Atlanta Braves top 100 prospects in the organization
Atlanta Braves 2022 top 100 prospects
The Atlanta Braves won the 2021 World Series with a roster dominated by players who had come up through the farm system. The 2022 team saw multiple players graduate, and the Braves’ farm system is now legitimately the 30th-ranked system in the game, but there is still plenty of raw talent. Each prospect is going to have the age as of April 1, 2023, highest 2022 level, Rule 5 eligibility information, and my version of a projected future value for each player.
Updated: December 15, 2022
Preface: each list is with the players in the system at the time of the list and with information available at that time, so players could be adjusted at any time with additional/new information and/or players leaving/entering the organization.
1. Jared Shuster
Last year: 12
Age: 24
Position: Left-Handed Pitcher
Top 2022 level: Triple-A
Rule 5: eligible 2023
Projected FV: 45
When the Braves drafted Shuster in the first round out of Wake Forest in 2020, he was in the midst of a velocity surge that pushed him up the draft board for many teams. Touching mid-90s with his fastball and easily clearing mid-80s with his slider. From the left side, that had the look of an elite starter, but his lack of track record with that level of stuff and the shortened 2020 season that didn’t see him sustain it all season allowed him to drop off to the 25th pick. The 2021 season saw Shuster struggle with his velocity drop notably, often struggling to reach 90 MPH with his fastball and seeing his slider dip down more near an 80 MPH offering. He rebounded this season to a midpoint, showing a strong three-pitch mix of a fastball that sits 90-92, a slider that works 80-84, and a change that works 80-82. His delivery is clean and repeatable, giving him a very projectable role as a backend starter, but probably not a huge ceiling beyond that.
2. Dylan Dodd
Last year: 25
Age: 24
Position: Left-Handed Pitcher
Top 2022 level: Triple-A
Rule 5: eligible 2024
Projected FV: 45
The Braves’ third-round pick out of Southeast Missouri State in 2021, the Braves gave Dodd an underslot bonus in order to sign prep draftees in that draft. He exploded through the system in his first full year with the organization, reaching Gwinnett, and there’s good reason. Dodd doesn’t exactly blow anyone away with a triple-digit fastball or a knee-buckling breaking pitch, but he has the ability to shape his 92-94 MPH fastball, slider, and changeup in multiple ways to generate a high swing-and-miss rate. In one start I viewed this year in AA, Dodd threw four consecutive off-speed pitches, none breaking the same way. The hitter fouled one off and swung through the other three, shaking his head as he walked back to the bench. While he doesn’t have the sort of stuff to project as an “ace” starter, he certainly could project similarly to Ian Anderson at the major league level, with reliance on his offspeed stuff and locating his fastball to keep hitters offbase.
3. AJ Smith-Shawver
Last year: 11
Age: 20
Position: Right-Handed Pitcher
Top 2022 level: Low-A
Rule 5: eligible 2025
Projected FV: 45
Certainly, the guy with the biggest upside in the Braves’ system right now is Smith-Shawver. A prep righty that the Braves selected in 2021 in the seventh round out of high school in Texas, Smith-Shawver is incredibly athletic on the mound and also happens to have some of the best stuff on the mound of any pitcher in the system, with a fastball that sits 94-96 and touches 98 with incredible movement. His slider is a wipeout slider in the upper-80s that can simply fall off the table. His change is a work in progress, but he showed a few games this year when the change flashed above-average as well. Control is a work in progress, as his delivery has plenty of parts that need cleaning up to be in sync every pitch. Spencer Strider came into the system with similar issues but with college background and shot through the system after a year of instruction. If Smith-Shawver has a similar timeline, he could begin his ascent in the next year after really working with coaching in the lower levels to clean things up and then blowing through the system.
4. Owen Murphy
Last year: NR
Age: 19
Position: Right-Handed Pitcher
Top 2022 level: Low-A
Rule 5: eligible 2026
Projected FV: 45
The Braves traded a prospect package headlined by Drew Waters to acquire Kansas City’s competitive balance selection at the end of the first round in the 2022 draft. That allowed the team to go heavily after prep arms in the draft, with Murphy as the first pick. Murphy is probably the most pro-ready of the selections the Braves made, as he is a high-level athlete that has ready stuff on the mound with a mid-90s fastball with high spin rate and an elite curveball and a slider that flashed above-average as the Braves worked with him to throw the same slider that Strider and Luke Jackson have made notable. Murphy has a repeatable delivery and gets tremendous notes for his makeup, which portends a rapid rise through the system. He may not have a frontline starter profile and could end up more of a mid-rotation guy, but he seems to be a guy that is well-positioned to succeed.
5. JR Ritchie
Last year: NR
Age: 19
Position: Right-Handed Pitcher
Top 2022 level: Low-A
Rule 5: eligible 2026
Projected FV: 45
Taken with the selection acquired in the Waters/Royals trade, Ritchie is a guy who is already physically polished and has a present pitch mix with a fastball that sits 93-94 and touches 97 with excellent control. He throws a slider and change that are not exactly elite movement pitches, but he shows very advanced feel for throwing, allowing him to generate very good results at lower levels. He will likely move quickly through A-ball levels and need to work on developing a fourth pitch and/or adding movement to his slider/changeup to have success as he reaches the upper levels, but there is a strong foundation to build on here.
6. Darius Vines
Last year: 24
Age: 24
Position: Right-Handed Pitcher
Top 2022 level: Triple-A
Rule 5: On the 40-man
Projected FV: 40
Vines was drafted by the Braves in the seventh round in 2019, and he’s been a curiosity for the last two years as he’s had success, but it’s been with a low-90s fastball without ideal movement and spin rate numbers, but he does have an elite double-plus changeup. He moved from a curve to a slider in 2022, though he would sprinkle in the curve rarely as a “bury” pitch to attempt to get hitters to chase. Concerns about his ability to miss bats were answered as Vines struck out 156 in 2022, all at the upper levels. Whether he’s a backend starter or the next Collin McHugh is yet to be seend, but Vines definitely has shown there’s MLB future there.
7. Cal Conley
Last year: 30
Age: 23
Position: Shortstop
Top 2022 level: High-A
Rule 5: eligible 2024
Projected FV: 40
A fourth-round pick in 2021, Conley has a mature confidence on the field that comes from playing at a big college program like Texas Tech. Conley struggled some in his pro debut in 2021, but he showed that was nothing to worry about in 2022, stealing 36 bases and knocking around 43 extra-base hits (including 16 home runs) across both A-ball levels this season. He then went out to the Arizona Fall League and was even better, posting an .841 OPS and walking at a high rate, perhaps the one issue in his full-season offensive game. Defensively, Conley’s range at short leaves some to be desired, but he’s a captain on the field when he’s out there. He has sure hands and could slide easily to second base as he moves up to Double-A in 2023. Whether the stronger on-base skills he showed in Arizona continue going forward will really determine whether he has a future as a starting-calibar player or as a backup/utility type.
