Despite a bonus scandal that cost them Kevin Maitan and a slew of other prospects as well as severe restrictions on international signing, the Braves' farm system remains one of the best in baseball. Their collection of pitching is unmatched anywhere in the game, and it could be the best group of young pitchers in recent memory. The Braves also have a great group of hitters at various positions at their disposal, and the newly-contending major league club is very happy that the majority of their best prospects are closer, not further, from the majors.
Affiliates: AAA Gwinnett Braves, AA Mississippi Braves, High A Florida Fire Frogs, Class A Rome Braves, rookie level Danville Braves, and complex level GCL and DSL Braves
MLB-Ready Pitchers: RHP Mike Soroka, RHP Kyle Wright, RHP Touki Toussaint, LHP Kolby Allard, RHP Bryse Wilson, and LHP Luiz Gohara
This is the core of the Braves' farm system, and honestly, it is probably the most loaded individual section of any of these thirty farm system reviews that I'm writing. The Braves have so much young pitching ready to make the MLB roster that they will be able to include some serious top prospects in trade negotiations in 2019 and not break a sweat. 21 year old Mike Soroka would be the best prospect in this group if he were healthy, though unfortunately that is not the case. Soroka posted a 1.76 ERA, a 0.85 WHIP, and a 34/6 strikeout to walk ratio over 30.2 innings between Class A Rome and AAA Gwinnett, as well as a 3.51 ERA and a 21/7 strikeout to walk ratio over 25.2 major league innings, but he missed time with shoulder trouble and has again been feeling shoulder discomfort during spring training. He's a 6'5" Canadian righty, but rather than throw hard, he lives on his exceptional command and pitchability. Soroka sits in the low to mid 90's with his fastball and adds a solid slider and changeup, but he is so adept at mixing his pitches and hitting his spots that everything plays up and that he has earned a comparison or two to Greg Maddux. Even without high strikeout totals, Soroka has ace or #2 upside, and if healthy, he could be an impact starter and NL Rookie of the Year candidate in 2019. 23 year old Kyle Wright was the Braves' first round pick (fifth overall) in 2017 out of Vanderbilt, and he posted a 3.46 ERA, a 1.22 WHIP, and a 133/51 strikeout to walk ratio over 138 innings between AA Mississippi and Gwinnett, following that up with a 4.50 ERA and a 5/6 strikeout to walk ratio over six major league innings. Wright is a 6'4" righty with some of the best stuff in the system, throwing in the mid 90's and adding an exceptional array of secondaries, including two distinct breaking balls in a great curveball and a very good slider which can both miss bats and a changeup that has made a lot of progress. He's inconsistent with his command, though, and when it fails him, he can get hit hard. Throwing strikes and getting ahead in the count will be the key for him if he wants to reach his ace upside, but he still has a very high floor as a #3 or #4 starter who can compete in 2019. 22 year old Touki Toussaint came over from the Diamondbacks for Bronson Arroyo in 2015, and when the Braves traded for Dansby Swanson six months later, that put Arizona's first round picks from 2014 and 2015 both in the Atlanta system. Toussaint, the 16th overall pick of the 2014 draft out of a South Florida high school, rebounded from a rough 2017 (4.53 ERA, 167/64 K/BB) to post a huge season with a 2.38 ERA, a 1.13 WHIP, and a 163/53 strikeout to walk ratio in 136.1 innings between Mississippi and Gwinnett, then put up a 4.03 ERA and a 32/21 strikeout to walk ratio over 29 major league innings. He is a 6'3" righty with an electric arm, one that pumps fastballs consistently in the mid 90's and adds a swing and miss curveball, and his command has steadily improved throughout his pro career. 