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MLB Minor League System Ranks – The Elite

By Benjamin Chase

Dec 7, 2016; National Harbor, MD, USA; A general view of stage microphones on day three of the 2016 Baseball Winter Meetings at Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 7, 2016; National Harbor, MD, USA; A general view of stage microphones on day three of the 2016 Baseball Winter Meetings at Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Atlanta Braves

The Braves used their strong farm system to anchor their long streak of division titles in the 1990s and early 2000s, but that farm system had fallen off by 2013, and when the team’s performance fell off strong in the 2014 season, the Braves decided to make the move to rebuild their system.

They traded away nearly everyone on the major league roster, then turned around after the 2015 season and did the same thing. Specifically a pair of trades each with the Arizona Diamondbacks and San Diego Padres built up the system over the course of a calendar year, with two separate deals with the Padres in the 2014-2015 offseason, one deal with the Diamondbacks in the 2015 season and one in the 2015-2016 offseason, overhauled the system through the players and draft picks acquired in those trades.

The Braves also went very heavy into the international market this season and brought in one of the highest-regarded international prospects since Miguel Sano and Miguel Cabrera when they signed Kevin Maitan.

Elite prospects – The Braves had 12 guys I considered for the top 125, and they have built a level of elite guys that is enviable in the game right now, and they should lead most prospect lists in total prospects on the list this offseason.

System depth in legit prospects – The Braves have a wealth of big time ceiling in their system and have some very solid players that should be in AAA this season with a path to be major league contributors.

Proximity to majors of legit prospects – This is the spot where I’d ding the Braves just a bit this offseason. They have traded away a number of their major-league ready prospects this offseason in a couple of deals that you can’t really argue with, but it does mean that their legit prospects are primarily guys that are a number of years away from the big leagues.

System reputation – Under Frank Wren, many of the top scouts and coaches in the Braves reputed minor league system had left for other organizations. When Wren left, the Braves were able to bring back many of those guys along with recruiting in many other well-regarded people in the game.

The Braves have one of the most reputed minor league pitching coaches in the game with their Mississippi affiliate. They also have received excellent marks for their work on defense with their players in the system at all positions, but especially in the outfield and behind the plate.

The Braves have struggled to produce bats outside of Freddie Freeman in recent years, so they will hope that guys like Swanson and Albies are a turn in the other direction for their organization. Yes, the organization will be focused on pitching depth, but hitting development will be the key to the system’s success at the major league level.

Top 5 Born 1991 or since (age 25 season this year)
1. Dansby Swanson
2. Julio Teheran
3. Mike Foltynewicz
4. Ozzie Albies
5. Matt Wisler

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