Welcome to our annual look at the overall system depth at each position. Second base is steady at the major league level with a young potential star, but the minor leagues reflect the challenges arising from Atlanta’s punishment in the international amateur arena, with few prospects and a lot of uncertainty.
First Base | Shortstop | Third Base | Catcher | Left Field | Centerfield | Right Field | Starting Pitcher | Relief Pitcher
ATLANTA BRAVES
STARTER: Ozzie Albies
Coming off a strong 2019 season and looking good last spring, it seemed like 2020 could be a special year for the Braves dynamic young second baseman. Instead the pandemic and a wrist injury suffered during summer camp activities sabotaged Albies’ first eleven games before he and the team decided it was time to go on the injured list. Albies missed 30 games, which in 2020 is half the season. When he returned, Albies had one of the hottest stretches of his career, hitting .338/.372/.581 with 5 home runs over the final 18 games then hitting a respectable 13-for-47 with 2 homers and 2 doubles in the playoffs. Assuming full health, Albies should resume his campaign for being recognized as the top second baseman in baseball.
Back-up: Johan Camargo filled in at second base for Albies last year, but did not distinguish him self at the plate or in the field. After coming up as a plus defender at shortstop and second base, Camargo now only seems comfortable that third. The Braves have signed former Minnesota Twins utilityman Ehire Adrianza to a minor league deal, and he would seem to have an excellent chance of making the club and being the primary back-up at both second base and shortstop.
Upper-Level Minor Leaguers
IF Riley Unroe
Projected Level: AAA Gwinnett
The Gwinnett roster could feature several players who will be able to handle multiple positions well, but for now I’m penciling in former Rays 2nd-rounder Unroe to get a plurality of the innings at the position. Unroe had a fantastic 2019 season after being claimed in the minor league Rule 5 draft, advancing from high-A Florida up to getting a few games in with Gwinnett. Unroe could also see time at shortstop and third base.
IF Wendell Rijo
Projected Level: AAA Gwinnett
Rijo was also acquired as a minor league Rule 5 draftee after the 2019 season from the New York Yankees farm system, but has not yet had the opportunity to suit up for a Braves affiliate due to the pandemic. Rijo has played 43 games at the AAA level and will look to return there for 2021. Rijo provides good defense at second and third base stretched at shortstop. He added some pop to his game in 2019, hitting 13 home runs in the minors, and is solid on the basepaths as well.
Sean Kazmar Jr. and Jack Mayfield are also possibilities to see some time at second base for Gwinnett, as well as the aforementioned Ehire Adrianza if he doesn’t make the team outright.
2B Jalen Miller
Projected Level: AA Mississippi
Yet another infielder Atlanta acquired through the minor league Rule 5 draft, Miller was plucked from the San Francisco Giants organization this offseason. An alumni of Sandy Springs, GA’s Riverwood High School, Miller has so far not lived up to his draft pedigree as a 3rd-round selection, but Miller is still only 24 years old and has athletic qualities that still make him an intriguing find. Miller has base-stealing speed and enough raw power to get to double-digit home run totals if he can develop his hit tool enough to take advantage of these attributes. Miller hit .216/.287/.332 for AA Richmond for the Giants in 2019 and would seem a good candidate to repeat the level.
IF Brett Langhorne
Projected Level: AA Mississippi
Langhorne was drafted out of the University of Tennessee after a run as the Vol’s starting third baseman, but the Braves have successfully converted him to a utility player, working at first, second, and third and he even played centerfield for high-A Florida in 2019 for 11 games. Langhorne didn’t exactly light up the scoreboard as a hitter in 2019, hitting .203/.289/.281, but defensive versitility is his game and after the loss of the 2020 season I suspect he’ll still get the bump up a level.
Kevin Josephina is the other utility infielder likely at this level and could also log some innings at second.
Lower-Level Minor Leaguers
2B Cody Milligan
Projected Level: A+ Rome
Milligan would seem to be a likely candidate to be the leadoff hitter for the newly promoted high-A Rome squad this year. He was solid in his pro debut for Danville in 2019, showing both speed and on-base ability. His work at second base is still a work-in-progress after converting from catching in college, but he shows good athleticism. He’s the kind of hard-nosed player that should be popular with Rome fans.
IF Braulio Vasquez
Projected Level: A+ Rome
Vasquez played all season with low-A Rome in 2019 and showed his value by playing multiple positions, including second base. While he wasn’t able to get the bat going, in part thanks to a foot injury on a hit-by-pitch in May as it seemed his offense was starting to heat up, a solid performance late in the year is likely enough to push him up a level. Vasquez has a good plate approach and is a decent bet to show more than he’s produced so far as heads toward 22 years old.
IF Landon Stephens
Projected Level: A Augusta
Stephens will likely play multiple positions in 2021, but I’m projecting him for the plurality of innings at second base for Augusta. Stephens did not play second base at all his senior year at Miami of Ohio, so there is a solid chance I am completely off base here, but the Braves like to challenge players at the lower levels by putting them at the most difficult positions they could potentially handle.
IF Garrett Saunders
Projected Level: A Augusta
Signed as a non-drafted free agent during the 2019 season to play with Danville, Saunders impressed by hitting .300/.438/.343 in 23 games for the sadly departed D-Braves and showing good hands and instincts at all three infield skill positions. Saunders should see plenty of time at all three positions again.
Short-Season Minor Leaguers
2B Eliezel Stevens
If the Braves decide to push a youngster early to Augusta, it may be Stevens. A 20-year-old signed out of the Dominican, Stevens has shown occasional power, good speed, and solid defensive skills in the the Dominican and Gulf Coast Leagues, but also lots of strikeouts. The rare lefty-hitting middle infielder, Stevens should get a long look by the organization.
2B/OF Geraldo Quintero
Quintero was a standout performer for the DSL Braves in 2019 and should make his stateside debut. Quintero seems equally adept in centerfield or second base, but would seem to have more of a path at second.
Second Base Depth Chart
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- Ozzie Albies
- Ehire Adrianza
- Johan Camargo
- Riley Unroe
- Wendell Rijo
- Sean Kazmar
- Jack Mayfield
- Jalen Miller
- Brett Langhorne
- Kevin Josephina
- Cody Milligan
- Braulio Vazquez
- Landon Stephens
- Garrett Saunders
- Eliezel Stevens
- Geraldo Quintero
- Ozzie Albies
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