Braves Prospects Talk

[K26dp]

I'm going to start a new thread on this so we don't clog up the game threads or the Atlanta Braves Regular Season thread.

I posted this list this morning.

1. Matt Wisler, RHP - AAA Gwinnett (Kimbrel)

2. Jose Peraza, 2B - AAA Gwinnett

3. Mike Foltynewicz, RHP - AAA Gwinnett (Gattis)

4. Lucas Sims, RHP - A+ Carolina

5. Christian Bethancourt, C - Atlanta

6. Ozhaino Albies, SS - A Rome

7. Rio Ruiz, 3B - AA Mississippi (Gattis)

8. Ricardo Sanchez, LHP - A Rome (Kubicza)

9. Max Fried, LHP - A Rome (injured) (JUpton)

10. Braxton Davidson, 1B/OF - A Rome

11. Tyrell Jenkins, RHP - AA Mississippi (Heyward)

12. Manny Banuelos, LHP - AAA Gwinnett (Carpenter)

13. Jason Hursh, RHP - AA Mississippi

14. Jace Peterson, IF - Atlanta (JUpton)

15. Garrett Fulenchek, RHP - extended spring training

16. Alex Grosser, RHP - A Rome

17. Jose Briceno, C - A+ Carolina (Hale)

17. Mallex Smith, OF - AA Mississippi (JUpton)

18. Shae Simmons, RHP - Atlanta (injured)

19. Mauricio Cabrera, RHP - A+ Carolina

20. Dian Toscano, OF - AAA Gwinnett

21. Wes Parsons, RHP - extended spring training

22. Tanner Murphy, C - A Rome

23. Andrew Thurman, RHP - A+ Carolina (Gattis)

24. Dustin Peterson, OF/3B - A+ Carolina (JUpton)

25. Johan Camargo, IF - A+ Carolina

26. Williams Perez, RHP - AAA Gwinnett

27. Max Povse, RHP - A Rome

28. Jordan Edgerton, 3B - A Rome

29. Cody Martin, RHP - Atlanta

30. Carlos Salazar, RHP - A Rome

Edited April 8, 2015 by K26dp

[K26dp]

Braves related excerpts from Kiley McDaniel's prospect chat on Fangraphs.

Comment From Vslyke

Do you see a notable difference in the Braves philosophy about their farm system since Hart took over? Seems like its a much higher priority than when Wren was in charge.

Kiley McDaniel: It is. It seems like they decided they’re going to make another dynasty, so they got the band back together and are planning another heist like its one of those Ocean’s movie (hopefully not the second one). They’re targeting close to the majors bats and high upside arms and doubling down on the draft and July 2 and it’s all very exciting. I find unusual things exciting.

***

Comment From JC

What’s the floor for Ozhaino Albies in your opinion?

Kiley McDaniel: Well every kid in A-Ball’s floor is not making the big leagues. I think the answer you’re asking for is utility guy, assuming he doesn’t hit enough and he’s far enough away that’s still a good possibility.

***

Comment From Jimi

Do you get the feeling the Braves are higher on Paroubeck than the industry or was his inclusion in the trade merely a lotto ticket at this point?

Kiley McDaniel: Maybe higher than the Padres, because the Preller regime didn’t draft him, but yeah he’s a lottery ticket to most teams

***

Comment From Mitchell

what are the braves gonna do with all this pitching and so few bats? trade pitching for bats or sign free agents?

Kiley McDaniel: Both of these questions get the same answer. Sometimes, these sorts of things look like problems, but very very few times do they actually end up problems. Young players are volatile assets and they do weird things and rarely will a team have too many good players to deal with. And if it’s one of the rare situations where they do, then they’ll make a trade, but not until they have to.

***

Comment From Evan T

I live in the Northern Atlanta Suburbs (between Roswell/Alpharetta) and looking for some interesting high school baseball to go watch..any teams/prospects worth going to check out?

Kiley McDaniel: Very close to you, Dakota Chalmers is at North Forsyth HS and might go in the first round. He’s the one to see. Generally throws on Wed or Fri.

