All ages are how old the player will be as of April 1, 2024.
1. A.J. Smith-Shawver, RHP
Age: 21
3.19 ERA | 4.00 FIP | 21 G, 20 GS | 87.1 IP | 4.44 BB/9 | 10.20 K/9 (A+/AA/AAA/MLB)
Acquired: Drafted, 7th Round – 2021
Prior Ranking: 5
WHAT WE SAID: “Smith-Shawver’s fastball is his calling card, a mid-90s four-seamer with tremendous action; if Smith-Shawver can command it consistently it has top-of-the-rotation potential. His slider has a terrific sharp break and is thrown with a confidence that belies Smith-Shawver’s relative inexperience. His change-up is very much a third pitch at this time but occasionally shows quality movement. Everything currently plays down due to inconsistent mechanics, often throwing crossfire as his arm moves ahead of his body. These are all correctable issues; it’s a lot easier to develop a pitcher with shaky mechanics and good stuff than the opposite.”
WHAT HAS HAPPENED: Smith-Shawver has improved his command and his slider and has stayed healthy nearly all season. He took off like a rocket after four starts in Rome, two in Mississippi, and two in Gwinnett, culminating in an early June major league call-up. After some early success, major league hitters adjusted and he’s mostly pitched in Gwinnett since early July, though he impressed in a late-season spot start in Atlanta and made the NLDS roster. He’s also now a top 100 prospect in baseball and looks to have everything required of a future frontline starting pitcher.
2. Hurston Waldrep, RHP
Age: 22
1.53 ERA | 3.04 FIP | 8 G, 8 GS | 29.1 IP | 4.91 BB/9 | 12.58 K/9 (A/A+/AA/AAA)
Acquired: Drafted, 1st Round – 2023
Prior Ranking: N/A
WHAT WE SAID: “This year’s first pick is one of the higher ceiling college pitchers, one who has been tagged with 60+ scouting grades for both his fastball, which sits mid-90s and has been clocked at 100 mph, and his splitter-change, with some pundits calling it the best secondary pitch in the draft. Waldrep also has a hard slider and he had a 13.8 K/9 for Florida in 2023. The knock on Waldrep is a lack of command, especially with the fastball. Not being able to get strike-one regularly causes him to have to pitch from behind which can lessen the impact of his splitter and slider, both of which tend to finish outside the zone.”
WHAT HAS HAPPENED: Waldrep made his pro debut with Augusta on August 5 and made a quick climb up the organizational ladder, culminating in a start for AAA Gwinnett on the last weekend of the season. Given how overpowering his splitter was through all levels of the minors there was speculation that Waldrep would get a look in Atlanta to audition for a potential spot in the postseason bullpen but the Braves quickly nixed that notion. That said, the idea wasn’t that far of a fetch as the splitter is clearly a major-league caliber strikeout pitch now. The question with Waldrep is the same as when he was drafted, can he develop enough control to get him to favorable counts enough to make the splitter (and slider) play up the most. That said, Waldrep is a potential frontline starter that also has a high floor as a high-leverage reliever. Waldrep should be the Braves second top-100 prospect.
3. Owen Murphy, RHP
Age: 20
4.72 ERA | 3.66 FIP | 21 G, 21 GS | 89.2 IP | 3.21 BB/9 | 11.34 K/9 (A/A+)
Acquired: Drafted, 1st Round – 2022
Prior Ranking: 1
WHAT WE SAID: “In his brief time with the FCL Braves and Augusta, Murphy showcased a mid-90s fastball that touched the high 90s in early innings. It shows excellent riding life and explosiveness, though command tended to slip as outings progressed. His slider is more of a Luke Jackson-style hard slurve that has good swing-and-miss potential, but in looks with Augusta he stayed almost exclusively with the fastball. He reportedly also throws a cutter and a change-up, but it will remain to be seen if those pitches transfer to his professional repertoire.”
WHAT HAS HAPPENED: It’s been a bit of a feast or famine season for young Mr. Murphy. In most starts he will go through stretches where he appears dominant, then lose his release point or his concentration and allow runs in bunches. Then in his next start he’ll take a no-hitter in the 7th. The mid-to-high ’90s fastball he showed in his first year however is now mostly a low-90’s offering, and while it’s got good life to it, Murphy has to mix his pitches well enough to keep good hitters from clocking the fastball for damage. Murphy finished the season at high-A as a 19-year-old, which is excellent progress, and he should start at that level next season.