2018 must have been the tipping point because he finally broke out, and he could be a #2 or #3 starter in the major leagues if he can continue to improve that command. If not, his stuff is good enough to make him a solid back-end starter even without command, and he could also thrive as a fastball/curveball righty in the bullpen. 21 year old Kolby Allard, the Braves' first round pick (14th overall) in 2015 out of a Southern California high school, posted a 2.72 ERA, a 1.21 WHIP, and an 89/34 strikeout to walk ratio over 112.1 innings at Gwinnett in 2018, then put up a 12.38 ERA and a 3/4 strikeout to walk ratio over eight major league innings. He sits right around 90 with his fastball but adds a great curveball and changeup, and his solid command helps everything play up. Still, he has some tweener risk and might end up more of a #4 or #5 starter rather than a mid-rotation guy. Further improving his command could help him reach that #3 upside, but we'll have to see how his extended major league trial goes in 2019. 21 year old Bryse Wilson took just two years to make the majors after being drafted in the fourth round out of a North Carolina high school in 2016, though he is admittedly not quite as refined as Soroka, Wright, Allard, or even Toussaint. The 6'1" righty posted a 3.44 ERA, a 1.19 WHIP, and a 143/36 strikeout to walk ratio over 125.2 innings between High A Florida, Mississippi, and Gwinnett, showing a low 90's fastball, a decent slider, and good enough command to make his stuff play up. He doesn't have the ceiling of some of the other arms on this list but he should be a very productive #3 or #4 starter in the near future who can eat plenty of innings. Lastly, 22 year old Luiz Gohara was widely considered one of the best pitching prospects in baseball after the 2017 season (2.62 ERA, 147/44 K/BB), but his 2018 season was about as trying a season as any player could have. His father died during the offseason and his mother had significant heart surgery which forced him to leave the team briefly in May to visit her in Brazil, and he also dealt with an ankle injury and weight gain, reportedly reaching nearly 315 pounds. He's in better shape now (reportedly down to 270 pounds) but has reportedly dealt with shoulder soreness in spring training, but he will look to erase a 2018 where he posted a 4.81 ERA, a 1.33 WHIP, and a 59/18 strikeout to walk ratio over 58 innings at Mississippi and Gwinnett (plus a 5.95 ERA and an 18/8 strikeout to walk ratio in 19.2 major league innings). Gohara is a 6'3" lefty that has elicited comparisons to C.C. Sabathia due to his body type and velocity, sitting in the upper 90's while adding a nasty slider when in his pre-2018 form. He has been a bit more inconsistent with his command, but hopefully a smoother ride in 2019 will help him improve there and fulfill his potential as a mid-rotation starter, though the shoulder issues are troubling.
Mid Minors Pitchers: RHP Ian Anderson, LHP Joey Wentz, LHP Kyle Muller, RHP Huascar Ynoa, LHP Thomas Burrows, and RHP Patrick Weigel
The Braves' aren't quite as deep in the middle of their system, but that is natural given the way they tend to develop pitching and they still have a great group of arms in the next wave. This group comes heavily from the 2016 draft and also features a lot of left handers (lefty Tucker Davidson just missed this section), which can back up the mostly right-handed current wave (see above). 