Spring training full-squad workouts are just two weeks 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 Tuesday and Friday until all players officially report on February 17.
The Braves made a free agent signing to help shore up the starting line-up that impacts the starting outfield alignment in 2020.
First Base | Second Base | Third Base | Shortstop | Catcher
ATLANTA BRAVES
STARTER: Marcell Ozuna
When third baseman Josh Donaldson signed with the Minnesota Twins, the Braves pivoted quickly to Ozuna, regarded by many as the best remaining position player free agent left on the market, securing his services with a 1 year, $19 million deal. The 29-year-old broke out in a big way in 2017 as a member of the Miami Marlins, hitting .312/.376/.548 with a career high 37 home runs and winning a Gold Glove, but was sent to St. Louis that offseason as part of the start of Miami’s ongoing rebuild. Ozuna couldn’t duplicate that kind of production with the Cardinals, perhaps hampered by a number of nagging injuries, including at different times hand and finger injuries and shoulder inflammation. Ozuna rates in the top 7% in both hard-hit rate and exit velocity, but suffered a .259 BABiP in 2019. Ozuna and the Braves are banking on that reversing in 2020. Braves fans will most remember Ozuna has the top offensive catalyst for the Cardinals team that knocked the Braves out of the NLDS in 2019. Since winning the Gold Glove in 2017, Ozuna has been a quickly diminishing defensive player, though his sprint speed and covering distance haven’t appreciably changed, so there is hope that he could start making a higher percentage of plays.
Back-up: Adam Duvall, Nick Markakis, and Ender Inciarte are veteran outfielders who will vie for playing time alongside Ozuna and Ronald Acuña Jr. All three can play left field, though Duvall has the most experience there and is an above average defender. Austin Riley is a wildcard here as well, and an injury to Ozuna could put Riley here if Johan Camargo is playing well at third base.
GWINNETT STRIPERS (CLASS AAA)
STARTER: Drew Waters
Barring a trade, Ozuna’s likely heir apparent in left field for Atlanta is Waters, a 2nd-round draft pick in 2017 from an Atlanta-area high school. Waters’ combination of athleticism, hitting ability, and confidence has allowed him to move rapidly through the Braves farm system. A true all-fields hitter, the biggest questions on Waters will be to see if he can maintain production even if the +.425 BABiP he had in 2019 can’t be reproduced and if he can produce more against left-handed hitters. Waters is fully capable of playing at least an above average center field, and he will no doubt rotate to both center and right field with Gwinnett to maintain his flexibility, but he will likely most often play left in anticipation of taking the spot in 2021. Unlike fellow top prospect Cristian Pache, Waters is not yet on the 40-man roster, so it is somewhat less likely that he will see time in Atlanta in 2020, though no one should count him out.
Back-up: The Braves have signed major league veterans Peter O’Brien and Shane Robinson to minor league contracts, and both have extensive experience in left field, though O’Brien is a defensive liability there.
MISSISSIPPI BRAVES (CLASS AA)
STARTER: Tyler Neslony
Neslony put up the best slash line of his minor league career in 2019 (.292/.369/.458) but was limited to only 58 games due a variety of injuries that popped up during the season. Despite a strong arm, Neslony’s best position on the field is “hitter”, and now entering his age 26 season that may put a cap his continued advancement without a strong uptick at the plate. Neslony’s 5 home runs in 2019 constituted a career high.
Back-up: Shean Michel is a defensive replacement/pinch runner type of outfielder who could see time at all three outfield positions, but would most likely sub in for Neslony in late and close situations.
FLORIDA FIRE FROGS (CLASS A+)
STARTER: Jefrey Ramos
Ramos played all of 2019 with the Florida Fire Frogs and struggled to duplicate even his mediocre production with Rome in 2018. Ramos’s raw power is his top attribute as a ball player, but he managed only 9 round-trippers and 16 doubles with Florida, compared to 16 and 24 with Rome the season before. While the Florida State League is known to suppress offense, this was still a disappointing result for Ramos, who will be turning 21 in February. A return trip to Florida seems to be in order, but it may be a case here that he is moved up in order to make room for others coming up through the system. Ramos will need to more consistently barrel the ball and avoid wasted at-bats in 2020.
Back-up: The most likely outfield reserves for Florida are Garrison Schwartz, a tough-nosed player with occasional power, and Jose Bermudez, a speed/defense outfielder.
ROME BRAVES (CLASS A)
STARTER: Willie Carter
Carter parlayed a 19 home run season for Webber International in 2019 into a 32nd-round draft selection by Atlanta. Carter didn’t exhibit that same power with Danville despite an extreme fly ball approach. Carter is strong and athletic, and could possibly bring his raw power into games more with a more line-drive approach that would still get him fair share of homers and more doubles as well.
Back-up: Jeremy Fernandez finished last season as Rome’s starting left fielder and could resume there. Fernandez has a quick bat and power potential, but needs to improve his pitch recognition to solidify his prospect status. Connor Blair, a 2019 15th-rounder out of Washington could also be in the mix here, and it’s likely spring training will be critical to determine who among Carter, Fernandez, and Blair get the first crack in the Florida and Rome outfields.
ROOKIE LEAGUES
Charles Reyes
In three professional seasons since being signed out of the Dominican Republic, Reyes has shown more potential than performance so far. Now entering his age 20 season, Reyes will need a strong spring training to matriculate up to Rome. Reyes needs to be more selective and keep the ball off the ground, but it wouldn’t surprise if he flips a switch at some point and raises his prospect profile.
Brandol Mezquita
Mezquita will always be known as the one of the “Coppy 13” international prospects that were made free agents after the scandal that re-signed back with Atlanta. Beyond that, he is an intriguing if very raw talent with speed and potential for more power with continued filling out and better outfield defense with experience.
Christian Zamora
Zamora was measuring as 6′-4″ and over 200 pounds when he debuted for the GCL Braves in 2018 as a 16 year old. Zamora is a long-term project for Braves player development to see if he will develop the skills to match the physicality. Nagging injuries slowed Zamora in 2019, and it seems like a third season starting in the GCL could be in the cards.
Left Field Depth Chart
- Marcell Ozuna
- Nick Markakis
- Adam Duvall
- Drew Waters
- Peter O’Brien
- Shane Robinson
- Jefrey Ramos
- Tyler Neslony
- Shean Michel
- Andrew Moritz
- Garrison Schwartz
- Jose Bermudez
- Willie Carter
- Connor Blair
- Jeremy Fernandez
- Charles Reyes
- Brandol Mezquita
- Christian Zamora
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