4. Spencer Schwellenbach, RHP
Age: 23
2.49 ERA | 3.49 FIP | 16 G, 16 GS | 65 IP | 2.22 BB/9 | 7.62 K/9 (A/A+)
Acquired: Drafted, 2nd Round – 2021
Prior Ranking: 9
WHAT WE SAID: “Schwellenbach demonstrated electric stuff working as Nebraska’s closer his junior year, the only season in which he pitched for the ‘Huskers. He has a four-seam fastball that has hit triple digits, as well as a slider and change-up. He was able to throw all three pitches with command. After the draft, the Braves indicated a desire to develop Schwellenbach as a starter.”
WHAT HAS HAPPENED: Schwellenbach was Augusta’s Opening Day starter, and while the organization has been extremely careful regarding his pitch count Schwellenbach acquitted himself well enough to be the Braves’ representative to this year’s Futures Game. He missed some time with injury after that appearance, but finished strong at high-A. The fastball has settled in the mid-90s and shows good life. The slider is a true weapon and the change-up has developed as well. He needs to work on limiting walks, but batters only hit .203 against him so it may be more an indication that he doesn’t want to give in to hitters on tight counts. Schwellenbach could start 2024 in double-A Mississippi, and if the Braves elect to switch him over to bullpen work he could make his mark in Atlanta at some point next year, though my preference at this point would be to keep working him out of a rotation.
5. Cade Kuehler, RHP
Age: 21
0.00 ERA | 3.13 FIP | 2 G, 2 GS | 7 IP | 5.14 BB/9 | 10.29 K/9 (A)
Acquired: Drafted, 2nd Round – 2023
Prior Ranking: N/A
WHAT WE SAID: “The profile here — big fastball, crazy slider, violent delivery, mustache — makes the Spencer Strider comps probably unavoidable, and as with Strider I believe the Braves will keep Kuehler in the shed at Northport for awhile before letting him run the track.”
WHAT HAS HAPPENED: Kuehler got in a couple of carefully monitored starts in Augusta just before the end of the season, and he was pretty much as advertised. Low-A hitters were pretty mystified by the life on his fastball, and the slider showed it could be a true strikeout pitch as he moves up. In his first start he was was part of a combined no-hitter, and he will almost certainly open next season in high-A Rome.
6. J.R. Ritchie, RHP
Age: 20
5.40 ERA | 0.63 FIP | 4 G, 4 GS | 13.1 IP | 2.03 BB/9 | 16.88 K/9 (A)
Acquired: Drafted, 1st Round – 2022
Prior Ranking: 2
WHAT WE SAID: “In his brief looks in Augusta late last summer, Ritchie was limited to primarily throwing the fastball, which he held in the mid-90s and threw with good command to all quadrants. Ritchie did throw a few sliders and they show swing-and-miss potential, with a decently sharp break that could be a true weapon with further development. Ritchie also reportedly shows a change-up, but he did not appear to use it in his post-draft outings in Augusta.”
WHAT HAS HAPPENED: In four starts with Augusta, Ritchie looked even sharper, showing good command and four average to above average pitches, with the slider having elite swing-and-miss potential. In his fourth start however, he had to come out with an injury which turned out to be a UCL tear. He had TJS in May and there’s a chance he may not pitch in a game until 2025.
7. Nacho Alvarez Jr., IF
Age: 20 | Bats: R
.284/.395/.391 | 123 wRC+ | 7 HR | 16 SB | 13.2% BB | 17.4% K (A+)
Acquired: Drafted, 5th Round – 2022
Prior Ranking: 20
WHAT WE SAID: “Alvarez was billed as a potential power third baseman when drafted but he spent the last part of the summer sending pitches opposite field and up the middle to spoil shifts. He used his speed to good effect as well, stealing 8 against only 1 caught. At the plate Alvarez shows a lot of rocking and movement, but ends in good hitting position and seems to recognize pitches well. Alvarez possesses a strong and accurate arm, plenty good enough for shortstop and a real weapon at third.”