8. Cole Phillips
Last year: NR
Age: 19
Position: Right-Handed Pitcher
Top 2022 level: Did not play
Rule 5: eligible 2026
Projected FV: 40
If it weren’t for Tommy John surgery ending his spring, Phillips very well could have been a first-round pick coming out of Texas high school. He had flashed an upper-90s fastball with a strong mid-80s slider and a usable change to give him a three-pitch mix. He was also showing the rare ability to command all three pitches for a prep flamethrower. He will likely not get onto the mound until mid-2023 and very likely won’t see a full-season league until 2024, so he’ll be behind the development of the two prep arms selected ahead of him in the 2022 Braves draft class, but he very well may have a notably higher ceiling than either Murphy or Ritchie once he gets back on the mound if his recovery goes well.
9. Ambioris Tavarez
Last year: 9
Age: 19
Position: Shortstop
Top 2022 level: FCL
Rule 5: eligible 2025
Projected FV: 40
After the delay in seeing the first “big” international signing the Braves were allowed to pick up after the 2017 scandal due to not fielding a DSL team in 2021 and being on the inactive list early in the year, Tavarez finally debuted in August this year. The good: he was smooth at shortstop, can impact the baseball, and physically shows the raw tools that originally had everyone drooling in the first place. The bad: he struck out at a high rate, rarely walked, and was still very raw after missing multiple years of development. He did head to Colombia for winter league baseball, and he’s shown well in limited video views coming from that league, but it’s important to note that the LPB is a lower level winter league than Dominican winter ball, let alone Venezuela or Puerto Rico.
10. Spencer Schellenbach
Last year: 14
Age: 22
Position: Right-Handed Pitcher
Top 202w level: Did not play
Rule 5: eligible 2024
Projected FV: 40
An impressive two-way prospect out of the University of Nebraska that the Braves selected in 2021, Schwellenbach has yet to make his pro debut as the Braves chose to allow him to rehab the entire season. Reports from fall instructs were that Schwellenbach was hitting upper-90s with the fastball again and flashing a “ridiculous” slider again, which track with his college performance. He was a guy that rarely had to lean on his change in college, but showed an effective offspeed pitch at that time. The team originally announced Schwellenbach as a two-way player, but he was not reported to have swung a bat at instructs at all, so the focus seems to be purely on the mound with Schwellenbach, which was expected. He could move very quickly as a high-octane reliever if the control returns quickly as he gets back on the mound in 2023.
11. Diego Benitez
Last year: 20
Age: 18
Position: Shortstop
Top 2022 level: DSL
Rule 5: eligible 2026
Projected FV: 40
The top signee of the the 2022 international class that finally saw the Braves back to “full strength” in the international market, Benitez was a top-10 ranked prospect on the international rankings going into the signing period, and he had flashes of brilliance in the DSL, showing off impressive raw power and speed while also walking at a notable rate, but he struggled to make consistent contact as he was aggressive with his swing when he did attack the ball. Benitez has a strong arm and may eventually profile as a third baseman, but he has clean footwork and the hands to work at shortstop at lower levels.
12. Blake Burkhalter
Last year: NR
Age: 22
Position: Right-Handed Pitcher
Top 2022 level: Low-A
Rule 5: eligible 2025
Projected FV: 40
The Braves drafted Burkhalter in the supplemental second round out of Auburn as one of the most effective relievers in the country. He works with an elite fastball that gets up to the upper-90s and a cutter/slider hybrid that works in the upper-80s/lower-90s. He also has a fringe-average change that keeps lefties honest. Burkhalter is viewed almost exclusively as a reliever, but he’s also seen as one that could move very quickly to through the system, potentially knocking on the door of the majors by the end of 2023.
13. Ignacio Alvarez
Last year: NR
Age: 19
Position: Third Base
Top 2022 level: Low-A
Rule 5: eligible 2025
Projected FV: 40
The Braves drafted Alvarez out of Riverside Junior College, and he immediately showed his impressive patience at the plate in his pro debut, walking 26 times and striking out 15 times in 122 plate appearances. Alvarez has an elite arm at third base and could be a plus defender at the hot corner, but his raw power will need to translate to game power for him to work as a 3B long-term.
14. Victor Vodnik
Last year: 13
Age: 23
Position: Right-Handed Pitcher
Top 2022 level: Triple-A
Rule 5: eligible
Projected FV: 40
Considered one of the top eligible players ni the Rule 5 draft, somehow Victor Vodnik was not selected. Instead, the Braves now have Vodnik back in the organization and his fastball that can touch triple digits should have an opportunity to back-fill the Braves bullpen at some point this offseason. Vodnik’s change has been his best secondary pitch, but he does have a slider that can flash average. More than anything, Vodnik’s control slipped notably last season, and he will need to see that improve to have an opportunity in the Atlanta ‘pen.
15. Tyler Collins
Last year: 26
Age: 20
Position: Outfield
Top 2022 level: FCL
Rule 5: eligible 2025
Projected FV: 35
Collins was the Braves’ eighth-round selection in 2021 out of high school in Texas. He had a very impressive pro debut, flashing his speed and contact ability as well as his defensive range in the outfield. He needs to work on his reads on balls in center field to work there long-term, but his speed would definitely allow him to handle the position at lower levels. Oddly, he played just four games this year and then was not seen again, with no injury reported. He’ll be interesting to track in 2023 as he’d be likely to open in full-season ball if healthy.
16. Roddery Munoz
Last year: 43
Age: 23
Position: Right-Handed Pitcher
Top 2022 level: Double-A
Rule 5: on 40-man
Projected FV: 35
Originally signed for just $30,000 as an international free agent, Munoz has progressed slowly, but he used his powerful arsenal to get to Double-A in 2022 and the Braves added him to the 40-man in November. Munoz features a fastball in the upper-90s, but he throws his slider almost 50% of the time, and it’s a very effective pitch, though his control of all of his stuff is an issue, so he can get into situations where he needs to force into the zone, and he then gets hit hard with a meatball pitch. If Munoz were pushed to the bullpen, he could be absolutely dominant, but the Braves don’t seem to be ready to flip that switch just yet, and improving his change or adding a pure off-fastball pitch like a split or cutter could really allow him to work as a starter in the Johnny Cueto mold.
17. Drake Baldwin
Last year: NR
Age: 22
Position: Catcher
Top 2022 level: Low-A
Rule 5: eligible 2025
Projected FV: 35
The Braves drafted Baldwin in the third round out of Missouri State this summer. He is an athletic catcher that played hockey in high school and developed into his power in his final year of college. He’s patient at the plate and doesn’t get fooled, has some legit raw power, and doesn’t have a lot of swing and miss at the plate. Behind the plate, he is impressive in his ability to frame and move behind the plate, though he sometimes has awkward glovework.
18. Javier Valdes
Last year: 97
Age: 24
Position: Catcher
Top 2022 level: Double-A
Rule 5: eligible
Projected FV: 35
Talking with people around the Braves’ organization, one name continued to come up as a guy that made significant strides in the 2022 season, and that’s Valdes. He was a 21st round selection in 2019 out of Florida International, and he hit well across both A-ball levels in 2021, but he didn’t show much power and was rigid in his catching. He has made significant strides in his work behind the plate, and his work at the plate was very impressive, with 13 home runs in just 319 plate appearances, and he had an 11.9% walk rate and struck out just 16.9% of the time. His ability both at the plate and behind the plate had him in AA by the end of the season, and he very well could be knocking on the door of the major leagues by the end of 2023.