20 year old Ian Anderson signed an under-slot deal as the third overall pick of the 2016 draft out of high school near Albany, New York, and he had a breakout 2018 by posting a 2.49 ERA, a 1.14 WHIP, and a 142/49 strikeout to walk ratio over 119.1 innings at High A Florida and AA Mississippi. Anderson has a mid 90's fastball and a solid curveball/changeup set, and with his command improving steadily as he has developed, and further development along his current track could make him a #2 starter. As it stands, Anderson has a very good shot to end up a mid-rotation starter with the possibility for more. 21 year old Joey Wentz was a competitive balance pick (40th overall) in the same 2016 draft as Anderson, coming out of a high school in the Kansas City area. Wentz posted a 2.28 ERA, a 1.09 WHIP, and a 53/24 strikeout to walk ratio over 67 innings at Florida in 2018, missing time with injuries along the way. The 6'5" lefty has a low 90's fastball when healthy and solid secondary stuff, though his projectable frame hasn't yielded quite as much extra velocity as was hoped when he was drafted and his stuff flattened out at times in 2018. He'll have to get more consistent with, well, everything in 2018 if he doesn't want to get lost in the massive group of starting pitchers in the system, but he maintains high upside and he's certainly worth following in 2019, though he does run reliever risk at this point. 21 year old Kyle Muller, the Braves' second round pick (44th overall) out of a Dallas high school in that same 2016 draft, moved ahead of Wentz this year by posting a 3.03 ERA, a 1.23 WHIP, and a 129/46 strikeout to walk ratio over 139.2 innings at Class A Rome, Florida, and Mississippi. He's a big 6'6" lefty with a low 90's fastball and pretty good secondary stuff, though like Wentz, he has been inconsistent in pro ball. He seemed to right the ship a bit in 2018, and the Braves are hoping for even more of a breakout in 2019 if he can put everything together. Wentz and Muller both have a lot to prove in 2019, retaining high upside as tall lefties with powerful arms. 20 year old Huascar Ynoa, over from the Twins in the Jaime Garcia trade, posted a 4.56 ERA, a 1.34 WHIP, and a 131/54 strikeout to walk ratio over 116.1 innings between Rome and Florida in 2018, though he was much better at the lower level (3.63 ERA, 100/42 K/BB) than the upper level (8.03 ERA, 31/12 K/BB). Ynoa is a 6'3" righty with a mid 90's fastball that enabled him to succeed in Class A, though his lack of secondary stuff and control were exposed when he reached High A. He's a raw talent with plenty of upside and arm strength, though he might take a bit longer to reach the majors than the other names on this list and carries a lot more risk. On the bright side, he doesn't turn 21 until May. 24 year old Thomas Burrows was actually the Mariners' fourth round pick in the same 2016 draft as all the above players (minus Ynoa), having been taken eight picks after Bryse Wilson and coming over to Atlanta with Luiz Gohara in the Mallex Smith trade. Burrows, out of the University of Alabama, is strictly a reliever and posted a 2.66 ERA, a 1.24 WHIP, and an 86/36 strikeout to walk ratio over 67.2 innings between Rome, Florida, and Mississippi in 2018, showing a major league ready fastball/slider combination. He throws from a low, almost sidearm release point, giving him added deception and making his stuff play up. The 6'1" lefty needs to work on his command, which will be the difference between him being a middle reliever or something more. Lastly, 24 year old Patrick Weigel became one of the Braves' top prospects after a huge 2016 season (2.47 ERA, 152/55 K/BB) but struggled when promoted to AAA in 2017 and hurt his elbow, missing the rest of that season and almost all of 2018 with Tommy John surgery (he did return to throw four shutout innings in complex ball). Weigel has a low to mid 90's fastball and a full array of secondary pitches, though none stand out as true swing-and-miss pitches and he'll have to rely on mixing his pitches to be an effective starter. The surgery caused him to fall behind the hoard of pitching prospects who made strides in 2018, but he has a shot at being a #4 or #5 starter in the near future.