WHAT HAS HAPPENED: Alvarez has shown an above average hit tool all summer long, probably the best in the system at this point. In addition he has been playing an above average shortstop, something that we weren’t expecting, and has shown glimpses of unlocking additional power. He has a knack for situational hitting, and he has been crushing left-handed pitchers to the tune of a .964 OPS. He’s developed into Atlanta’s top pure hitting prospect and some slight modifications to his swing could make him a strong all-round hitter.
8. Drake Baldwin, C
Age: 23 | Bats: L
.270/.384/.460 | 132 wRC+ | 16 HR | 0 SB | 14.1% BB | 20.6% K (A+/AA/AAA)
Acquired: Drafted, 3rd Round – 2022
Prior Ranking: 14
WHAT WE SAID: “Baldwin has a quick and smooth swing out of a deep crouch that allows him to get loft on the ball despite having a relatively flat bat path. Baldwin has excellent strike zone judgement and rarely chases out of the zone. Behind the plate, Baldwin is a work in progress but is quick and athletic for a catcher.”
WHAT HAS HAPPENED: Baldwin started the season slowly at high-A Rome, but around the All-Star break he started punishing baseballs, hitting .357/.481/.643 in July and Augusta and earning a bump up to AA Mississippi and then AAA Gwinnett when Mississippi’s season ended. Baldwin hit .323/.380/.431 at the higher levels in 17 games. Baldwin exhibits an all-fields approach and a strong batting eye. He holds his hands high at the plate and I suspect the Braves may work with him to lower them this spring, but what he’s doing is working for him. Behind the plate he shows an average arm and framing, and with veterans Murphy and d’Arnaud entrenched at the major league level Baldwin can concentrate on honing his defensive game.
9. Drue Hackenberg, RHP
Age: 22
1.42 ERA | 2.43 FIP | 3 G, 3 GS | 6.1 IP | 8.53 BB/9 | 18.47 K/9 (A/AA)
Acquired: Drafted, 7th Round – 2019
Prior Ranking: N/A
WHAT WE SAID: “With Hackenberg the Braves seem like they are trying to find success with another Bryce Elder-type potential workhorse pitcher that they hope can get to play up, maybe by getting the slider to become more of a strikeout pitch.”
WHAT HAPPENED: Hackenberg didn’t pitch until two weeks remained in the low-A season, but in two short starts he demonstrated his abilities were well above the low-A level. When he wasn’t striking out low-A hitters (12 Ks in 5.2 innings) he was getting them to ground out (78% rate on balls in play). Things went so well that the Braves decided they wanted another look him and challenged him with a final start in AA Mississippi. The good news is that Hackenberg will go into the offseason knowing what more advanced minor league competition will look like. Hackenberg will likely settle in at high-A Rome to start 2024 and his 2-seamer/slider combo shows a lot of promise.
10. David McCabe, 3B
Age: 24 | Bats: S
.276/.385/.450 | 133 wRC+ | 17 HR | 10 SB | 15.3% BB | 21.6% K (A/A+)
Acquired: Drafted, 4th Round – 2022
Prior Ranking: 41
WHAT WE SAID: “A pure power prospect taken in the 4th round, McCabe is stretched defensively at third base, but the Braves will keep him there until he proves he can’t do it.”
WHAT HAPPENED: He won’t win any fielding awards but McCabe proved adequate at third base enough that there hasn’t been much in the way of position-change talk yet. McCabe also improved his stock by showing a better hit tool than expected as well as an aptitude for situational hitting. The gaudy on-base percentage may be tough to maintain as he moves up the ladder but that may just give him more opportunities for his power to play in games even more. The 10 stolen bases are a surprise and shouldn’t be expected going forward. McCabe was selected to be Atlanta’s feature position player in the Arizona Fall League and he seems a likely candidate for AA Mississippi to start 2024.
11. Darius Vines, RHP
Age: 25
2.84 ERA | 4.22 FIP | 15 G, 11 GS | 69.2 IP | 2.97 BB/9 | 8.1 K/9 (FCL/A+/AAA/MLB)
Acquired: Drafted, 7th Round – 2019
Prior Ranking: 4
WHAT WE SAID: “Vines looks to start the season fourth in line behind Mike Soroka, Ian Anderson, and Bryce Elder in the pecking order for major league starts. He could also get major league batters out in the bullpen if required, and spring training showed that in short stints he can put the fastball well in the high 90s.”