19. Luke Waddell
Last year:34
Age: 24
Position: Infield
Top 2022 level: Double-A
Rule 5: eligible 2024
Projected FV: 35
The Braves drafted Waddell out of Georgia Tech in the fifth round in 2021. He was a four-year starter for the Yellow Jackets and was an impressive “makeup” player. Waddell has been utilized as a utility player, playing second and short this year before an injury cut his season short. He’s likely to be a bat-first utility player if he can make it, and while he’s shown the ability to get on base in AA, he’ll need to show some thump as he’s an average to below-average runner.
20. Adam Maier
Last year: NR
Age: 21
Position: Right-Handed Pitcher
Top 2022 level: Did not play
Rule 5: eligible 2025
Projected FV: 35
Maier is a guy that will be all over the place on evaluations because not a lot is known about the Canadian. A shortstop by trade, he transferred to Oregon as a pitcher for the 2022 season and showed well, but for just three starts before he needed season-ending surgery. The Braves grabbed him in the seventh round this past summer and gave him an overslot bonus, but what he could be is still a big question. His fastball works 91-94 with high spin, but he adds in a double-plus slider and an above-average change to give him a strong three-pitch mix that could work as a starter. The lack of track record and injury leaves a lot of question, but the upside is definitely high here.
21. Justin Dean
Last year: 27
Age: 26
Position: Outfield
Top 2022 level: Triple-A
Rule 5: eligible
Projected FV: 35
Dean was originally drafted in the 17th round in 2018 and showed well in 2019 at Rome, drawing plenty of interest as he led the South Atlantic League in stolen bases with 47. Dean has plus speed and is a plus defender in the outfield, but he has struggled with strike zone judgment in the upper levels and his power simply has not developed against advanced pitching. Dean could profile as a defense-focused fifth outfielder type as soon as 2023.
22. Ian Mejia
Last year: NR
Age: 23
Position: Right-Handed Pitcher
Top 2022 level: High-A
Rule 5: eligible 2025
Projected FV: 35
The Braves drafted Mejia in the 11th round this summer out of New Mexico State. While his college numbers may not look great, his home stadium was one of the more hitter-friendly parks in all of college baseball. Mejia works with a heavy sinker that works in the mid-90s and pairs that with a slider that could allow him to move quickly through A-ball levels as a groundball specialist. He will need to polish his secondaries in order to work as a starter in the upper levels, but the sinker/slider mix could work in the bullpen if starting doesn’t work out.
23. Brandol Mezquita
Last year: 29
Age: 21
Position: Outfield
Top 2022 level: High-A
Rule 5: eligible
Projected FV: 35
The only player removed from the Braves in the 2017 scandal that chose to return to the Brves, Mezquita has been a slow developer in the farm system, taking notable steps forward each season, but showing definite holes in his game that need further development each season. Across both A-ball levels in 2022, Mezquita was able to show himself against more advanced pitching than he’s seen in his career and showed well, but accessing his raw power consistently in game will be a challenge for Mezquita in 2023, likely starting in Rome and hopefully ending in Double-A.
24. David McCabe
Last year: NR
Age: 23
Position: Third Base
Top 2022 level: Low-A
Rule 5: eligible 2025
Projected FV: 35
If it were not for injuries during his time at UNC-Charlotte, McCabe’s bat would have garnered attention in the first 40-50 picks last summer. Instead, he was selected by the Braves in the fourth round. He was able to stay healthy with the Braves, and the organization kept him at third base, but his range and frame might force him across the diamond to first base. If his bat holds up, that won’t be an issue, and he has the frame for it at 6’4″ and 230 pounds. It will be very interesting to watch him in 2023 as he’s going to have the chance to really move quickly if he can hit.
25. Didier Fuentes
Last year: NR
Age: 17
Position: Right-Handed Pitcher
Top 2022 level: DSL
Rule 5: eligible 2027
Projected FV: 35
Fuentes was signed for $75,000 this January, which was roughly the 10th highest bonus for the Braves. He got the highest bonus given to a pitcher by the team, and he showed why in his debut, posting the best FIP of any pitcher in the Braves’ system that was primarily a starter this season. Fuentes posted a 2.25 ERA over 44 innings with 50 strikeouts, but he also was able to show impressive control of four pitches, per reports. When asking a contact in DSL about Fuentes, he recalled a former Braves pitcher also from Colombia, and stated that Fuentes could be the best Braves starting prospect since Julio Teheran before he is done. That’s very high praise, but he needs to show it stateside.
26. Cade Bunnell
Last year: 72
Age: 25
Position: Infield
Top 2022 level: Double-A
Rule 5: eligible
Projected FV: 35
Bunnell was incredibly a 40th round selection in 2019 out of Indiana, and he’s gritted his way to the point where he’s caught the eye of many in the organization. Bunnell played all over the infield and even put in a game in the outfield this season. He powered out 15 home runs and posted a .380 OBP, but he is striking out plenty to get there. Bunnell is a high-effort player on the field, the type of guy you want in the clubhouse, and if he continues to have success in the higher levels, he’ll continue getting chances, even with the strikeout rates.
27. Tanner Gordon
Last year: 46
Age: 25
Position: Right-Handed Pitcher
Top 2022 level: Double-A
Rule 5: eligible
Projected FV: 35
Gordon was drafted in the sixth round in 2019 out of Indiana. He’s moved up slowly since. He’s seen his velocity move up since coming into the organization. The issue is that he’s struggled to get his slider/changeup beyond average to pair with a mid-90s fastball. Gordon got better as he was in Mississippi, though, and he’s learned how to use his stuff well. If he can get a bit more wiggle to his offspeed stuff, he has a chance to work as a starter, otherwise, he’s likely headed to the bullpen.
28. Geraldo Quintero
Last year: 96
Age: 21
Position: Infield
Top 2022 level: High-A
Rule 5: eligible 2024
Projected FV: 35
The Braves signed Quintero in 2019 and saw him make it to full-season ball in 2022. He has good defensive instincts, but his raw tools are not high at any defensive position. He is not going to strike out a lot and he takes enough walks, but he doesn’t offer a lot of power and hasn’t had enough contact to compensate as a potential utility guy to this point.
29. Seth Keller
Last year: NR
Age: 18
Position: Right-Handed Pitcher
Top 2022 level: FCL
Rule 5: eligible 2026
Projected FV: 35
Keller is the type of guy that the Braves seem to target – an underdog in size and reputation that has the raw talent to potentially succeed. Keller has a low-90s fastball that touches 95 and a split-change and sweeping slider as his offspeed offerings that work well from his lower arm slot. Keller has work to do on his delivery to be more consistent with his command and control, but the raw tools are there, and the organization has had success with his profile in the past.
30. Indigo Diaz
Last year: 21
Age: 24
Position: Right-Handed Pitcher
Top 2022 level: Double-A
Rule 5: eligible
Projected FV: 35
A beast of a man (6’5″ and 250+ pounds) that the Braves drafted in the 27th round in 2019 out of Michigan State. After an elite 2021 where he put his name on the radar, Diaz struggled with his control in AA in 2022. The strikeout stuff was still there with his upper-90s fastball and his sharp slider. When he is dialed-in with his command, he shows flashes of a potential backend type reliever.
