25. Matt Withrow, RHP, GCL/Florida/Mississippi
Born: 9/23/1993
2017 Stats: 18 G, 15 GS, 79 2/3 IP, 3.73 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 31/70 BB/K
Info: On May 1st, if I’d have told you that all the players that did graduate through the season would graduate, and that Withrow would still rank only 25th, you’d never have believed me. As of May 5th, Withrow had made 6 starts, with a 1.74 ERA, 0.81 WHIP, and a 12/29 BB/K. He was definitely not physically right during his next start, and after struggling through 4 more starts, Withrow finally went on the DL, and he missed over two months before making his first rehab starts. He closed the season well for Florida, though not quite to the same level as he did early in the season. Withrow works with a fastball that he can run to the upper 90s and sits around 93-94 with excellent weight and movement on the pitch, getting very good plane on the pitch from his 6’5″ frame. He works with an above-average slider that plays up when he’s able to keep his delivery consistent, but the injuries he’s had since his college years have severely hurt his ability to stay healthy, and it’s led to the delivery getting off line. Withrow would be a very high-level reliever if that ended up his path, but his ability to be a quality #3/4 starter is a very attainable floor, provided health.
24. Brett Cumberland, C/DH, Rome/Florida
Born: 6/25/1995
2017 Stats: .266/.409/.445, 452 PA, 11 HR, 1 SB, 49/123 BB/K
Info: Cumberland was the Braves 4th selection in the 2016 draft, but he was just the 76th overall selection as a draft-eligible sophomore. Cumberland turned 22 midway through the 2017 season, and his tremendous power he displayed in Rome seemed to get sapped in Florida, though that’s not uncommon in the Florida State League. However, what was not good was seeing that his walk rate dropped significantly (13.1% in Rome, 8.3% in Florida), but the fact that he was hit 41 times by pitch kept his on base average high on the season. Cumberland has above-average power from both sides of the plate, but he does tend to use more of the field from the right side and pull more from the left side, so he tends to hit more of his extra base hits from the left side. Cumberland has a swing that would lead to believing he could have good average and good power numbers, but while he’s seen progress as a pro at the plate, the progress behind the plate hasn’t come as quickly. He spent more time at DH than catcher in 2017, and he’s got definite work to do behind the plate before he would have a shot to have a big league career there. With the glut of catchers likely to be in the upper minors, Cumberland could open the season sharing Florida with Herbert, hoping both his bat AND glove push a move up somewhere during the season.
23. Tyler Pike, LHP, Florida/Mississippi
Born: 1/26/1994
2017 Stats: 27 GS, 144 1/3 IP, 3.43 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, 90/154 BB/K
Info: Much like he’s seen multiple seasons with the Seattle organization, Pike struggled mightily with his first go-round with a new level with his control. Pike’s delivery is such that he can get off in his path toward to the plate. Pike worked well with noted Braves pitching guru Dennis Lewalyn at Florida in attacking the zone with his plus to double-plus curve and above-average to plus change. When he attacks the zone well with his fastball, he can keep hitters off balance and really rack up strikeout numbers with his curveball, which has a hint of Rich Hill to it. However, he works with a hint of deception in his delivery, and getting off in that delivery can lead to his fastball, which sits around 88-91, to be very hittable, though even then, he doesn’t allow home runs on the pitch. Pike’s resemblance to Hill reminded one scout so heavily that he remarked that he’d not be surprised at all if Pike ended up jumping over many of the Braves more highly-regarded prospects in the end to be a very quality #2/3 starter, but if he cannot locate, he’ll struggle. His Florida/Mississippi split is prime example of exactly that. With Florida, he had a 9.6% walk rate and 1.19 WHIP. With Mississippi, he saw that walk rate jump to 18.3% and a 1.67 WHIP. Pike will likely open with Mississippi, and while he will be 24 next season, as a reclamation project from Seattle’s system and throwing lower velocity, arriving later than a typical prospect could be fine for him to still have success as a starter.
22. Yunior Severino, 2B, DSL/GCL
Born: 10/3/1999
2017 Stats: .270/.345/.420, 252 PA, 3 HR, 0 SB, 24/67 BB/K
Info: Severino was tagged when he was being sought after by teams to sign him in the 2016 IFA period as a player with a bat ahead of his glove. One veteran scout remarked to me that Severino reminded him tremendously of former Giants and Dodgers second baseman Jeff Kent at the plate, and that’s spot on with his profile from signing and also from multiple views I’ve heard from folks like Matt Powers of Talking Chop and Jason Woodell from Prospects 1500. Severino showed well at second base, very steady, but not flashy, and he could be seen at third base some as well due to an above-average arm. In all reality, Severino’s profile fits a Kent comparison very well, and Braves fans should be overjoyed if that’s what he ends up becoming. He’ll likely open 2018 with Danville, but he could jump to Rome with continued positive production like he showed in 2017.
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21. Dustin Peterson, OF, Gwinnett
Born: 9/10/1994
2017 Stats: .248/.318/.318, 346 PA, 1 HR, 1 SB, 27/78 BB/K
Info: After a 2016 season when Peterson really broke out as one of the best young outfielders in the Braves system, many thought he would be in the major leagues at some point in 2017, but then a broken hamate bone put his entire season into disarray. Peterson has a longer swing, but he has good pitch recognition, and uses that to allow him to have a solid batting average along with above-average power. As often happens, Peterson’s power was sapped after the hamate injury, and his season wasn’t what he expected at all. However, he did show continued growth in left field, and he should be ready in 2018 to compete for a bench role in the outfield in Atlanta, whether that’s in the spring or at some point during the season. If the Braves were to clear away Nick Markakis and Matt Kemp, it would likely be Ronald Acuna in one starting spot to open 2018, and it’s likely Peterson would compete for the other.
Tomorrow we will see the top 20. So what did you think so far? Any surprises? Questions? Comment below!!