WHAT HAS HAPPENED: After another solid showing in the spring Vines injured his shoulder and missed the entire first half of the season, finally getting back to AAA Gwinnett at the end of July. From there however it didn’t take Vines long to stake his claim to a piece of Atlanta’s fifth-starter carousel, and his made his major league debut with a memorable 6-inning, 2-run start in Colorado. Vines would make four more appearances with the big league club, including another start after the team clinched.
That said, Vines’s fastball has regressed and now sits in the 89-92 range regardless of his role. His secondary pitches, especially the change-up, compensate to some degree, but he has to make sure he hits his spots or good hitters will lay off. Vines went to the Arizona Fall League to pad out his innings and will go into spring looking for a role on the major league team.
12. Dylan Dodd, LHP
Age: 25
6.25 ERA | 5.39 FIP | 24 G, 22 GS | 112.1 IP | 3.36 BB/9 | 6.9 K/9 (FCL/AAA/MLB)
Acquired: Acquired: Drafted, 3rd Round – 2021
Prior Ranking: 8
WHAT WE SAID: “Dodd will likely get a major league spring training invitation and an Opening Day assignment to AAA Gwinnett. A major league call-up this year could also be in the cards.”
WHAT HAPPENED: Well he did get that spring invite and between injures and poor spring performances from others Dodd actually made his major league debut on April 4, spinning a 5-inning, 1-run start to earn a win. Unfortunately, this would prove to be the highlight of his season. He was crushed in his next start and optioned back to AAA Gwinnett. He would get 5 more scattered starts for Atlanta and he continued to get hit hard. To make matters worse, he was also getting hit hard at triple-A, and he went on the IL on June 24, not getting back to Gwinnett until August 3. He pitched better as the year closed out, and he has been pitching in the Arizona Fall League to pad his innings out.
While Dodd has a full repertoire of good pitches to choose from, his lack of stuff means his command has to be spot on for him to be successful, and for too many starts his command was not good enough to keep hitters off his pedestrian fastball. Dodd will never be a high-strikeout pitcher but has shown in the past the ability to generate groundballs, but this didn’t manifest for most of the year in 2023. Hopefully Dodd can build off his late-season improvement and show that he’s capable of manning a back-of-the-rotation spot.
13. Luis Guanipa, OF
Age: 18 | Bats: R
.238/.361/.384 | 104 wRC+ | 4 HR | 20 SB | 11.1% BB | 20.2% K (DSL)
Acquired: International Amateur Free Agent – 2023
Prior Ranking: 11
WHAT WE SAID: “Guanipa shows excellent bat speed that will let the ball jump off the bat, though time will tell if his raw power will regularly translate into games. Even if it doesn’t, Guanipa has a chance still be a good offensive player thanks to what looks like a strong hit tool and above average speed. That speed should allow him to stick in centerfield though reportedly his arm currently grades out as below average.”
WHAT HAS HAPPENED: We’re pumping the breaks slightly on Guanipa after a slightly lackluster opening campaign down in Santo Domingo, but even so he displayed the tools that made him a coveted amateur. He will certainly come stateside in 2024 and with the Braves there’s a shot he could get into full-season ball if he produces.
14. Sabin Ceballos, 3B
Age: 21 | Bats: R
.300/.440/.375 | 140 wRC+ | 1 HR | 2 SB | 18.0% BB | 28.0% K (FCL/A)
Acquired: Drafted, 3rd Round – 2023
Prior Ranking: N/A
Ed note: Seballos was traded to the San Francisco Giants on July 29, 2023 in a trade that brought OF Jorge Soler to Atlanta.
WHAT WE SAID: “The Braves announced him as a shortstop and they will no doubt try him out there — they’ve had good success with Ignacio Alvarez who made a similar third-to-short move after being drafted by the Braves last season — but at 6’3″ and 225 pounds at not-quite 21 years old it’s more likely he will find a defensive home in a corner in the long term. The main attraction of Ceballos though is the bat, and he has a hit/power combo that could rapidly rise to the top of the Braves organization if it develops pretty much at all.”