31. Cody Milligan
Last year: 86
Age: 24
Position: Infield/outfield
Top 2022 level: Double-A
Rule 5: eligible
Projected FV: 35
Milligan was a 2019 draftee out of JuCo in Kansas in the ninth round. He has been potentially too passive before this year, but he balanced taking plenty of walks with being aggressive in the zone, and the results were excellent. Milligan is not a powerful hitter, but he did collect 33 extra-base hits in 2022. Milligan focused defensively between second base and outfield in 2022, so he could work as a bench player if he can continue the success he had in 2022.
32. Adam Shoemaker
Last year: 19
Age: 20
Position: Left-Handed Pitcher
Top 2022 level: Low-A
Rule 5: eligible 2025
Projected FV: 35
The Braves selected the 6’6″ Canadian prep lefty in the 11th round in 2021. He had a chance to get up to Augusta in 2022. His stuff is electric from the left side with a low-90s fastball that explodes on hitters along with a low-80s slider and a low-80s change. As is the issue with a lot of guys at his height, Shoemaker struggles to keep his delivery in sync, and that has led to notable control issues as well as inconsistency in his pitch shape. He could make significant strides if he can get his body together.
33. Douglas Glod
Last year: 47
Age: 18
Position: Outfield
Top 2022 level: DSL
Rule 5: eligible 2026
Projected FV: 35
Glod received a seven-figure bonus from the Braves in January. He is an impressive center fielder already, and he has the arm to work in right if he fills out some and needs to shift. Glod is a plus runner now and is incredibly athletic with light-tower raw power. He struggled with consistent contact in the DSL, but he showed the ability to avoid strikeouts.
34. Braden Shewmake
Last year: 10
Age: 25
Position: Shortstop
Top 2022 level: Triple-A
Rule 5: on the 40-man
Projected FV: 35
Shewmake ascended quickly through the Braves system after being the Braves’ second first-round pick in the 2019 draft. He got up to AA quickly, and he spent all of 2022 in AAA. The defensive strides Shewmake made at shortstop took a step back in 2022, and he spent more time at second base over the season. He was also not able to really show a lot of power behind his swing and is a fringe average speed guy on the bases. His baseball IQ is high, but that’s really his carrying tool at this point.
35. Brandon Parker
Last year: 37
Age: 23
Position: Outfield
Top 2022 level: High-A
Rule 5: eligible
Projected FV: 35
Parker was selected by the Braves in teh 10th round in 2019 out of JuCo in Mississippi. He flashed big tools in his pro debut that year, but he struggled with Augusta in 2021. In 2022, Parker showed much better in a return trip to Augusta, showing power and speed while walking and keeping his strikeout rate in check, however when he was promoted to High-A, he struggled to make contact and struck out at a high rate. At 23, Parker doesn’t have a ton of time to develop his impressive raw skills.
36. Luis De Avila
Last year: NR
Age: 21
Position: Left-Handed Pitcher
Top 2022 level: High-A
Rule 5: eligible
Projected FV: 35
The Braves have always been active in the minor league Rule 5 draft, and they may have found a gem in De Avila. The lefty was plucked from the Royals system last offseason, and he ended up throwing a no-hitter on the year and leading the Rome staff. De Avila works in the low-90s and uses a curve and change with excellent control. He can be hit, and his lack of big velocity can mean that he gets hit hard when his command isn’t sharp, but when he is on, he’s really difficult to pick up.
37. Kadon Morton
Last year: 40
Age: 22
Position: Outfield
Top 2022 level: High-A
Rule 5: eligible 2023
Projected FV: 35
Morton was an elite raw athlete coming out of high school in Texas when the Braves selected him in the 19th round in 2019. Morton has flashed those raw tools, but losing the pandemic season cost him a chance to develop. This year, he took a big step forward in that development, flashing power and speed with Augusta while posting a strong on-base. He is behind the development curve due to the pandemic, but his raw talent could allow him to succeed.
38. Jair Casanova
Last year: NR
Age: 19
Position: Outfield
Top 2022 level: FCL
Rule 5: eligible 2026
Projected FV: 35
Casanova was signed in March 2021 by the Braves and made his pro debut in Florida this year. He showed impressive control of the strike zone, but the power was sparse. Defensively, Casanova has the ability to handle center, but he is best suited for right with his above-average arm. He will need the power to jump up to make a corner spot work, though.
39. Greyson Jenista
Last year: 35
Age: 26
Position: Outfield
Top 2022 level: Triple-A
Rule 5: eligible
Projected FV: 35
Jenista has been in the Braves system since he was drafted in the second round in 2018 out of Wichita State. He moved quickly through the system and has stalled out in the upper minors the last few years. Jenista has been primarily playing outfield and playing first base as well. He has power, but he’s struggled to put together on-base and contact ability at the upper levels. Jenista gets high marks in the clubhouse, and he’ll stick around as a strong presence for that purpose.
40. James Acuna
Last year: 79
Age: 25
Position: Right-Handed Pitcher
Top 2022 level: High-A
Rule 5: eligible
Projected FV: 35
Acuna was selected in the 29th round in 2019 by the Braves out of Oregon. He did not pitch in 2019, and then missed time due to the pandemic, so by age, he’s significantly behind. His 2022 was a big step forward as he flashed his upper-90s sinker and generated plenty of grounders in multi-inning appearances out of the bullpen. He does need to polish his control, but the sinker/slider combination from his low-3/4 arm slot can be strong in the bullpen, but he needs more consistent control.
41. Mahki Backstrom
Last year: 17
Age: 21
Position: First Base
Top 2022 level: Low-A
Rule 5: eligible 2023
Projected FV: 35
A huge human being at 6’5″ and 225+ pounds, Backstrom was drafted in the 18th round in 2019 by the Braves. He struggled with consistent contact in his first full-season experience in 2022, but when he did make contact, it was LOUD. Backstrom is still young enough to potentially develop, but he has a long road ahead to get the swing to make consistent contact to access that power.
42. Brooks Wilson
Last year: 41
Age: 27
Position: Right-Handed Pitcher
Top 2022 level: Did not play
Rule 5: eligible
Projected FV: 35
Wilson was originally drafted in the seventh round in 2018 by the Braves. He had a big 2021 when his mid-90s fastball and wicked splitter from his nearly over-top arm angle allowed him to strike out 84 in 50 innings against upper-minors hitters. The Braves put him on the 40-man before the 2022 season, but he missed the whole year with an injury. He was recently dropped from the 40-man but resigned with the team as a minor league free agent and will look to repeat his 2021 success in Gwinnett in 2023.
43. Tyler Owens
Last year: 31
Age: 22
Position: Right-Handed Pitcher
Top 2022 level: Low-A
Rule 5: eligible 2023
Projected FV: 35
Owens was drafted in the 13th round in 2019 out of high school in Florida. Most thought he would head to the University of Florida, but the Braves bought him out of his commitment for just under $550,000. Owens showed well in short-season ball, but he’s struggled in full-season ball due to inconsistent command and control of his mid-90s stuff. The Braves will likely move him up to Rome in 2023.
44. Rolddy Munoz
Last year: 77
Age: 22
Position: Right-Handed Pitcher
Top 2022 level: High-A
Rule 5: eligible
Projected FV: 35
Rolddy is the twin brother of Roddery, but after struggling with his control, the Braves moved him to the bullpen. He has impressive raw velocity, bumping triple-digits with a wicked change and a slider that can flash above-average, but rarely does he get both secondaries working in the same night, and the fastball can be fairly straight. If he can get hitters off his fastball, he could move quickly as a reliever because the raw velocity is elite.