Low Minors Pitchers: RHP Freddy Tarnok, RHP Alan Rangel, RHP Jasseel De La Cruz, RHP Tristan Beck, RHP Trey Riley
While the upper minors boast nothing but headliners and the mid minors carry guys like Ian Anderson, Kyle Muller, and Joey Wentz, the low minors don't quite have a headliner, and that's partially due to the failure of the team to sign 2018 eighth overall pick Carter Stewart, a fireballing 6'6" righty with a power curve. This group consists of five pitchers with the potential to break out in 2019, led by 20 year old Freddy Tarnok. A third rounder (80th overall) in 2017 out of high school near Tampa, Tarnok posted a 3.96 ERA, a 1.44 WHIP, and an 83/41 strikeout to walk ratio over 77.1 innings at Class A Rome as the Braves worked to transition him from the bullpen to the rotation in 2018. The results weren't great (1.26 ERA, 49/24 K/BB as a reliever vs 6.26 ERA, 34/17 K/BB as a starter), but the 6'3" righty is extremely projectable and already easily sits in the low 90's. His secondary stuff, command, and general durability all need work, but he's also relatively new to pitching and the Braves think they can transform him into a mid-rotation starter. Behind him, 21 year olds Alan Rangel and Jasseel De La Cruz couldn't be more different as pitchers despite being teammates throughout 2018. Rangel posted a 4.09 ERA, a 1.21 WHIP, and a 105/31 strikeout to walk ratio over 125.1 innings at Rome, while De La Cruz had a 4.83 ERA, a 1.43 WHIP, and a 65/34 strikeout to walk ratio over 69 innings at the same level. Rangel is a pitchability righty who relies on his strong secondary stuff and his command to get by, while De La Cruz blows his low to mid 90's fastball by hitters with little in the way of secondaries or command. In that sense, De La Cruz is more of a similar pitcher to Tarnok, while Rangel has a little bit of Mike Soroka in him (although obviously not on the same level). Personally, I like Rangel just a bit more due to the success that Soroka had in this system, but De La Cruz definitely has the higher upside and could blow past Rangel with some mechanical adjustments. 22 year old Tristan Beck was a fourth round pick out of Stanford in 2018, tossing 4.2 shutout innings while striking out seven and walking two over 4.1 complex level innings afterwards. Beck figured to be a first round draft pick as a sophomore in 2017, but a back injury forced him out for the entire season and he came back with slightly diminished stuff in 2018, causing him to fall to the fourth round (though he still signed above-slot). Beck is a projectable 6'4" righty with a low 90's fastball, an inconsistent curveball that looked better in 2016 than it did in 2018, and a very good changeup, all of which he commands well. If he can stay healthy and the Braves can get him back to spinning that curveball effectively, he has high upside as a #2 or #3 starter due to his feel for pitching, but he also has a lot of questions to answer for someone who will be 23 in June. Lastly, 20 year old Trey Riley was a fifth round pick out of an Illinois junior college in 2018, then posted an 8.00 ERA, a 2.22 WHIP, and a 13/10 strikeout to walk ratio over eight innings at rookie level Danville. The Braves envision Riley as a starter, though he has a ton of work to do if that is to happen. He currently sits in the low to mid 90's with his fastball and adds a nasty slider, but he struggles to throw strikes, throws with effort, and lacks a changeup at this point. I feel that he is destined for the bullpen in this deep system, where he could sit in the mid 90's with his fastball and use that slider as a true swing and miss pitch regularly. Still, he'll have to answer the command question and learn to throw strikes.
The Hitters: 3B Austin Riley, OF Cristian Pache, UT Travis Demeritte, OF Drew Waters, OF Greyson Jenista, C William Contreras, and 3B CJ Alexander
While the Braves' position player depth isn't nearly as extensive as its pitching depth, they still have a solid group of guys that includes quite a few impact players. 21 year old Austin Riley, a former competitive balance pick (41st overall) out of a Memphis-area high school in 2015, is the best hitter, having slashed .294/.360/.522 with 19 home runs and a 129/37 strikeout to walk ratio over 108 games between AA Mississippi, AAA Gwinnett, and complex level rehab. He has plenty of power and also added 30 doubles in 2018, and he could be a consistent 25-30 home run bat in the majors. His plate discipline seemingly could use some work, but he has continued to produce with every promotion and it may not end up hindering him in the majors. Josh Donaldson is the place holder at third base for now, but look for Riley to break in at some point during 2019 before taking over as the full-time starting third baseman in 2020, where he could be an All Star. While Riley has the superior bat, 20 year old Cristian Pache is inarguably the most exciting position-playing prospect in this system. In 2018, the Dominican outfielder slashed .279/.307/.410 with nine home runs, seven stolen bases, and a 97/20 strikeout to walk ratio over 122 games between High A Florida