WHAT HAPPENED: Nevermind shortstop, the only time Ceballos was around the 2nd-base bag was when he hit his way there, for now he’s a third baseman all the way. The bat was pretty much as advertised however, though a foot injury cost him about three weeks of time in the FCL. He managed to play in six FCL games and nine games in Augusta and was on base at least once for all but one of those games. He shows an advanced approach at the plate, and while he only had one extra-base hit he has the bat speed and approach to hit for power.
15. Cole Phillips, RHP
Age: 20
Acquired: Drafted, 2nd Round – 2022
Prior Ranking: 6
Ed note: Phillips was traded to the Seattle Mariners on December 3, 2023 in a trade that brought OF Jarred Kelenic to Atlanta.
WHAT WE SAID: “Phillips started throwing this offseason and will be looking for a mid-summer pro debut. If all goes well, he could rejoin his draftmates Owen Murphy and J.R. Ritchie in Augusta by the end of the season.”
WHAT HAS HAPPENED: Phillips didn’t in fact join the Augusta pitching staff by the end of the season and has still to make his professional debut. There has been no word of set-backs, so unless we find out otherwise we are assuming the Braves are just being extra careful with a special arm, but 17 months out of surgery without any game action is concerning, prompting this more conservative ranking. That said, the arm talent here is enough to keep watching and being patient.
16. Jesse Franklin, OF
Age: 25 | Bats: L
.232/.315/.419 | 95 wRC+ | 15 HR | 21 SB | 8.3% BB | 29.7% K (AA)
Acquired: Drafted, 3rd Round – 2020
Prior Ranking: 16
WHAT WE SAID: “Franklin will likely return to Mississippi [from TJS] and can hopefully at least DH early in the season. Franklin needs to show more contact skills if he wants to be thought of as a potential left field solution in Atlanta for 2024 or later.”
WHAT HAPPENED: The good news is that Franklin returned to game action in early May, almost exactly one year from his TJ surgery. He didn’t even need to spend that much time as a designated hitter, though his once above average arm is now about average. That said, Franklin showed little progression at the plate from a contact standpoint, though he still showed off an intriguing power/speed combo. Left-handed pitchers ate him alive, and at this point his most-likely major league scenario may be as a left-side platoon outfielder in the majors.
17. Ambioris Tavarez, SS
Age: 20 | Bats: R
.216/.319/.337 | 92 wRC+ | 7 HR | 21 SB | 9.2% BB | 40.8% K (A)
Acquired: International Amateur Free Agent – 2021
Prior Ranking: 10
WHAT WE SAID: “One of the more physically impressive players in the Braves lower minor leagues, Tavarez likes to show off a strong arm from shortstop and reports on his work in the FCL indicates strong instincts and lateral movement, though there is risk that his size could force him to third base if he continues physical maturation. At the plate he demonstrates power to all fields, and the Braves will look to help him simplify his mechanics and approach to get the bat on the ball more consistently.”
WHAT HAPPENED: Tavarez’s athleticism was abundantly on display this summer at SRP Park, weekly making dazzling plays in the field and on the bases. Also on display was Tavarez’s weaknesses, most prominently his lack of contact skills that got bad enough that he was sent back to extended spring training in late May to work on his swing. He improved upon his return, increasing his OPS by nearly 200 points and starting to hit with more authority, though he still struck out at an unsustainable rate. Tavarez is very fast and likes to run on the bases, but his eagerness and poor jumps led to many pick offs and caught stealing. Tavarez will likely move up to A+ Rome for 2024 and is perhaps one of the most intriguing talents in the organization, but he must be more selective at the plate and on the bases.
18. Luke Waddell, SS
Age: 25 | Bats: L
.275/.384/.376 | 108 wRC+ | 8 HR | 29 SB | 14.7% BB | 12.5% K (AA/AAA)
Acquired: Drafted, 5th Round – 2021
Prior Ranking: 29
WHAT WE SAID: “After a quick rise up to AA in his first pro season in 2021, Waddell was limited to 41 games in Mississippi due to injury. Waddell has solid bat-to-ball skills but otherwise lacks standout tools and has a utility player ceiling.”
