customary MVP discussion. While Freeman maintained strong production through the rest of the year, leading the team in wRC+ through the month of August, he was playing through increasing elbow pain caused by bone spurs. This reached a peek at pretty much the worse time of the season, just a few weeks before the playoffs. Freeman rested for 4 days after the Braves clinched the division title, and he pronounced himself ready to go. In Game 1 he launched a 9th-inning home run that brought Atlanta to within 1 run of pulling out a win. He then went 0-for the next three games, and made an uncharacteristically poor defensive play in the first inning of Game 5 on a Yadi Molina grounder that helped open the gates to the disastrous 10-run inning that sunk the Braves’s hopes of finishing the decade with a playoff series win.
All this ended up tainting what had been a very encouraging season overall for Freeman. He showed increases in most measurable batting outcomes, including exit velocity and hard-hit rates. He continued to play well in the field, though the bone spurs did appear to limit his typically excellent throwing. After the season, Freeman had surgery to “clean out the entire right elbow joint, removing three fragmented loose bodies and cleaning up multiple bone spur formations that had developed”. Freeman is expected to be ready on the first day of camp, bat 3rd once again, and hopefully once again make an MVP push. With only two years remaining on his contract, the Braves may start extension discussions with him this season.
Back-up: Third baseman Austin Riley expanded his positional versatility in 2019 and showed ability to man both the outfield corners and first base competently. Regardless if Riley starts 2020 in the majors or in AAA Gwinnett, expect him to move to first base and fill in if Freeman has to go out for any period of time.
UPDATE 2/14/2020: The Braves have signed veteran journeyman first baseman Yonder Alonso to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training. Alonso hit a respectable .257/.340/.458 with 51 home runs in 2017 and 2018 during stops in Seattle, Oakland, and Cleveland, even earning an All-Star nod in 2017. Last year was tough however for the big 32-year-old as his production fell to .199/.296/.346 and 10 home runs, split between the White Sox and the Rockies. If Alonso can show he can hit well enough to allow his power to play in a part-time roll, he would have an excellent chance at being a 26th-man on the bench.
GWINNETT STRIPERS (CLASS AAA)
STARTER: Ryan Casteel
The Stripers set a franchise record in runs per game in 2019, but never had a set first baseman throughout the year. Utilityman Sean Kazmar ended up with the most games played at first, but infielders Austin Riley, Pedro Florimon and Riley Unroe, catchers Sal Giardina and Jonathan Morales, and late-season free agent pick-up Lucas Duda all saw action as well. This season I expect former Rockies prospect Ryan Casteel to be the mostly everyday first baseman.
Casteel signed with the Braves last off-season, coming from the Lancaster Barnstormers of the independent Atlantic League. Casteel started 100 games at first for the Mississippi Braves and finished second in the Southern League with 21 homers to go along with a .263/.334/.477 batting line.
Back-up: Kazmar will return for his 8th season with Gwinnett and will once again provide depth at all positions other than pitcher or catcher. If Austin Riley is in AAA, expect him also to get some looks at first base, as well as veteran 1B/OF Pete O’Brien, signed to a minor league deal.
MISSISSIPPI BRAVES (CLASS AA)
STARTER: Braxton Davidson
2019 turned out to be a lost year for Davidson on the baseball diamond thanks to a bizarre injury he suffered to his foot while rounding the bases after hitting a walk-off home run in the Arizona Fall League championship game in October 2018. The recovery for that injury did not go as planned, and Davidson had to get a second surgery for the foot in June, causing him to end up missing all of the 2019 season. Assuming his foot is sound, Davidson should return to the diamond as Mississippi’s primary first baseman in 2020. The famously all-or-nothing hitter finished second in the Florida State League in home runs in 2018 but also shattered the league record in strikeouts.
Back-up: Should Davidson not be able to answer the bell, or if he’s just too rusty and needs to start the season in extended spring training, first base will likely be taken by 2019 Fire Frogs primary first baseman Drew Lugbauer. Lugbauer should see significant time at first base in any case, and he and Davidson would also likely share the DH spot when that rule is in use. Outfielder Greyson Jenista also has experience at first, playing it both in college and more recently in the Arizona Fall League.
FLORIDA FIRE FROGS (CLASS A+)
STARTER: Bryce Ball
Taken in the 24th round out of baseball powerhouse Dallas Baptist University, Ball made an immediate splash with his new organization, slugging 17 home runs in only 62 games between Danville and Rome. Ball isn’t just an all-or-nothing hitter however as he was on base at a healthy .395 clip between the two levels. The Florida State League should prove to be a good challenge for Ball and give the Braves a better understanding as to what kind of hitter, and prospect, Ball will be.
Back-up: Hagen Owenby has been a solid hitter for the last two seasons playing mostly at Rome with a little of high-A mixed in as well, and should be able to back-up at first and catcher. Brendan Venter showed good power while backing up first and third base for Rome in 2019 and could do the same in high-A.
ROME BRAVES (CLASS A)
STARTER: Griffin Benson
Benson started the 2019 season in Rome and stuck there the whole season, showing solid power and defense. A 23rd-round pick back in 2016 out of high school, Benson will need to make more consistent contact in 2020 in order to advance, and to stave off competition.
Back-up: 2018 28th-rounder Ray Hernandez had an injury-plagued 2019 with Danville, and will look to rebound while showing ability to man first or third base and hit for power. Selected in the same draft in the 33rd round, Mason Berne is more of a contact hitter who finally escaped the GCL in 2019 to post solid performance in limited action for Danville. Either could push Benson with a hot start.
ROOKIE LEAGUES
Mahki Backstrom
Backstrom is an 18 year old with good measurables and is coming off a strong pro debut with the GCL Braves. Mackstrom could push for an early promotion to Rome, but it seems more likely he will work on his craft in extended spring training and be the starting first baseman for Danville in June.
First Base Depth Chart
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- Freddie Freeman
- Adam Duvall
- Austin Riley
- Ryan Casteel
- Sean Kazmar
- Austin Riley
- Braxton Davidson
- Drew Lugbauer
- Greyson Jenista
- Bryce Ball
- Hagen Owenby
- Brenden Venter
- Griffin Benson
- Ray Hernandez
- Mason Berne
- Makhi Backstrom
- Freddie Freeman
OFR TOP 5 FIRST BASE PROSPECT RANKINGS:
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