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Atlanta Braves: Top 10 Rookie-Eligible Prospects for 2018

By Benjamin Chase

CINCINNATI - JUNE 19: A Braves equipment bag, a bat, and a glove are pictured before the game between the Atlanta Braves and the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on June 19, 2005 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Reds defeated the Braves 11-8. (Photo by John Grieshop/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
CINCINNATI - JUNE 19: A Braves equipment bag, a bat, and a glove are pictured before the game between the Atlanta Braves and the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on June 19, 2005 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Reds defeated the Braves 11-8. (Photo by John Grieshop/MLB Photos via Getty Images) /
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8. Max Fried, LHP

Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 1/18/1994
2017 teams/levels played for: AA Mississippi Braves, AAA Gwinnett Braves, MLB Atlanta Braves
2017 Stats: Minors: 21 GS, 92 2/3 IP, 5.54 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, 11.1% BB, 22.5% K; Majors: 9 G, 4 GS, 26 IP, 3.81 ERA, 1.62 WHIP, 9.9% BB, 18.2% K

Info: Recovering from Tommy John surgery when the Atlanta Braves acquired him in December of 2014, Fried first took the hill for the Braves in 2016 as the elder statesman of an extremely talented Rome pitching staff. Much of that Rome staff moved up to AA to open 2018, but Fried struggled through a year of injury.

Never seeming right in his minor league season, when he was feeling good for a single game, the results were there, as evidenced by a 7 shutout inning performance on April 25th and a 10 strikeout performance on May 6. However, the positives were spread thin during the regular season for Fried.

Then he got to Arizona for the fall league, finally rested and healthy. Fried made 6 starts in the AFL, tallying a 1.73 ERA and a 0.89 WHIP, striking out 32 over 26 innings against some of the best prospects in baseball.

When he’s on his game, Fried features a fastball that sits around 92-94 and touches 96-97 with a curve that is one of the best in the entire game. He has come a long way with his change, but it’s still an average pitch. Fried does utilize an electric pickoff move to control the run game for hitters that do reach against him.

Fried will be competing for a roster spot with the big league club, but most likely, he’ll open the season in the Gwinnett rotation, where he’ll hope to refine his control to get back up to Atlanta in a hurry in 2018.

7. Cristian Pache, OF

Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 11/19/1998 (19)
2017 teams/levels played for: low-A Rome Braves
2017 Stats: .281/.335/.343, 514 PA, 32 SB, 39/104 BB/K

Info: When punishments were being decided against the Atlanta Braves organization this past fall, many Braves fans were resigned to losing a prospect or two, but one of the names frequently mentioned that fans did not want to see lost was Pache.

It’s what he does with a glove on his hand that makes Pache so special

Pache was one of the Atlanta Braves big money signings in 2015. His scouting report at signing raved about his arm and his above-average speed. Pache has expanded those skills significantly, with an easy 70 on the 20-to-80 scouting scale on his run tool, if not an 80.

It’s what he does with a glove on his hand that makes Pache so special. Using his top-end speed, Pache has worked hard on his center field defense, with incredible instincts off the bat, and he still possesses an exceptional arm.

He does show some unorthodox length to his swing, but he seems to make excellent contact in spite of it, and he’s continued to work on his swing as well, as it’s significantly improved in 2017 from what he showed in 2016. The next step will be adding in power to his hitting approach.

Adding in that power could be a challenge in the Florida State League, where Pache is likely to open 2018, but a good showing there could earn him a quick bump up to AA before he even hits 20.

Next: #5 and #6

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