Atlanta Braves: Revised Top 100 Braves Prospects for 2018

After some significant upheaval this offseason, an update to the Atlanta Braves top 100 prospects was certainly due!

The Atlanta Braves had tremendous upheaval in the farm system this offseason after the transgressions of former GM John Coppolella were punished this winter.

I published my first edition of the top 100 in November as part of a countdown series on the site, but with the loss of a top-10 prospect, and multiple in the top 50, in the Coppolella punishments, it seemed the right time to update the entire list.

This won’t be full scouting reports like in November, but I will break up each group of ten to discuss any changes/additions/subtractions along the way!

The list

This list is ordered by Benjamin Chase based off of his own research, viewing of the players, and discussions with those around the game who have seen the players.

1. Ronald Acuna, OF
2. Mike Soroka, RHP
3. Luiz Gohara, LHP
4. Kyle Wright, RHP
5. Cristian Pache, OF
6. Kolby Allard, LHP
7. Max Fried, LHP
8. Austin Riley, 3B
9. Bryse Wilson, RHP
10. Ian Anderson, RHP

The main loss in this group was the loss of Kevin Maitan, but there has been some shuffling of order. Some of that has been due to increasing positive reports on Cristian Pache and Bryse Wilson along with some concerned reports on Kolby Allard and Ian Anderson.

11. Alex Jackson, C
12. Touki Toussaint, RHP
13. William Contreras, C
14. Tucker Davidson, LHP
15. Joey Wentz, LHP
16. Patrick Weigel, RHP
17. A.J. Minter, LHP
18. Dustin Peterson, OF
19. Drew Waters, OF
20. Kyler Muller, LHP

The two biggest risers in this group are two that are getting plenty of talk around the prospecting community this winter in William Contreras and Tucker Davidson. This season will be a very interesting year to watch both.

21. Travis Demeritte, IF
22. Tyler Pike, LHP
23. Jean Carlos Encarnacion, 3B
24. Matt Withrow, RHP
25. Freddy Tarnok, RHP
26. Jacob Lindgren, LHP
27. Huascar Ynoa, RHP
28. Isranel Wilson, OF
29. Brett Cumberland, C/OF
30. Akeel Morris, RHP

One I forgot in my first edition, Jacob Lindgren is a guy that Atlanta Braves fans may want to get to know soon as he very possibly will be making an impact on the 2018 club.

31. Dan Winkler, RHP
32. Ricardo Sanchez, LHP
33. Braulio Vasquez, IF
34. Lucas Herbert, C
35. Corbin Clouse, LHP
36. Jefrey Ramos, OF
37. Anyelo Gomez, RHP
38. Jared James, OF
39. Anfernee Seymour, OF
40. Jacob Webb, RHP

One of the biggest developments from the fall out of the international scandal was that the huge depth of middle infielders that limited Braulio Vaszquez’s time in 2017 are now out of the way, and with continued big reports on him, he could be a guy that flies up this list in 2018.

41. Drew Lugbauer, C/IF
42. Carlos Castro, 1B
43. Thomas Burrows, LHP
44. Josh Graham, RHP
45. Derian Cruz, IF/OF
46. Dilmer Mejia, LHP
47. Tyler Neslony, 1B/OF
48. Ray-Patrick Didder, IF/OF
49. Leudys Baez, OF
50. Chase Johnson-Mullins, LHP

I’ve been a big fan of Ray-Patrick Didder all along, and I was sad to see his struggles in 2017, but the idea of him moving to the infield and offering plus defense in the outfield, adequate defense in the middle infield, and speed to burn is a fun bench guy to think about that could move quickly in that role.

51. Kade Scivicque, C
52. Devan Watts, RHP
53. Jonathan Morales, C
54. Yoeli Lopez, OF
55. Adam McCreery, LHP
56. Joey Meneses, 1B/OF
57. Alay Lago, 2B
58. Troy Bacon, RhP
59. Alejandro Salazar, SS
60. Phil Pfeifer, LHP

Very intriguing bullpen arms in this tier with Troy Bacon a guy that could move quickly in the bullpen, but he does have the stuff to start. Adam McCreery really turned things on over the course of 2017, and at 6’9″, his size from the left side could be an asset in the pen.

More from Call to the Pen

61. Justin Ellison, OF
62. Luis Valenzuela, IF
63. Carlos Franco, 1B/3B
64. Jasseel De La Cruz, RHP
65. Connor Lien, OF
66. Jeremy Walker, RHP
67. Austin Bush, 1B
68. Bradley Keller, OF
69. Drew Harrington, LHP
70. Brandon White, RHP

A few that are “oldies but goodies” in this level in guys like Carlos Franco and Connor Lien. I really was impressed with the swing adjustments Franco made last season, and with the ability to handle both corner infield spots, he could have some value off the bench for the big league club in 2018.

71. Jon Kennedy, LHP
72. Braxton Davidson, 1B/OF
73. Shean Michel, OF
74. Jaret Hellinger, LHP
75. Tanner Murphy, C
76. Caleb Dirks, RHP
77. Gary Schwartz, OF
78. Wes Parsons, RHP
79. Bruce Zimmermann, LHP
80. Luis Mejia, 3B

Yes, Braxton Davidson has really fallen this far. However, that does not mean all is lost. Heck, if he would take lessons from another guy in this tier, Gary Schwartz, he would be in good shape as Schwartz really has maximized his swing to get everything out of it. Hopefully a move to first base can invigorate Braxton’s bat.

81. Alan Rangel, RHP
82. Dylan Moore, IF
83. Ryan Lawlor, LHP
84. Odalvi Javier, RHP
85. Chad Sobotka, RHP
86. Alger Hodgson, RHP
87. Filyer Sanchez, LHP
88. Manuel Juan, 1B
89. Albinson Volquez, LHP
90. Sean McLaughlin, RHP

A few guys on this level who simply pitch, but they have the frames and youth to possibly add more “stuff” to that pitchability in Alan Rangel and Odalvi Javier. Manuel Juan is a guy I’m still tracking based on reliable info about his absolute mammoth size and swing.

91. Zach Rice, LHP
92. Luis Mora, RHP
93. Matt Rowland, RHP
94. Kevin Josephina, 2B
95. Hayden Deal, LHP
96. Luis Gamez, RHP
97. John Curtis, LHP
98. Marcus Mooney, IF
99. Miguel Jerez, LHP
100. Tyler Marlette, C

Some big upside arms here that are healing or new to the system. Token #100 spot for prospect-eligible Tyler Marlette, who was a guy that was often mentioned as a guy that Atlanta Braves fans on message boards and Reddit wanted to target in trade. Now he’s here, though let’s just say the bloom is a bit off of the rose.

I hope you enjoyed!!

Next: Atlanta Braves #1 Farm System

As you look at the list, the great part is that even if the Braves graduate as many as 7-8 guys from this list (which would be a LOT), there is the depth of talent here (along with more to come in the draft this summer) that should allow this to be a top system for many years to come!