WHAT HAPPENED: Waddell stayed healthy all year and posted his best season as a professional, coming close to winning a Southern League batting crown. Moreover he also showed out better in the field, firmly laying claim the shortstop position in Mississippi after some question about his range and arm. Waddell played a few weeks in Gwinnett in the first half of the season when Vaughn Grissom was in Atlanta while Orlando Arcia was on the injured list and wasn’t overmatched. Waddell should start the 2024 season at Triple-A, but that may be determined by where Grissom and Braden Shewmake end up playing. Waddell’s ceiling may still be as a utility player but he definitely solidified himself as a potential big leaguer in 2023.
19. Daysbel Hernandez, RHP
Age: 27
2.86 ERA | 2.84 FIP | 27 G, 0 GS | 28.1 IP | 5.12 BB/9 | 13.3 K/9 (A+/AA/AAA/MLB)
Acquired: International Free Agent – 2017
Prior Ranking: 40
WHAT WE SAID: “Looked to be on the cusp of a major league call-up after a 2021 season that saw him add a change-up to his high-90s fastball/hard slider combo, but he suffered a UCL tear pitching in the Mexican Winter League. Now 26, Hernandez needs to get back quickly on his minor league free agent walk year.”
WHAT HAPPENED: Hernandez did get back quickly and after knocking the rust off in six outings in Rome, stormed his way back through Double- and Triple-A before making his major league debut on July 23 in Milwaukee. Hernandez dazzled in that outing, striking out the side, but forearm inflammation would have him on the shelf before the end of the month. Hernandez pitched well enough on rehab assignment for Gwinnett and in workouts that he made the Braves NLDS roster. If Hernandez can stay healthy he should be a part of the 2024 Atlanta bullpen.
20. Jhancarlos Lara, RHP
Age: 21
4.09 ERA | 3.60 FIP | 20 G, 15 GS | 81.1 IP | 4.65 BB/9 | 12.61 K/9 (A/A+)
Acquired: International Free Agent – 2021
Prior Ranking: N/A
After an impressive season in the DSL in 2022, Lara was sent straight to full-season ball to start 2024, pitching primarily out of the bullpen and using a high-90s fastball that touched up to 101 along with a sharp slider to dominate in the middle innings. Plugged into the Augusta rotation on June 1, Lara struggled a first to navigate a line-up a second time, but he found his groove by August and he reeled off 19 consecutive scoreless innings to earn a call-up to Rome. He finished the season with a flourish, striking out a season-high 12 batters in his final start with the R-Braves.
As a starter, Lara sits in the mid-90s 4-seam fastball. When he’s on his game it has a nice rising action that is good enough to dominate a line-up by itself. The slider can be inconsistent start-to-start but is a strikeout pitch when he locates it. He has shown a change-up as well that runs hard but with good movement. If he continues to improve his command, he has mid-rotation potential but even as a reliever his stuff could be good enough to work high-leverage situations.
21. Allan Winans, RHP
Age: 28
3.35 ERA | 3.49 FIP | 29 G, 23 GS | 158.2 IP | 2.5 BB/9 | 8.3 K/9 (AAA/MLB)
Acquired: Rule 5 draft — 2021
Prior Ranking: N/A
After being selected by Atlanta in the minor league portion of the Rule 5 draft in the 2021 Winter Meetings, the Braves converted the Mets 17th-round pick from the 2017 draft to a starting pitcher. This seems to have been a good idea as Winans was named an International League All-Star for Gwinnett in 2023 after claiming the ERA title and throwing 6 starts for the big league club down the stretch. Winans didn’t look out of place with the Braves and will go into 2024 with an opportunity to land a spot in the rotation.
Winans throws both a two- and four-seam fastball in the low-90s range, with the two-seamer the better of the two pitches. When he’s on he’ll generate both ground balls with the two-seamer and the change-up, and Winans tunnels the two pitches well making for some awkward swings. Winans improved his slider this season, getting a surprising amount of spin on it to make it a true strikeout pitch, a development that likely helped get him over the hump and into the major leagues.
22. Isaiah Drake, OF
Age: 18 | Bats: L
.221/.312/.279 | 64 wRC+ | 0 HR | 9 SB | 10.4% BB | 37.7% K (FCL)
Acquired: Drafted, 5th Round – 2023
Prior Ranking: N/A
WHAT WE SAID: “Despite being one of the youngest players in this year’s draft, Drake gets strong marks for his athleticism. Already tagged with 80-grade speed he should develop into a plus defensive outfielder with experience and coaching.