***

Comment From Mitchell

do you know if hunter renfroe was available to atlanta and they preferred wisler? I know they were both pretty much 1A and 1B for you

Kiley McDaniel: Yeah I ended up ranking Renfroe higher on the Padres list, then gave Wisler the nod on the top 200 after talking to more people. I think Atlanta preferred Wisler, not sure if Renfroe was avail or not, but you can see their preference for arms in their deals, so I don’t think it mattered.

***

Comment From David

Sounds like Wisler could be up by the all star break now, right? Do you see immediate success? His arsenal seems pretty major league ready.

Kiley McDaniel: The only question is durability if it turns out his command is fine when out of the PCL, which we’ll know by midseason. Need to break him in at the MLB level and find out

***

Comment From Long John Silver

Who ends up being the long term CF for the Braves?\

Kiley McDaniel: Mallex Smith, Cameron Maybin or Jose Peraza. lots of factors in play to say which one with any certainty.

[Falconsfan567]

Did that guy really list Cameron Maybin as a long-term option for the Braves in CF? That's got to be joke right? He didn't really mean to put Maybin in that answer right?

[K26dp]

Did that guy really list Cameron Maybin as a long-term option for the Braves in CF? That's got to be joke right? He didn't really mean to put Maybin in that answer right?

I guess it depends on what was meant by "long term". Maybin could be the guy this year and next if he does well and Peraza and/or Smith don't pan out.

[Des-pool]

I think it's funny that Wisler instantly becomes our best prospect and people are crying that we "gave" Kimbrel away.

[Ransack]

I think it's funny that Wisler instantly becomes our best prospect and people are crying that we "gave" Kimbrel away.

People will say that because they don't see a guy that's in the lineup contributing just yet. Kimbrel was also the best at his position whether you value that position or not. Even casual fans knew it and thus the outcry.

[K26dp]

Yeah, it's OK for folks to be upset. Most fans aren't obsessive as some of us on here are. Every trade this offseason, I've had to talk my mother off a ledge.

Someday (soon in a few cases) these guys will matriculate to the majors, Chip and Joe will say "acquired in the <something> deal", and folks will start to understand. Then the Braves will trade for someone or sign a free agent, and it will be reported "the Braves likely couldn't have made this deal with money tied up in Melvin Upton" and they will understand more.

Until then, it's just better to roll with it.

[Des-pool]

It does suck, I get it. It's never easy when your favorite players get traded/leave.

That being said, if there is a position you can afford to lose a potential hall of fame player, it's definitely closer. It sucks, but so did trading Doyle Alexander in 87.

[Psychic Gibbon]

I forget where I read it, but one writer pointed out something I hadn't thought of with all these trades. Due to the new found depth of our minor league pitching that will mean the pitching prospects will no longer have to be rushed up the system so they can just develop and move up at a smoother pace. This could especially be beneficial to Sims who has great potential but seemed a bit out of his depth last season.

[Falconsfan567]

I guess it depends on what was meant by "long term". Maybin could be the guy this year and next if he does well and Peraza and/or Smith don't pan out.

When I think long-term I think for the forseeable future and Cameron Maybin **** sure better not be the Braves long-term option in CF. Cameron Maybin had his chance to live up to the hype he got coming up with the Tigers and he's been a flatout bust. He he didn't provide great defense he wouldn't have a place in the majors! He would be your typical AAAA player. His bad is that bat.

[McNulty]

Where do you think this Cuban guy we signed falls?

[jidady]

Hey, for the purposes of future evaluation, will you put an asterisk next to everyone we acquired this off-season?

FWIW, Wisler is the one I'm pretty sure gets first start at the rotation if/when a spot opens up.

[Unknøwn]

Wisler should get first crack. He's a little more ready than Folty.

[Falconsfan567]

Wisler should get first crack. He's a little more ready than Folty.

I fully expect Wisler to be in the Braves starting rotation by the trading deadline.

[K26dp]

Where do you think this Cuban guy we signed falls?

I have him 20th, but honestly it's a complete guess. I based the list on top on a combination of Baseball America, MLB.com, Baseball Prospectus, and Fangraphs and Toscano was all over the place.

