Five Atlanta Braves prospects and their MLB comparisons
Having several top-tier prospects is nice, but what’s even nicer is examining those prospects, making comparisons, and giving Atlanta Braves fans something to look forward to in 2018 and beyond.
A few weeks ago, I wrote an article with Tomahawk Take highlighting five Atlanta Braves prospects that I deemed “untouchable.” There’s good reason to believe that Alex Anthopoulos will be hanging onto these guys until they’ve shown what they can do at the MLB level.
Moving forward, I thought it would be a good idea to write a “sequel” of sorts to this list of prospects, taking things a step further by making an MLB comparison (past or present) to each of my five untouchable prospects.
While there’s no guarantee that any of these guys will be what they’re projected to be in the MLB, speculation is always fun. Without further ado, let’s take a look at who some of our most beloved prospects could grow up to be.
1. SP Luiz Gohara – C.C. Sabathia
This one is honestly too easy. Luiz Gohara is an overlapping reincarnation of C.C. Sabathia. From his build to his pitch arsenal, the 21-year-old lefty channels Sabathia in every aspect of the game. He’s got a lively fastball and a devastating slider, and — wait, am I talking about Gohara or Sabathia earlier in his career? The two can be confused so easily!
Between three minor league levels in 2017 (A+, AA, & AAA), Luiz Gohara posted a 2.62 ERA and 10.7 strikeouts per nine innings. He’s still got a bit of baby fat on him, so there’s room for improvement in virtually all areas for the already-dominant lefty.
Gohara projects to be one of the best arms in the Atlanta Braves’ system and fans would not be disappointed if he replicated the potentially Hall of Fame-worthy career of C.C. Sabathia. I had hoped the Braves would pick up Sabathia this offseason so that he could be a mentor of sorts to Gohara, but we’ll just have to let the kid learn how to be great in his way.
2. SP Bryse Wilson – Carlos Mármol
Personally, I’ve considered Bryse Wilson is eventually moving to the bullpen for some time. His exceptional control and plus-slider (some have called it a slurve) would be a devastating combination out of the ‘pen, reminiscent of former Cubs’ closer Carlos Mármol.
Mármol and Bryse Wilson share the same stocky, 6-foot-1 build, as well. Although Mármol wasn’t dominant for more than a few years, he did put up attractive numbers early in his career. From 2007 through 2010, Carlos Mármol owned a 2.54 ERA and an impressive 12.9 K/9, thanks in part to his nasty slider.
I don’t want to commit to saying that Bryse Wilson will eventually find himself in a bullpen role, but I will say that if he does, he will be hugely successful. A low walk rate in A-ball at just 19 years old is an excellent sign for the young kid, and I’m confident that he’ll be successful wherever he winds up.
3. 3B Austin Riley – David Freese
Upon arriving in Mississippi in July, Austin Riley reached a new height regarding minor league performance, and his momentum carried over to the Arizona Fall League, where be batted .300 with six home runs and eighteen RBI in 17 games. However, I don’t think that he’s going to be a superstar as some Atlanta Braves fans have suggested.
Just because he won’t be a superstar, though, doesn’t mean Riley can’t contribute at the MLB level. David Freese, although drafted as an upperclassman out of college, reminds me a lot of Austin Riley. Riley’s defense may wind up being a bit better, but, much like Freese, I’m expecting him to be a solid, everyday player, but not too much more than that.
Freese has been good for 10-15 home runs every year since 2011 and clubbed 20 in 2012, his best season. Freese is a career .274 hitter with an OPS+ of 109, and that’s about what Austin Riley will be for the Atlanta Braves.
4. SP Mike Soroka – Tim Hudson
I went close-to-home for this comparison. Although Mike Soroka‘s sinker may not be quite as effective as the great Tim Hudson‘s, it’s pretty darn good. While his six-foot-five frame dwarfs Hudson’s six-foot-one stature, Mike Soroka isn’t much different from the former sinkerballer. Soroka’s command of all his pitches may, in fact, rival Hudson’s.
Soroka can throw multiple variations of his fastball, a nasty curveball, and a useful changeup for strikes virtually whenever he wants, and that’s something that was one of the reasons Tim Hudson was able to have such a long, successful career.
Mike Soroka may perfect the sinker before arriving in the big leagues, and then the Tim Hudson comparisons will start rolling in. For now, though, it’s still safe to make a Hudson comparison because of Soroka’s dominance at all levels in the minor leagues thus far. He could be in Atlanta as soon as mid-2018, and he’ll make an immediate impact on the team’s success.
5. OF Cristian Pache – Grady Sizemore
Let’s look at a stat comparison real quick:
Grady Sizemore at 18 years-old in A-ball (123 G, 541 PA): .268/.381/.335, 16 2B, 4 3B, 2 HR, 61 RBi, 64 R, 32 SB, 81 BB, 92 SO
Cristian Pache at 18 years-old in A-ball (119 G, 514 PA): .281/.335/.343, 13 2B, 8 3B, 0 HR, 42 RBI, 60 R, 32 SB, 39 BB, 104 SO
These comparisons back up my assumption that Cristian Pache will develop some power once he fills out his 6-foot-2 frame. Grady Sizemore’s power didn’t truly appear until he reached the Major Leagues. Sizemore hit 107 home runs and stole 115 bases in his first four full MLB seasons, but ran into injury issues that derailed his career.
Much like Sizemore, I believe Cristian Pache will one day be capable of being a 20-20 player that can hit for average — If he can stay healthy, Pache may be able to have the career many thought Grady Sizemore was going to have, and the Atlanta Braves would be perfectly okay with that.
Next: Top ten White Sox prospects for 2018
Like I said earlier, these comparisons are purely speculation. I am in no way anything close to an MLB scout, and I don’t have the proper education or experience necessary to make a spot-on MLB comparison for a prospect. These comparisons are 100% my opinion, and while there’s been some research put into them, I could very well be wrong about every single one (except Gohara, of course).