The upside here will be in the bat. Drake has only a rudimentary approach at the plate and is pull-happy, but he also shows quick hands and the ability to turn on velocity.”
WHAT HAPPENED: All those ups and downs manifested in Drake’s brief time with the FCL Braves at the tail end of the season. While the overall numbers in the 18 game sample don’t inspire optimism, Drake saw better performance after a dismal 2-for-34 start to his pro career. He ended the regular season with a 12-game on-base streak, going .364/.491/.409 during that span and topping that off by getting on base 7 times in the Braves 3-game playoff championship run, stealing 5 bases in the process.
Drake is very, very raw but with perhaps the most exciting tools in the system and it would not be surprising to see him make his full season debut in centerfield for Augusta in 2024.
23. Garrett Baumann, RHP
Age: 19
4.50 ERA | 5.70 FIP | 1 G, 1 GS | 2.0 IP | 9.00 BB/9 | 4.50 K/9 (A)
Acquired: Drafted, 4th Round – 2023
Prior Ranking: N/A
WHAT WE SAID: “Baumann is a mountain of a young man, with a 6’8″ frame that easily carries his 245 pounds. He has a big arm with a fastball that sits in the low-90s but has hit as high as 97. He also has a change and slider now, but he’s a very raw talent that represents something of a project for Braves player development. The Braves will work to get more spin into the slider so he has a swing-and-miss weapon and work on getting all the moving parts of his large frame working together more efficiently, which will likely bring more velocity.”
WHAT HAPPENED: Baumann made his pro debut in the last week of the A-ball season, tossing two innings in a start on the road against the Down East Wood Ducks, a team that does not broadcast their games over the internet so we were not able to get a look at him. He will return to Augusta in 2024 as part of what will likely again be a very young starting rotation.
24. Douglas Glod, OF
Age: 19 | Bats: R
.218/.376/.402 | 113 wRC+ | 5 HR | 6 SB | 18.4% BB | 30.9% K (FCL)
Acquired: International Amateur Free Agent – 2022
Prior Ranking: 24
WHAT WE SAID: “The question for Glod is if there’s more physical maturity to come. Reports are that at 5’10” and 185 pounds he could be close to a finished product, sizewise. If that’s true then he’s going to have to continue to refine his offensive game to get more of those fly balls to leave the park — or change his approach to become a more line-to-line hitter. Glod will likely make his stateside debut in the FCL this season.”
WHAT HAPPENED: It looks like Glod will top out at 5’10”, and already he has been pushed out of centerfield by the likes of Isaiah Drake and Robert Gonzalez. That puts a lot of pressure for his bat to develop, and results remain mixed. Glod has taken advantage of young FCL pitching to get more than his share of walks, but his contact rate remains poor and quality of contact was inconsistent. He showed enough improvement that he’ll likely get a long look in Augusta in 2024
25. Diego Benitez, SS
Age: 19 | Bats: R
.261/.332/.392 | 92 wRC+ | 2 HR | 3 SB | 15.9% BB | 20.3% K (DSL)
Acquired: International Amateur Free Agent – 2022
Prior Ranking: 18
WHAT WE SAID: “The tools are all evident for Benitez, with bat speed and strength that should allow him to hit for power, a solid approach that should let him hit for average, and and a good fundamental base that should allow him to use his tools at shortstop.”
WHAT HAPPENED: Benitez made his stateside debut and put up a similarly pedestrian performance at the plate as in his debut DSL season in 2022. That said, by all accounts Benitez has shown he will be able to hold down the shortstop position defensively despite an apparent growth spurt. It is likely he will get a promotion to full-season ball in 2024 to be Augusta’s primary shortstop, working on turning tools into skills.
26. Blake Burkhalter, RHP
Age: 23
Acquired: Drafted, 2nd Round – 2022
Prior Ranking: 21
WHAT WE SAID: “Burkhalter is a rare closer with three above-average pitches. His four-seamer sits in the mid-90s but can run as high as 98. He pairs it with a cutter and a change-up, and when he’s on he’s tunneling all three pitches and keeping hitters off balance. With that repertoire, the Braves may use him as a starter to get him innings — he’s only logged 72 in three seasons at Auburn — but long-term he’s likely a reliever.”
