2017 Acquisition: Freddy Tarnok, RHP
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 11/24/1998 (19)
2017 teams/levels played for: Gulf Coast League Braves
2017 Stats: 8 GS, 14 IP, 2.57 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 5.2% BB, 17.2% K
Info: One of the things the Atlanta Braves have done well over the years is found quality arms in need of development and brought those arms to maturity with their instruction. Tarnok will be a high-upside variety of that instruction.
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Tarnok filled into his gangly 6’4″ frame plenty in his final 12 months before the draft, and he saw a significant rise in his velocity due to the physical maturity. Able to pitch into games in the low- to mid-90s, Tarnok was clocked in some spring contests as high as 98 with an easy delivery that still showed room for more. His impressive velocity comes along with excellent late sink.
Paired with his quality fastball is a curve that gets over 20 MPH velocity difference from the fastball and has a high spin rate that generates a steep downward drop on the pitch, leaving many high school hitters flailing.
In his pro debut, Tarnok showed quick teachability, picking up a change and showing well with it by the end of the GCL season. He will certainly need to iron out consistency with all of his pitches, but he really impressed scouts and coaches alike with his willingness to learn and adaptability once he was in camp.
He may open with short-season Danville in the Appy League this year due to the fact that he didn’t throw a ton of innings in high school, but the Atlanta Braves could push Tarnok’s coachability by sending him straight to low-A Rome as well.
Next: Projecting the 2018 Braves 'pen
So that is the Atlanta Braves top 10 prospects for 2018. Who is too high? Too low? Missing entirely from the list? Comment below!!