45. Alec Barger
Last year: 84
Age: 25
Position: Right-Handed Pitcher
Top 2022 level: High-A
Rule 5: eligible
Projected FV: 35
The Braves selected Barger out of North Carolina State in the 17th round in 2019. He’s moved progressively with high strikeout rates, but shown struggles with his command along the way. He was excellent in missing bats in 2022 with Rome, striking out more than 30% of hitters, but he also walked almost 10%. Barger works with a mid-90s fastball and a splitter that sits 85-89. Hitters can square him up when he doesn’t hit his spots so control is imperative.
46. Hudson Potts
Last year: NR
Age: 24
Position: Third Base
Top 2022 level: Triple-A
Rule 5: eligible
Projected FV: 35
A former top prospect that was originally drafted by the Padres and has been in the Boston system for the past two years after being part of the Mitch Moreland trade in 2020. Potts has impressive raw power and a strong arm in the infield, but he played primarily first base last season. Potts is a high-level talent that the Braves were able to sign as a minor league free agent this offseason, and they could potentially have a gem.
47. Ethan Workinger
Last year: 42
Age: 21
Position: Outfield
Top 2022 level: High-A
Rule 5: eligible 2023
Projected FV: 35
Workinger signed as an undrafted free agent in 2020. He has an impressive raw power swing from the right side, but he struggles to get to his power consistently. Workinger will likely open with Rome in 2023 and have the chance to test himself against upper minors pitchers by the end of the season if he is successful.
48. Jake McSteen
Last year: 52
Age: 27
Position: Left-Handed Pitcher
Top 2022 level: High-A
Rule 5: eligible 2024
Projected FV: 35
The Braves signed McSteen out of independent ball and he showed well in his first year primarily working as a starter. He moved to the bullpen full-time in 2022, working multiple innings in most of his appearances. He had an impressive 72/13 K/BB ratio over 60 2/3 innings. McSteen doesn’t have elite raw stuff, but he pounds the zone and can spot his stuff very well. He’ll get a chance to test himself against upper minors in 2023.
49. Caleb Durbin
Last year: 82
Age: 23
Position: Infield
Top 2022 level: High-A
Rule 5: eligible 2024
Projected FV: 35
Durbin was picked in the 14th round in 2021, and he’s quickly moved into a utility role, playing second, third, and short with Augusta and Rome this year. He showed power and speed, knocking 32 extra-base hits and stealing 31 bases. He’s not going to strike out a lot, and though he’s not a great contact guy, he does a lot of little things well. It will be interesting to see how he handles upper minors pitching in 2023.
50. Jared Johnson
Last year: 28
Age: 22
Position: Right-Handed Pitcher
Top 2022 level: Did not play
Rule 5: eligible 2023
Projected FV: 35
The Braves picked Johnson in the 14th round in 2019 out of high school. He has big-time raw stuff, touching 97 on the mound with a slider that can range from elite to mediocre. Johnson did not get on the mound for the Braves in 2022 due to injury, so it will be interesting to see how his control is when he returns in 2023.
51. Austin Smith
Last year: NR
Age: 23
Position: Right-Handed Pitcher
Top 2022 level: High-A
Rule 5: eligible 2024
Projected FV: 35
The Braves sent Smith to the Arizona Fall League this winter after the 2021 18th round pick out of Arizona served as the Rome closer in 2022, saving 13 games with a 4.62 ERA with a 61/18 K/BB over 48 2/3 innings. He showed well in the AFL, with a 3.38 ERA in 10 2/3 innings, posting a 14/6 K/BB. Smith has a strong FB/slider combination out of the bullpen. His fastball is mid-90s, but it doesn’t have a lot of swing and miss aspect to it, so he relies on location to avoid getting hit, and he’ll get a good test when he moves up to AA in 2023.
52. Eliezel Stevens
Last year: NR
Age: 22
Position: Second Base
Top 2022 level: Low-A
Rule 5: eligible
Projected FV: 35
The Braves signed Stevens in 2017 out of the Dominican, and he’s toiled in complex ball ever since, never breaking through to a full-season assignment until 2022. Stevens is defensively going to work at second base, and probably only at second, but his glovework there is passable. He worked back into his swing a bit more this year and discovered gap power rather than the slap-hitting approach that he had struggled with previously. With average speed, Stevens’ best route to success is getting on base and pounding the gaps.
53. Nolan Kingham
Last year: 51
Age: 26
Position: Right-Handed Pitcher
Top 2022 level: Triple-A
Rule 5: eligible
Projected FV: 35
Kingham has put the definition in rubber arm for the Braves over the last two years, working across the upper levels and filling in wherever needed, sometimes on short rest, and typically giving the team quality innings. His ERA isn’t shining, but he’s also been willing to wear some tough games for the better of the team. Overall, Kingham’s stuff is probably no better nor worse than someone like Jesse Chavez, and a role like Jesse fills in the bullpen would probably suit him well, but he provides a significant amount of value to minor league rosters with his ability and willingness to eat innings in the rotation and bullpen.
54. Luis Sanchez
Last year: NR
Age: 19
Position: Third Base
Top 2022 level: DSL
Rule 5: eligible 2027
Projected FV: 35
The Braves signed Sanchez out of Panama this year, and he may have had the breakout performance of the DSL this year. Sanchez hit .287/.432/.347 with a 21/10 BB/K rate. From reports from the Dominican, his 5’9″ listed height might even be generous, but he knows how to maximize his frame at the plate and is very aware of his strike zone. The biggest praise that he received was in his baseball IQ, and that showed up in his baserunning, as Sanchez stole 13 bases in 14 attempts. His arm is very good, which allowed him to play third for much of this season, but he likely will eventually settle in up the middle.
55. Rolando Gutierrez
Last year: NR
Age: 20
Position: Left-Handed Pitcher
Top 2022 level: FCL
Rule 5: eligible 2026
Projected FV: 35
Braves scouting tends to find “late bloomers” every so often that turn into something, and perhaps Gutierrez is the next one. He was signed this year at 20 years old in the Dominican and earned his way stateside by the end of the summer. At 20, he’s older than the typical Latin signee, but he also has more advanced feel for his pitches as well. His fastball doesn’t peak in the upper-90s, but he flashed four usable pitches on the mound this year.
56. Jesse Franklin V
Last year: 16
Age: 24
Position: Outfield
Top 2022 level: Double-A
Rule 5: eligible 2023
Projected FV: 35
In last year’s list, I kept inching Franklin up, likely with a bit of Big Ten bias in my heart, and probably because I just liked the overall package and wanted to see him succeed for that reason. The background is that if it weren’t for injuries in college, Franklin would have been a first-round pick. Now those same injuries are dogging him as a professional. He struggled with minor injuries in 2021, but Tommy John surgery ended his 2022, and while most come back from that, how it will affect his ability to pull the ball and how it will affect his throwing arm in the outfield remains to be seen.
57. Landon Stephens
Last year: 73
Age: 25
Position: First Base
Top 2022 level: Double-A
Rule 5: eligible 2023
Projected FV: 35
When Stephens gets ahold of one, it stays gotten ahold of. The issue through his minor league tenure has been consistently making that contact. He earned his way up to AA this season and flashed his big power, but really struck out at a crazy rate to end the season in his brief audition. If he can show that he can control the strike zone and get on base, even with a low contact rate, he could have some value going forward.
