6. Austin Riley, 3B
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 4/2/1997 (20)
2017 teams/levels played for: high-A Florida Fire Frogs, AA Mississippi Braves
2017 Stats: .275/.339/.446, 542 PA, 20 HR, 2 SB, 43/124 BB/K
Info: A burly third sacker with a powerful right arm, Riley was considered strongly by many teams in the draft as a pitcher coming out of high school in Mississippi in 2015. The Atlanta Braves instead chose to select Riley as a third baseman with a 2nd round pick.
Riley came out in his draft season and showed tremendous raw power, pummeling 12 home runs in just 60 games between the GCL and Appy League. He followed that up with 20 home runs and 39 doubles in 2016 in Rome, giving many the idea that his power was going to be present, but curious whether his plate discipline would allow the power to play.
Those concerns were certainly viable at the outset of the 2017, as Riley posted a .408 SLG in the FSL, but a promotion to AA seemed to bring out the best in Riley as he hit .315/.389/.511 over 48 games before then going to the Arizona Fall League and continuing the positive hitting, putting up a .300/.364/.657 line and challenging for the AFL lead with 6 home runs.
Riley’s defense has been a question since he was drafted, but he’s taken steps each season in that regard to the point where a number of scouts were considering his defense in the AFL above-average.
Riley will most likely open 2018 in AAA, and how he handles AAA could play significantly into how the Atlanta Braves approach the free agent market in the next offseason.
5. Kolby Allard, LHP
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 8/13/1997 (20)
2017 teams/levels played for: AA Mississippi Braves
2017 Stats: 27 GS, 150 IP, 3.18 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 7.2% BB, 20.8% K
Info: Allard was a guy who worked primarily in the low-90s in high school until he had one showcase where he popped off a few pitches in the mid-90s and from there, many felt that was his new assumed velocity level. Back issues bumped him down from the early 1st round to the Atlanta Braves selection at 14th overall.
That plus secondary stuff allows for Allard’s less-than-premium velocity to play up
The Braves pushed Allard aggressively up to AA in 2017, and there were natural growing pains, but some of that had to do with getting on a regular rotation schedule. Allard’s velocity settled in at 88-92 with excellent command. He also manipulates his fastball through various grips to get different breaks on the pitch.
Allard’s secondary stuff is absolutely plus, with a change that gets plenty of weak contact, and his curve can draw plenty of swing and miss when it’s at its best. That plus secondary stuff allows for Allard’s less-than-premium velocity to play up.
Allard may not be a guy who has frontline projection, but his advanced control and ability to sequence and out-smart hitters should allow him to play to a quality mid-rotation projection. He will open 2018 in AAA.
Next: #3 and #4