Hey, for the purposes of future evaluation, will you put an asterisk next to everyone we acquired this off-season?

FWIW, Wisler is the one I'm pretty sure gets first start at the rotation if/when a spot opens up.

Done.

[K26dp]

When I think long-term I think for the forseeable future and Cameron Maybin **** sure better not be the Braves long-term option in CF. Cameron Maybin had his chance to live up to the hype he got coming up with the Tigers and he's been a flatout bust. He he didn't provide great defense he wouldn't have a place in the majors! He would be your typical AAAA player. His bad is that bat.

I get what you're saying, but the question is almost unanswerable at this point. If I were a betting man, I'd put my money on Peraza, but there's also a very good chance he's actually the 2Bman of the future. Mallex Smith could possibly blossom, but he's still far enough out that he could totally flame out. Heck, it could be someone like Eury Perez or Todd Cunningham if they are late bloomers. Finally, it could be someone not currently in the organization that we acquire in free agency or trade.

The only thing for certain is that Cameron Maybin is on the roster right now, if healthy he can at least handle the position well defensively, and he's under contract through next year.

[McNulty]

I have him 20th, but honestly it's a complete guess. I based the list on top on a combination of Baseball America, MLB.com, Baseball Prospectus, and Fangraphs and Toscano was all over the place.

Done.

Oops sorry, overlooked him at 20

[Des-pool]

So 12 of our top 30 came via trades. Good job Hart!

Now add the 5 picks in top 84 in the draft.

Plus we are not done...any of these fill in pieces show out during the season, they will become good trade bait for contenders.

Really liking what we have done. People forget we were one of the worst offensive ranked teams last year. As hart said, it's not like we broke up the 27 Yankees.

[McNulty]

So 12 of our top 30 came via trades. Good job Hart!

Now add the 5 picks in top 84 in the draft.

Plus we are not done...any of these fill in pieces show out during the season, they will become good trade bait for contenders.

Really liking what we have done. People forget we were one of the worst offensive ranked teams last year. As hart said, it's not like we broke up the 27 Yankees.

I don't think one person has forgotten we were terrible on offense. Yet Kimbrel still led the NL in saves, but somehow we magically won't be good enough on offense this year to have save opportunities. ...

[Psychic Gibbon]

So 12 of our top 30 came via trades. Good job Hart!

Now add the 5 picks in top 84 in the draft.

Plus we are not done...any of these fill in pieces show out during the season, they will become good trade bait for contenders.

Really liking what we have done. People forget we were one of the worst offensive ranked teams last year. As hart said, it's not like we broke up the 27 Yankees.

They also added money to their international pool cap.

[Psychic Gibbon]

I don't think one person has forgotten we were terrible on offense. Yet Kimbrel still led the NL in saves, but somehow we magically won't be good enough on offense this year to have save opportunities. ...

Hart said this trade was painful for everyone but he had to pull the trigger on it since the likelihood of getting another deal to move Melvin and his entire contract may not have come around again. It also didn't hurt that they got Wisler, who they wanted to get in the Upton deal but the Padres were unwilling to give up up then, a high potential, toolsy OF prospect, and another draft pick. Everyone can be traded if the price is right and it was right for this deal.

[K26dp]

Interesting tidbit, there's a tie between new Braves OF Cameron Maybin and first round draft pick Braxton Davidson. The are both graduates of T. C. Roberson HS in Asheville, NC and Maybin has been a mentor for Davidson.

Mississippi Braves pitcher Justin Jackson is also from the same high school.

[K26dp]

Heh, just read that Rio Ruiz's first home run as a professional came off Tyrell Jenkins. Both will be playing for the Mississippi Braves this season.

[K26dp]

LHP Ricardo Sanchez of the Rome Braves will be the youngest player in full season professional baseball. He turns 18 on Saturday.

[Ransack]

LHP Ricardo Sanchez of the Rome Braves will be the youngest player in full season professional baseball. He turns 18 on Saturday.

Albies is nearly the same age. Very very young to be playing at that level.