Atlanta Braves 2017 Top 100 Prospects: #81-100

95. Miguel Jerez, LHP, DSL/GCL

Born: 10/13/1997
2017 Stats: 19 G, 48 IP, 1.31 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, 11/45 BB/K
Info: After a strong showing in the DSL in 2016, the lefty initially opened the season back there, but he was quickly moved up. A stout 5’11”, 200-ish pounds (he’s listed at 180, but has added 15-25 pounds since then at least), Jerez doesn’t come with major velocity, topping out in reports I received at 90-91, but his secondary stuff is such quality that he is able to mow down lower level hitters who struggle to handle anything with real wiggle. Jerez will have to continue to locate well as he advances, but so far, he’s done exactly that. It would not surprise if the Braves jumped him over Danville to the back of the Rome rotation or into the Rome bullpen as a long man from the left side as he could use that level of a challenge.

94. Hayden Deal, LHP, GCL/Rome

Born: 11/4/1994
2017 Stats: 14 G, 30 2/3 IP, 3.23 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 9/27 BB/K
Info: Signed as an undrafted free agent, Deal actually made a bigger impression than some of his drafted counterparts. Deal was a happenstance signing with a great story behind his initial signing, and he had been used in multiple roles in college. Pitching primarily in the GCL, Deal threw completely out of the bullpen, but he also averaged 2 innings per appearance. Deal works with an array of pitches, reaching up to 92 with his fastball, but typically sitting around 90 with a cutter, curve, change, and he’s shown the ability to work with both his four-seam and two-seam fastball. That allows him to work well as a multi-inning reliever. He could be an interesting follow as a guy who could see his secondary stuff play up and become a solid back-end starting option or could be a good swing guy in the bullpen.

93. Antonio Sucre, OF, DSL

Born: 11/8/1999
2017 Stats: .237/.333/.333, 231 PA, 4 HR, 4 SB, 20/58 BB/K
Info: Sucre was signed for $300K out of Venezuela in July of 2016, but that shouldn’t take away from how solid he was as a prospect before being signed, flashing above-average bat speed and plus raw power. Sucre is fairly limited defensively with below-average speed. Sucre has a quick, compact swing from the right side with a build that generates power upon contact, but he struggled to maximize his contact in the DSL this season. In left field when he wasn’t playing DH (which was his primary position by games played on the season), Sucre struggled with routes, but he did show better arm and recovery speed than expected. His talent level should allow him to come stateside in 2018, and I could see him having a quality season in the GCL in 2018.

92. Cutter Dyals, RHP, Danville

Born: 8/10/1995
2017 Stats: 17 G, 22 IP, 2.05 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 9/21 BB/K
Info: A reliever from North Carolina A&T drafted in the 17th round this season, Dyals has worked through plenty of tragedy already in his life, losing his father just before starting with NCA&T. On the mound, he shows excellent focus with his fastball/curve combo. While the fastball isn’t an upper 90s offering, it is a pitch that he can locate well and the curve has excellent break, allowing Dyals to be rough on hitters out of the bullpen, especially fellow righties from his sidearm slot. Coming into the Braves system, he’d shown excellent ability to control both pitches, but he did have some moments where he lost feel as a pro. If he can regain that elite level control/command, he could be a very impressive reliever down the road.

91. Henry Quintero, OF, DSL

Born: 5/23/1994
2017 Stats: .333/.417/.567, 36 PA, 3/7 BB/K
Info: The Atlanta Braves have not had a great history with Cuban players. However, Quintero has the chance to be a first time positive experience for the organization. He flew under the radar coming to the country due to his .223/.274/.325 career slash line in Serie Nacional in Cuba. However, Quintero showed up more trim than his original 6’1″, 210 listing, listed now more like 190 pounds, and he’s seen his speed uptick to above-average and his defensive ability really climb, playing a legit center field in short experience in the DSL. Quintero’s hitting is still questionable, though he has a better contact ability than his Cuban stats indicate. He’s probably not a .333 hitter either, however. Quintero has average power and above-average speed with good instincts on the bases that could be an asset. While he just got 9 games played in 2017, he should come stateside in 2018, and it will be interesting to see how he can move once here.

Next: #86-90