and Mississippi, the nine home runs being a very pleasant surprise after he went homerless in 2016 and 2017. However, Pache is really known for his defense, as he might be the best defensive center fielder in the minors with his blazing speed, great range, and terrific arm. It's not often that you get players with that kind of defensive package, as great defenders typically pair a cannon arm with average range or a decent arm with terrific range. Offensively, Pache proved himself against High A pitching in 2018 (.285/.311/.431) and only turned 20 over the offseason, so while he's never expected to be a true impact hitter, he should be able to provide more than enough value at the plate to remain in the lineup and give his defense a chance to shine. Offensively, expect a guy who can get on base at a solid rate, steal plenty of bases, and clear the fences occasionally. 24 year old Travis Demeritte, acquired from the Rangers back in 2016, has flashed high upside for a long time but has never quite put it together. In 2018, he slashed .222/.316/.416 with 17 home runs and a 140/57 strikeout to walk ratio at Mississippi, showing more of the same with big time power and trouble getting to it. Long considered a high-risk, high-reward player, he seems to be plateauing at AA and likely takes on more of a super-utility projection at this point, his solid glove giving him the opportunity to handle both the infield and the outfield. Demeritte could put it together in 2019, but that is looking less likely. I was a big fan of now-20 year old Drew Waters during the 2017 draft, where I saw him as a first round talent and the Braves scooped him up in the second round (41st overall) out of an Atlanta-area high school, and I'm still a big fan today. In 2018, his first full season out of high school, Waters slashed .293/.343/.476 with nine home runs, 23 stolen bases, and a 105/29 strikeout to walk ratio over 114 games between Class A Rome and Florida, the promotion to High A being something fairly uncommon for high school bats in their first full pro season. He's a wiry outfielder whose outfield defense is ahead of his offense at this point, as he is a great all-around defender with plenty of range and arm strength, kind of like Pache-lite. However, unlike Pache, I think Waters has tremendous upside at the plate as well, his powerful swing from both sides of the plate looking like one that could produce 20-30 home runs per season once he grows into his frame and learns to find the barrel more consistently. I'd like to see him get more patient at the plate and I think he will. 22 year old Greyson Jenista was a second round pick (49th overall) in 2018 out of Wichita State, and he slashed .265/.328/.395 with four home runs and a 41/23 strikeout to walk ratio over 61 games between rookie level Danville, Rome, and Florida in his pro debut. He's 6'4" but has a swing that is more line-drive oriented than power oriented, and I think he will really benefit from time in the Braves system as his swing seems like one that easily add that power to me. Defensively, he's solid in right field with a strong arm and decent range, and scouts have spoken highly of his work ethic. I see him as a potential 20-30 homer bat, much like Riley and Waters, though the mechanical changes that would be required to reach that ceiling come with some risk. 21 year old William Contreras (the younger brother of Cubs catcher Willson Contreras) had a breakout year in 2018 and slashed .285/.347/.436 with eleven home runs and an 89/35 strikeout to walk ratio over 105 games between Rome and Florida, putting together a full season for the first time in his career and showing improved power to boot. He's a very capable defender behind the plate, but unlike most catchers with playable defense, he can hit too, and that makes him very valuable. He still has a lot of work to do in proving that his bat can play in the higher levels of the minors and working to become even better behind the plate, but he's certainly one of the better catching prospects in the game. Lastly, 22 year old CJ Alexander was the Braves' 20th round pick in 2018 out of a Florida junior college, though on talent alone he should have been a top ten rounds pick. He's gotten off to a blazing start in pro ball (much like his younger brother, Blaze, in the Diamondbacks organization) by slashing .352/.429/.495 with two home runs and a 42/27 strikeout to walk ratio over 52 games between complex ball, Danville, and Florida. At the State College of Florida, he was better known as a player with big time power who could get a bit too aggressive at the plate, but he flipped the script in pro ball by showing solid plate discipline and great feel for the barrel, finishing with just two home runs in 52 games (plus eight doubles and seven triples). Alexander's ability to consistently barrel the ball up in pro ball and even at High A (.325/.386/.450) bodes well for his chances to break through as one of the team's top hitting prospects. Defensively, his cannon arm makes him a solid third baseman despite his decent glove.
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