WHAT HAPPENED: After catching the eyes of Braves coaches in spring training games, Burkhalter tore his UCL toward the end of the exhibition season and ended up missing the season. Hopefully Burkhalter will return mid-season. With a three-pitch repertoire there was discussion about putting Burkhalter in a rotation to get him innings, and considering the parallels with Spencer Schwellenbach‘s start to his pro career I would guess that would still be on the table.
27. Mario Baez, SS
Age: 17 | Bats: R
.311/.393/.422 | 121 wRC+ | 3 HR | 24 SB | 9.7% BB | 12.1% K (DSL)
Acquired: International Amateur Free Agent – 2023
Prior Ranking: N/A
Baez was part of the most recent international signing period, picking up a $240,000 signing bonus. Despite playing the 2023 season as a 16-year-old, Baez demonstrated a strong batting eye, baserunning instincts, solid defense at shortstop, and burgeoning power. This culminated in a starting DSL All-Star assignment.
The Braves currently favor hitters that keep the strikeouts low and put the ball in play, so Baez will likely continue to get a long look by Atlanta as he moves to his next stop, likely in the FCL.
28. Adam Maier, RHP
Age: 22
Acquired: Drafted, 7th Round – 2022
Prior Ranking: 15
WHAT WE SAID: “Instead of undergoing a full UCL reconstruction [for a partial tear], Maier elected to undergo an internal brace procedure to shore up the UCL. If it goes well, Maier should be able to face batters early this season.”
WHAT HAPPENED: Not sure what happened but Maier didn’t face batters early or in fact at any time this season, joining draft-class mate Cole Phillips on the MIA list. Baseball America reported as late as June that Maier was still expected to debut before the end of the season, so I can only assume a late-season setback of some kind.
Reports on Maier have him as athletic with a mid-to-upper ’90s fastball, a potential plus slider, and a good change-up, and hopefully we’ll see him on the mound this spring.
29. Lucas Braun, RHP
Age: 22
2.67 ERA | 2.86 FIP | 6 G, 6 GS | 27.0 IP | 1.67 BB/9 | 10.67 K/9 (A/A+)
Acquired: Drafted, 6th Round – 2023
Prior Ranking: N/A
WHAT WE SAID: “Braun looks to throw a 91-94 rising 4-seamer and a slider with good vertical tilt that falls out of the zone and generates swing-and-miss. Braun keeps the ball around the zone and looks to be someone the Braves can plug into the back end of a minor league rotation.”
WHAT HAPPENED: It’s not unusual for older college pitchers to find immediate success in the low minors when they are able to control the ball and throw a full repertoire of pitches, and that’s exactly what Braun did. It’s another thing entirely to be able to maintain that performance as the pitcher climbs the organizational ladder if the stuff isn’t that good and that same control becomes a problem as more advanced hitters start to barrel the ball. This may happen with Braun, but there’s signs that he may buck the trend. Braun’s fastball has good movement and the the secondaries beyond the slider — a curve and change-up — showed better than expected. Braun goes right after hitters and pitches with a lot more confidence than you see from typical “senior signs”.
30. Luis De Avila, LHP
Age: 22
3.26 ERA | 4.11 FIP | 26 G, 26 GS | 127.0 IP | 4.61 BB/9 | 9.07 K/9 (AA/AAA)
Acquired: Rule 5 Draft, 2021
Prior Ranking: N/A
The de facto staff ace for double-A Mississippi in 2023, De Avila became the second Braves selection in the 2021 Rule 5 draft to make it to triple-AAA with a last week start for the Stripers.
De Avila gets it done with primarily a low-90s 2-seamer that generates a prolific amount of ground balls when De Avila is able to properly locate it. A sinking change-up compliments this pitch and between the two De Avila has been able to garner a 52.1% groundball rate in 2023. De Avila however doesn’t always locate well enough and gets plenty of traffic on the basepaths. He has a hard curve he can go to for swing-and-miss when he needs it, but again its effectiveness is limited in some outings by De Avila’s control.
De Avila could start in either AA or AAA for 2024 and he will look to improve his command.