Complete List
The entire list with descriptions has come out in pieces over the last few weeks, extended due to technical issues on the writer’s part. Of course, once the list was originally done, I realized that I was missing 5 guys that I had intended to have in the top 100, so there is a top 105, and two guys didn’t get a write up previously, so theirs will be after the list.
First, links for the sections of the list with profiles on each player:
1-20
21-40
41-60
61-80
81-100
1Ronald Acuna
2Mike Soroka
3Luiz Gohara
4Kolby Allard
5Kevin Maitan
6Kyle Wright
7Max Fried
8Austin Riley
9Ian Anderson
10Cristian Pache
11Alex Jackson
12Touki Toussaint
13Joey Wentz
14Drew Waters
15Bryse Wilson
16William Contreras
17Patrick Weigel
18Kyle Muller
19A.J. Minter
20Travis Demeritte
21Dustin Peterson
22Yunior Severino
23Tyler Pike
24Brett Cumberland
25Matt Withrow
26Jean Carlos Encarnacion
27Isranel Wilson
27aAbrahan Gutierrez
28Yefri Del Rosario
29Tucker Davidson
30Anfernee Seymour
31Lucas Herbert
32Freddy Tarnok
33Huascar Ynoa
34Akeel Morris
35Corbin Clouse
35aDan Winkler
36Jared James
37Jacob Webb
38Carlos Castro
39Yenci Pena
40Thomas Burrows
41Ricardo Sanchez
42Derian Cruz
43Ray-Patrick Didder
44Josh Graham
44aBraulio Vasquez
45Dilmer Mejia
45aLeudys Baez
46Jefry Ramos
46aKade Scivicque
47Joey Meneses
48Drew Lugbauer
49Jonathan Morales
50Alay Lago
51Alejandro Salazar
52Justin Ellison
53Chase Johnson-Mullins
54Juan Contreras
55Devan Watts
56Troy Bacon
57Yoeli Lopez
58Livan Soto
59Luis Valenzuela
60Jasseel De La Cruz
61Tyler Neslony
62Phil Pfeifer
63Adam McCreery
64Connor Lien
65Carlos Franco
66Matt Custred
67Bradley Keller
68Jeremy Walker
69Brandon White
70Drew Harrington
71Juan Carlos Negret
72Jon Kennedy
73Braxton Davidson
74Joseph Odom
75Jaret Hellinger
76Caleb Dirks
77Gary Schwartz
78Wes Parsons
79Luis Mejia
80Dylan Moore
81Austin Bush
82Kevin Josephina
83Sean McLaughlin
84Bruce Zimmerman
85Shean Michel
86Ryan Lawlor
87Zach Rice
88Tanner Murphy
89Manuel Juan
90Alan Rangel
91Humberto Quintero
92Cutter Dyals
93Antonio Sucre
94Hayden Deal
95Miguel Jerez
96Chad Sobotka
97Filyer Sanchez
98Hagen Owenby
99Omar Obregon
100Troy Conyers
27a. Abrahan Gutierrez, C, GCL
Born: 10/31/1999
Stats: .264/.319/.357, 141 PA, 1 HR, 10/21 BB/K
Info: Gutierrez was considered the second-best prize behind Maitan in the 2016 IFA spending spree. Compared to Mike Piazza at 14 years old, Gutierrez is a big body catcher with a quick bat, which made the comparisons quite apt. In 2017, he made his first professional appearances, and the reviews were a bit mixed.
Behind the plate, the 6’2″, 215-pound Gutierrez was more than advertised. He showed excellent ability in the run game with a plus arm, good set up behind the plate, and a feel for framing. He has some definite work to do in his lateral movement behind the plate as he works up the system, but for a guy who turned 18 on Halloween, he’ll have plenty of time to build on those skills.
The bat was where there was generally more mixed review than expected. Gutierrez had been reported to have filled out more than expected before signing, and it was clear at fall instructs last year that he was bigger than the Braves wanted, but he showed up in spring having obviously worked at his weight and certainly his overall fitness level. He hasn’t seen it translate yet into a return in his bat speed.
Gutierrez has a similar bat speed “issue” that many have related to Austin Riley in that he has a long load into the zone, but once in the zone, he has a quick bat through the zone, and he had some resounding doubles over the course of his GCL season. The Braves have worked very well with Riley to adapt and allow him to utilize his incredible power, but Gutierrez also doesn’t have the same level of raw power as Riley, likely being a guy with plus raw and above-average in game power in the end, whereas Riley could be a guy with plus-plus in both areas when all is said and done.
Gutierrez is still young, but the upside here is immense, and he really did impress in the biggest question area I had, which was his glove work and ability to trim down the excess he’d put on after signing. He’ll likely open 2018 in Danville, and the Braves will let his glove likely lead his promotion schedule more than his bat.
35a. Dan Winkler, RHP, Rome/Florida/Gwinnett/Atlanta
Born: 2/2/1990
Stats: Minors: 14 G, 14 IP, 5.14 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, 4/14 BB/K; Majors: 16 G, 14 1/3 IP, 2.51 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, 6/18 BB/K
Info: Winkler may end up being the longest-tenured Rule 5 pick ever, as he’s missed so much time since being picked in the Rule 5 draft in December of 2014 that he’s still attempting to fill his Rule 5 requirements.
A power-armed righty, the Braves took Winkler in the draft, knowing that he’d miss nearly all of 2015 recovering from Tommy John surgery. He then attempted to return in 2016 before suffering a gruesome arm break that ended his season after just 3 appearances.
He was eased back in 2017, attempting to protect his arm, and he showed better and better the more he threw, really looking good in the majors. Winkler is throwing a mid-90s fastball, cutter that sits in the low 90s, a low-80s slider, and a change that sits in the upper 80s. At their best, his fastball, cutter, and slider is a three-pitch mix that is devastating on hitters from both sides out of the bullpen. He should open in the 2018 bullpen.
Next: Others to know - Upper Minors