58. Kevin Kilpatrick Jr
Last year: NR
Age: 22
Position: Outfield
Top 2022 level: Low-A
Rule 5: eligible 2025
Projected FV: 35
Originally from Stone Mountain, Kilpatrick was selected by the Braves in the 17th round out of Central Florida this past summer. He may be my favorite selection of the 2022 draft after the first ten rounds. Kilpatrick is ridiculously athletic and displayed that in his pro debut, showing power and speed both. He has the natural athletic ability to handle center field, though his routes likely need to be cleaned up a touch. He also plays the game at an intensity that is incredibly fun to watch, making it easy to cheer for him going forward.
59. Adam Zebrowski
Last year: 44
Age: 22
Position: Catcher
Top 2022 level: High-A
Rule 5: eligible 2024
Projected FV: 35
Zebrowski was the Braves 13th round pick in the 2021 draft, and while he may not have blown anyone away with a .223/.351/.397 line last year and 11 home runs. It was the 57/85 BB/K over 300 at bats and extremely steady defense behind the plate that got the notice of many in the organization. He’s not going to win any defensive awards for his work, but he has done excellent work behind the plate handling very volatile young arms, especially in pitch presentation.
60. Alan Rangel
Last year: 38
Age: 25
Position: Right-Handed Pitcher
Top 2022 level: Triple-A
Rule 5: eligible
Projected FV: 35
Veteran minor leaguer Rangel was rewarded for his years of work in the Braves system by being placed on the 40-man last season. The Mexico native then had what can only be politely described as the worst season of his professional career in 2022, struggling with location throughout the year, though he oddly had better swing and miss results over the year without seeing notably different velocity or spin readings in his pitches. Rangel is best used as a long arm in the bullpen or fill-in starter. He was removed from the 40-man in November but signed back with the organization as a minor league free agent.
61. Andrew Moritz
Last year: 93
Age: 26
Position: Outfield
Top 2022 level: Double-A
Rule 5: eligible
Projected FV: 35
Originally drafted in the sixth round in 2018 out of UNC-Greensboro, Moritz has now tallied more than 1,000 at-bats in the Braves’ system, but he arguably had his best season in 2022, working his way to AA for the first time and really showing his skillset to its fullest. Always a strong contact hitter, with a career .273 average, Moritz showed notably more plate discipline in 2022, generating a .371 OBP. His counting stats aren’t ever going to be flashy in home runs or stolen bases, but Moritz is a strong overall athlete, able to handle all three outfield spots, though he’s best deployed in a corner. The showing he had in 2022 could really portend a fifth outfield future for Moritz, if he’s not too old at 26 to potentially make that happen.
62. Stephen Paolini
Last year: 39
Age: 22
Position: Outfield
Top 2022 level: Low-A
Rule 5: eligible 2023
Projected FV: 35
Fairly unknown coming out of high school in Connecticut, the Braves drafted Paolini in the fifth round in 2019, and he impressed many with his raw tools early on, but he’s simply never turned those tools into production. Paolini showed some power and speed in a hair under 400 at-bats of work in Low-A last season, and he cleaned up his walk rate and strikeout rate, but he was repeating the level, and he still managed just a .663 OPS. The tools are tantalizing, but he’s going to need to take some BIG steps forward in 2023.
63. Jose Chavez
Last year: NR
Age: 19
Position: Right-Handed Pitcher
Top 2022 level: DSL
Rule 5: eligible 2026
Projected FV: 35
The Braves signed Jose Chavez out of Venezuela in March of 2021, and he made his pro debut this year in the DSL. Chavez has interesting raw stuff, with a fastball that he can ramp up, and a breaker that flashes above-average, but his control is inconsistent. He will be one to watch as he comes stateside this season and gets more instruction in the farm system to hone those pitches.
64. Daysbel Hernandez
Last year: 48
Age: 26
Position: Right-Handed Pitcher
Top 2022 level: Did not play
Rule 5: eligible
Projected FV: 35
After a monstrous year in 2019, Hernandez, originally signed as an outfielder out of Cuba in September 2017, looked like he was on the fast track to the Braves bullpen. Then the pandemic season happened, and he had middling results in 2021 before going down with an injury that ended up taking him out for the entirety of 2022. At his best, Hernandez features a swing-and-miss breaking pitch and an upper-90s fastball with the ability to pound the zone. What he will retain in his return remains to be seen.
65. Noah Williams
Last year: NR
Age: 18
Position: Outfield
Top 2022 level: Low-A
Rule 5: eligible 2026
Projected FV: 35
Williams was drafted in the 18th round this past summer out of high school in California. He is an incredibly athletic switch-hitting outfielder with a lot of power in his frame already that he could potentially tap into while also having above-average speed currently. The Braves saw him bump up to Augusta to finish the season and have success, albeit in a short five-game sample, and he could be a very interesting late draftee to watch in 2023.
66. Hayden Deal
Last year: 81
Age: 28
Position: Left-Handed Pitcher
Top 2022 level: Double-A
Rule 5: eligible
Projected FV: 35
As a guy to cheer for, Deal will always have a special place in my heart as an undrafted free agent from 2017 (when the draft was still 40 rounds!), even if he’s not a likely major league arm. Deal returned to AA in 2022 and was a long man from the bullpen for the M-Braves from the left side. Deal doesn’t have big velocity, but he has quality offspeed stuff and attacks hitters such that he’s only allowed 17 home runs over 376 minor league innings with sub-par velocity.
67. E.J. Exposito
Last year: NR
Age: 21
Position: Infield
Top 2022 level: Low-A
Rule 5: eligible 2025
Projected FV: 35
Exposito was the Braves’ 16th round pick this past summer out of Long Island University. He’s extremely athletic, but he’s also very raw. He showed all aspects of that in his pro debut – he flashed power, speed, patience, and also struck out nearly 30% of the time. Defensively, Exposito’s hands are excellent, but his arm was inconsistent in his pro debut, leading to him spending time between second and short.
68. Luis Vargas
Last year: NR
Age: 20
Position: Right-Handed Pitcher
Top 2022 level: Low-A
Rule 5: eligible 2023
Projected FV: 35
Originally signed by the Braves in 2018, Vargas had not pitched in full season ball until this season, but once he got a chance this year, he really showed impressive raw stuff. Vargas flashed a plus slider and a fastball that ranged to 97-98. Consistent command of both of his top two pitches and a strong third pitch would allow Vargas to work as a starter, but he could potentially move quickly as a reliever as well.
69. Yorlis Lendor
Last year: 45
Age: 19
Position: Outfield
Top 2022 level: DSL
Rule 5: eligible 2025
Projected FV: 35
Lendor was very hyped when the Braves signed him in February of 2021 for his raw size and raw power. He destroyed some baseballs in batting practice in the DSL this year, but consistent contact didn’t come, and he struck out in nearly 50% of his at-bats. At 6’6″ and roughly 225 pounds, Lendor has the build and the look of the player that the Braves hope he will become. He simply needs to turn those tools into skills.
