Atlanta Braves prospects lead MLB in updated Prospect Rankings
By Brian Cox
The surging Atlanta Braves lead all of Major League Baseball in our updated Prospect Rankings. Just how good are the Atlanta Braves prospects?
Now that the 2018 MLB First-Year Player Draft is behind us, FanGraphs has released their updated prospect rankings list, expanding their preseason list from 100 to 131 players and including several of the top players that were drafted last week. After the rankings update, the Atlanta Braves proved the old adage correct that “the rich get richer.”
The Atlanta Braves prospects remain the number one system in baseball after increasing their top prospect total from 10 to 14.
Ronald Acuna and Mike Soroka make their Major League debuts for the Atlanta Braves
More from Call to the Pen
- Philadelphia Phillies, ready for a stretch run, bomb St. Louis Cardinals
- Philadelphia Phillies: The 4 players on the franchise’s Mount Rushmore
- Boston Red Sox fans should be upset over Mookie Betts’ comment
- Analyzing the Boston Red Sox trade for Dave Henderson and Spike Owen
- 2023 MLB postseason likely to have a strange look without Yankees, Red Sox, Cardinals
Moving up from #2 to No.1 overall was Ronald Acuna. Debuting in May, Acuña has performed well so far by slashing .265/.326/.453 with 5 HR and 13 RBI in 29 games. The top prospect has been on the disabled list with a mild ACL strain suffered on May 27 in Boston, but he was recently cleared to resume baseball activities and should be back in the lineup soon.
Joining Acuña at the major league level (and on the DL) was SP Mike Soroka (No.23, up from No. 34). The right-handed youngster has shown glimpses of his potential with a 3.68 ERA and a K/BB ratio of 15/4 in 3 starts with Atlanta.
Pache and Riley jump up the rankings
Down on the farm, the Braves top two positional prospects behind Acuña, Cristian Pache, and Austin Riley, both made significant jumps after making strong impressions this spring with slash lines of .276/.298/.404 and .308/.369/.552 respectively.
Pache’s strength has always been speed and defense. His developing power, however, will be something to keep an eye on as he progresses through the system. Riley’s impressive display of power provides another option for Atlanta to consider as they approach the trade deadline this summer.
2018 1st Round Draft pick Carter Stewart (RHP) makes his debut in the prospect rankings at #98, curiously ahead of LHP Kolby Allard (#105), who might be next to make his Major League debut from the Braves stacked deck of starting pitching prospects.
Standing tall at 6’6″ and featuring a power fastball and devastating hook, Stewart was, by most accounts, the number one player on the Braves’ draft board.
A complete list of Atlanta Braves top prospects
- 1 – Ronald Acuña (OF/2)
- 23 – Mike Soroka (RH SP/34)
- 24 – Kyle Wright (RH SP/26)
- 26 – Luiz Gohara (LH SP/31)
- 28 – Cristian Pache (OF/37)
- 40 – Austin Riley (3B/55)
- 41 – Ian Anderson (RH SP/45)
- 51 – Touki Toussaint (RH SP/60)
- 90 – Max Fried (LH SP/78)
- 92 – Joey Wentz (LH SP/84)
- 94 – Drew Waters (OF/NR)
- 98 – Carter Stewart (RH SP/NR)
- 99 – Brett Cumberland (C/NR)
- 105 – Kolby Allard (LH SP/Hon. Mention)
Next: Braves biggest 2018 surprises
With loads of young talent, the Atlanta Braves should be contenders for years to come — not just in the NL East, but all of MLB.
They should be a mainstay in the MLB postseason for years to come and once again, Atlanta Braves fans have much to look forward to (finally)!