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Back in January, we made a list. It was the best we could do at the time, and I’m proud of the work Matt and I put into it.
The most unsurprising thing about it was just how off it was.
After all, the list was made after a lost season, when no minor league games were played, none of the few 2021 draft class played in games that people were invited to watch, and the Braves in particular kept events at the Alternate Trainings Site more guarded than state secrets.
Now that the minor leagues have returned and we have three months of scheduled games to go off of, there have been some re-orderings to do. So here is our hopefully more-informed prospect list as we hit just a little over the middle of the minor league season.
Changes From Pre-Season
There’s been numerous changes since January, most notably the graduations of then #2 prospect Ian Anderson, #4 William Contreras, and #15 Alex Jackson, who was also traded to Miami for good measure. Also traded were #14 Bryce Ball (to the Cubs for Joc Pederson), #16 Patrick Weigel (to the Brewers for Orlando Arcia), and #31 Kasey Kalich (to the Royals for Jorge Soler). Also gone from the list are #26 Jeremy Walker and #46 Phil Pfeifer, both released from the organization for injury-related reasons.
The biggest change among the prospects still eligible for the list was at the top, where previous #10 Michael Harris V comes in at number 1. Does this mean he’s ready for the majors right now? Nope, not in the slightest. In fact, he’s not ready yet for a promotion to AA Mississippi, though that may still happen before the end of the season. Harris simply has, in our opinion, the best mix of tools and intangibles that will eventually make the biggest impact in the major leagues. Maybe that starts in 2022, more likely 2023, and even a 2024 debut is a possibility. But whenever it occurs, our money would go on Harris making a big impact.
Cristian Pache of course then drops to #2. Pache has obviously struggled this season, though the drop had more to do with Harris demonstrating his abilities rather than Pache’s short, poor major league showing. The biggest concern for Pache is really his health; multiple hamstring issues in a young player where speed is a major part of his game is something to keep an eye on.
After that the biggest moves have been among the 2020 draft class, with all four players doing well to some degree. Right-hander Spencer Strider made a big leap up the rankings and we now have him as the highest ranked member of the class at #6. The only position player drafted, Jesse Franklin III, jumped up 13 spots from #28 to #15 on the strength of his power showing at high-A Rome.
The shutdown however has clearly taken a toll on the overall play of the minor leagues however, and many Braves prospects haven’t fared as well coming out of the other side.
Coming Up at OFR
Matt and I will continue weekly coverage of the Braves minor league in the Monday Farm Reports, followed up every week with the OFR Farm Report Podcast.
Check in regularly!
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