70. Cory Acton
Last year: NR
Age: 24
Position: Second Base
Top 2022 level: FCL
Rule 5: eligible 2025
Projected FV: 35
Acton was drafted in the ninth round this year out of Georgia, and he fits a profile that I really like. He’s not a flashy, athletic type. He’s not a defensive stud. However, he’s a guy who you plug in at second base, and he’ll get on base nearly every game and do all the little things on the field every game. The Braves have had a number of those guys recently that moved on from the organization, and Acton fills into that role now.
71. Yoansy Moreno
Last year: 54
Age: 20
Position: Outfield
Top 2022 level: Did not play
Rule 5: eligible 2024
Projected FV: 35
Moreno is still a fun guy to dream on, a guy who stands 6’3″ and 225 pounds of rippled build that absolutely impresses. He never got on the field officially this year. His power bat and power arm profiles as a right fielder. Hopefully, Moreno can get underway this season after plenty of issues getting started with his pro career since signing in 2019.
72. Jason Franks
Last year: NR
Age: 24
Position: Right-Handed Pitcher
Top 2022 level: FCL
Rule 5: eligible 2025
Projected FV: 30
Franks walked on at Cal Poly and worked his way into a legit draft prospect before the Braves drafted him in the eighth round this past summer and signed him at a discount. Franks works with a a low-90s fastball that can work up to 95-96 that has tremendous ride and can be described as invisible. He’s experimented with two different breakers, but he hasn’t settled on one at this point. With his raw arm strength, it will be interesting to see how the Braves push him.
73. Maximo Maria
Last year: NR
Age: 18
Position: Outfield
Top 2022 level: DSL
Rule 5: eligible 2027
Projected FV: 30
Maria received a six-figure bonus from the Braves in January to sign out of the Dominican. He is an incredibly athletic corner outfield prospect with an above-average arm and a power-speed combination. In his debut in the DSL, Maria walked at a high rate, but he also struck out plenty. He will be one to track as he comes stateside in 2023.
74. Benjamin Dum
Last year: 92
Age: 26
Position: Right-Handed Pitcher
Top 2022 level: High-A
Rule 5: eligible
Projected FV: 30
The Braves signed Dum out of independent ball before the 2021 season, and he showed well in his first year across both A-ball levels. Dum opened in Augusta and finished in Rome in 2022, with similar success. He works with a low-90s sinker and a downer curve, generating plenty of grounders.
75. Francisco Floyd
Last year: NR
Age: 20
Position: Infield
Top 2022 level: Low-A
Rule 5: eligible 2023
Projected FV: 30
Long and lean, Floyd has been a guy who has caught my attention for a few years, but he’s not made it out of complex ball. This season, Floyd got his chance with Augusta, and he made the most of it, working at second, third, and short, showing power and speed in his game. Floyd’s starting to fill into his 6’1″ frame and could have more power as he does that, potentially working as a third baseman.
76. Grant Holmes
Last year: NR
Age: 27
Position: Right-Handed Pitcher
Top 2022 level: High-A
Rule 5: eligible
Projected FV: 30
Holmes was once an elite prospect in the game, originally drafted by the Dodgers and spending plenty of time in the Oakland organization as well. The Braves grabbed him this past summer after he was waived. Holmes has plenty of raw talent, but he’s coming back from injury and will need plenty of work to get back, but the talent is intriguing in the system.
77. Anderson De Los Santos
Last year: 75
Age: 20
Position: Shortstop
Top 2022 level: FCL
Rule 5: eligible 2025
Projected FV: 30
De Los Santos had dual citizenship in the U.S. and Dominican, allowing him to be signed by the Braves in July of 2021. He made his debut in the complex last year. He returned to Florida this year, but he really didn’t show much better, though his plate discipline was improved slightly. De Los Santos is a switch-hitter and has a frame that could fill in and work at third.
78. Bryson Horne
Last year: 85
Age: 24
Position: First Base
Top 2022 level: High-A
Rule 5: eligible 2023
Projected FV: 30
With a burly frame, Horne looks the part of a slugger, but he’s struggled to really lean into his raw power since signing with the Braves as an undrafted free agent in 2020. Horne can will get a chance to face upper minors pitching in 2023 and prove himself.
79. Trey Riley
Last year: 70
Age: 24
Position: Right-Handed Pitcher
Top 2022 level: Double-A
Rule 5: eligible
Projected FV: 30
The Braves originally drafted Riley in 2018 in the fifth round out of JuCo as one of the top-rated junior college prospects in the draft that year. Riley has struggled to develop, finally breaking out of A-ball this season, but only for a brief moment, and not for a very good showing. Riley has the raw stuff, but he struggles to show his top stuff and control at the same time.
80. Christian Jackson
Last year: NR
Age: 19
Position: Outfield
Top 2022 level: FCL
Rule 5: eligible 2026
Projected FV: 30
The Braves drafted Jackson in the 19th round out of high school in Atlanta. Jackson has an impressive raw athletic frame. He’s transitioning to the outfield after being primarily an infielder in high school. He will take some time to develop, but the raw tools are incredibly impressive to watch, and he will be fun to keep an eye on in 2023.
81. Drew Lugbauer
Last year: 95
Age: 26
Position: First Base
Top 2022 level: Double-A
Rule 5: eligible
Projected FV: 30
“Slugbauer” was drafted by the Braves in the 11th round in 2017 out of Michigan. He’s been a source of power in the Braves organization ever since. His best defensive position is DH, and his contact ability is virutally non-existant, as evidenced by 212 strikeouts over 474 at-bats in 2022. That said, Lugbauer has hit 87 home runs in 515 minor league games, and that can’t be ignored.
82. Ronaldo Alesandro
Last year: NR
Age: 24
Position: Right-Handed Pitcher
Top 2022 level: High-A
Rule 5: eligible
Projected FV: 30
Signed at 20 in 2018 out of the Dominican, Alesandro has been in complex ball until this season. He pushed through both A-ball levels with impressive strikeout rates, striking out 49 in 35 2/3 innings. Alesandro works with a 92-94 sinker and a slider as his primary pitches.
83. Jeremy Celedonio
Last year: NR
Age: 21
Position: Outfield
Top 2022 level: FCL
Rule 5: eligible 2023
Projected FV: 30
Celedonio was signed by the Braves in January 2019 out of the Dominican. He’s still not made it out of complex ball, but he flashed impressive raw skills in his time in Florida this year, with two home runs and five steals in 13 games along with a .391 OBP.
84. Jorge Bautista
Last year: NR
Age: 22
Position: Right-Handed Pitcher
Top 2022 level: Low-A
Rule 5: eligible 2023
Projected FV: 30
Bautista was signed in 2018 and has been in complex ball until this season. He worked his way up to Low-A this season, but he struggled significantly once there, posting an 8.78 ERA over 40 innings. Bautista has a lean frame, but he’s had plenty of opportunities and this could be his last shot to succeed before the Braves move on.
85. Beau Philip
Last year: 60
Age: 24
Position: Infield
Top 2022 level: High-A
Rule 5: eligible
Projected FV: 30
The Braves selected Philip in the second round of the 2019 draft out of Oregon State. He was known to be raw for a college draftee when he was selected, and the pandemic year definitely didn’t help him. He did make strides in 2022, but it was as a 23-year-old repeating High-A. Philip does possess an elite arm and could have a future on the mound if the team was willing to consider that possibility.
86. Cedric De Grandpre
Last year: NR
Age: 21
Position: Right-Handed Pitcher
Top 2022 level: Low-A
Rule 5: eligible 2025
Projected FV: 30
The Braves selected De Grandpre out of JuCo in the 13th round this past summer. The Canadian native showed a four-pitch mix that could serve him well with the Braves, but he will need to be able to consistently locate all four. De Grandpre reaches 92-94 with his fastball and his best offspeed pitch is a high-spin curve.
87. J.J. Niekro
Last year: NR
Age: 25
Position: Right-Handed Pitcher
Top 2022 level: High-A
Rule 5: eligible 2023
Projected FV: 30
The Braves signed Niekro as an undrafted free agent in 2021. He surprised everyone by dominating Augusta to open the season. He did not have the same success with Rome to finish the year. Niekro operates with a low-90s fastball and a mix of fringe average secondary pitches, but when he locates them, he is able to make it difficult for hitters to square up. He could have a future in a long man role as he moves up.
88. Antonio Barranca
Last year: 57
Age: 21
Position: Catcher
Top 2022 level: Low-A
Rule 5: eligible 2024
Projected FV: 30
The Braves signed Barranca as an undrafted free agent in 2020 out of high school. He ended the season in Low-A, but Barranca has not shown his offensive ability yet at the plate. He’s also had 20 passed balls in his career so far as well. The raw tools are there, but he has yet to turn the tools into refined skills.
89. Miguel Pena
Last year: NR
Age: 24
Position: Right-Handed Pitcher
Top 2022 level: High-A
Rule 5: eligible
Projected FV: 30
The Braves originally signed Pena in February 2017. He got his first shot at Low-A last season. Pena has a strong fastball/slider combination, and when he locates it, it can dominate. In 2022, he pushed his way across both A-ball levels, striking out 52 in 41 2/3 innings.
90. Justin Janas
Last year: NR
Age: 22
Position: First Base
Top 2022 level: Low-A
Rule 5: eligible 2025
Projected FV: 30
Janas was drafted in the 12th round this summer out of Illinois. He isn’t exactly a profile first baseman, as he’s more of a hit-over-power type, with more contact ability than power. He is limited to first base defensively, so that will require very high production with that offensive profile moving forward.
91. Landon Harper
Last year: NR
Age: 21
Position: Right-Handed Pitcher
Top 2022 level: Low-A
Rule 5: eligible 2025
Projected FV: 30
Harper was drafted in the 14th round out of Southern Mississippi by the Braves. He’s a relief profile, with a mid-90s fastball and a sharp breaking pitch, but the Braves used him in multiple innings a number of times in his pro debut, so whether there is an attempt to stretch him out or his future is in the bullpen remains to be seen.
92. Drew Campbell
Last year: 71
Age: 25
Position: Outfield
Top 2022 level: High-A
Rule 5: eligible
Projected FV: 30
Campbell was the Braves’ 23rd round pick in 2019, and he spent his first two pro seasons primarily serving as a backup player, but he was a starter with Rome this season and put up very strong numbers, reducing his strikeout rate significantly. He hit seven home runs and stole 15 bases, showing a balance of power and speed. Campbell has a fourth/fifth outfielder profile, though he’s already 25, so he will need to have success in AA in 2023 to see that in the majors.
93. Giomar Diaz
Last year: NR
Age: 20
Position: Right-Handed Pitcher
Top 2022 level: FCL
Rule 5: eligible 2024
Projected FV: 30
Diaz was signed in 2019 out of the Dominican. He posted impressive raw stats for the Florida complex team. His control wavered, but when it’s been on, he was dominant. Diaz will get a chance at full-season in 2023.
94. Connor Johnstone
Last year: 91
Age: 28
Position: Right-Handed Pitcher
Top 2022 level: Triple-A
Rule 5: eligible
Projected FV: 25
The Braves selected Johnstone in the 21st round out of Wake Forest in 2017. He’s worked as a swingman for Gwinnett for multiple years, with his sinker generating plenty of groundballs and allowing him to eat up plenty of innings for the Stripers staff.
95. Tyler Tolve
Last year: 76
Age: 22
Position: Catcher
Top 2022 level: High-A
Rule 5: eligible 2024
Projected FV: 25
The Braves selected Tolve in the 17th round in 2021 out of Kennesaw State. He has shown impressive athleticism behind the plate and has an above-average arm behind the plate. He did strike out nearly 1/3 of his plate appearances in 2022, despite having otherwise solid offensive numbers.
96. Alex Segal
Last year: NR
Age: 25
Position: Left-Handed Pitcher
Top 2022 level: High-A
Rule 5: eligible
Projected FV: 25
Segal was drafted by the Braves in the 22nd round in 2019 out of Wichita State. He has not had a chance to pitch until this season. The Braves sent him to the AFL, where he struck out plenty, but he struggled to locate while in Arizona. Segal works with a fastball that sits around 90 and a curve that typically sits mid-70s. When he locates, his low 3/4 slot makes the combination a tough pair to square up.
97. Keshawn Ogans
Last year: NR
Age: 21
Position: Infield
Top 2022 level: High-A
Rule 5: eligible 2025
Projected FV: 25
Ogans was the Braves’ final selection of the 2022 draft in the 20th round out of Cal. He played shortstop in college, but worked both sides of the keystone in his pro debut. Ogans has plus speed and has the ability to handle both middle infield positions. He’ll likely work up to AA in 2023.
98. Robert Gonzalez
Last year: NR
Age: 18
Position: Outfield
Top 2022 level: DSL
Rule 5: eligible 2027
Projected FV: 25
An unheralded signing this past January from the Dominican, Gonzalez had an impressive performance offensively for the Braves, earning an All-Star nod in the DSL this year. Gonzalez has above-average speed and the frame to fill into above-average power as well, but he is currently aggressive at the plate. It served him well in lower levels, but he will need to learn to be more selective as he works his way up the system to continue having success.
99. Albert Rivas
Last year: NR
Age: 20
Position: Right-Handed Pitcher
Top 2022 level: DSL
Rule 5: eligible 2024
Projected FV: 25
The Braves originally signed Rivas out of Venezuela in 2019. Rivas finally made his professional debut in 2022, initially working out of the bullpen but showing himself as a legit starting prospect over the course of the season. He needs to fill into his frame for sure, and his fastball/breaker will need a third pitch to succeed as he moves forward, but he had a strong start to his career in complex ball.
100. Jacob Pearson
Last year: 63
Age: 24
Position: Outfield
Top 2022 level: Double-A
Rule 5: eligible
Projected FV: 25
Pearson is a great example of the type of player that the Braves’ system can afford to carry right now. He has a world of raw talent, but even five seasons and three organizations into his professional career, he’s not quite had that switch flip for him. He’s athletic enough to handle all three outfield positions adeptly, and he combines speed and power in his profile. If he can flip that switch in AA finally, the Braves will have uncovered a gem here.
Benjamin Chase
After 6 years of writing for FanSided on various sites and offering contributions to various other websites, family changes have encouraged me to start this site. I spend a ton of time watching baseball at all levels, but I love watching minor league baseball on milb.tv as I'm hours away from the closest minor league team. This is an effort of all those games I enjoy on a daily basis!
