Atlanta Braves Minor League Pitcher of the Year: Touki Toussaint
Level(s): AA Mississippi, AAA Gwinnett, MLB Atlanta Braves
Stats: Minors: 9-6, 24 GS, 136 1/3 IP, 2.38 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 53/163 BB/K; Majors: 2-1, 7 G, 5 GS, 29 IP, 4.03 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 21/32 BB/K
Acquired from Arizona as the price for the Atlanta Braves to take on the salary of Bronson Arroyo from the Diamondbacks, Toussaint was always a high-ceiling pitcher, but in 2018, he went from a “thrower” to a pitcher, and that improvement rocketed him all the way to the majors.
Toussaint was absolutely dominant in the minor leagues, striking out nearly 29% as a starter. He adjusted his delivery this season, and it led to much better control and command this season.
With the majors, he struggled with command at times, but he showed his ability to strike out big league hitters. Toussaint should be a front-runner for a rotation spot in 2019.
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Runners-up
One of a slew of high school arms drafted in 2016, Bryse Wilson was recruited as a football player and baseball player for college before the Atlanta Braves drafted him. In 2018, he flew up the system, going from high-A Florida all the way to the major leagues by the end of the season. Across three minor league levels, he posted a 3.44 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, and a 36/143 BB/K over 125 2/3 innings. He’ll likely open in AAA in 2019, but he’ll get a quick call to the big leagues as he’s needed.
Another of the 2016 high school arms in the Atlanta Braves, Kyle Muller was the national Gatorade high school player of the year in his senior year, and he’s taken some time to get his 6’6″ frame working well in controlling his pitches. He moved quickly in 2018 as he began to see that improvement come, going from low-A Rome to AA Mississippi by the end of the season. In all, across 3 levels, he made 25 starts, tossing 139 2/3 innings, with a 3.03 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, and a 46/129 BB/K ratio.
With the third overall pick in the 2016 draft, the Atlanta Braves surprised many by selecting high school pitcher Ian Anderson, but his 2018 season showed exactly why they were so high on him. Likely to jump well within the top 50 of any major prospect list after the 2018 season, Anderson pitched with high-A Florida and AA Mississippi. He totaled 24 games started and 119 1/3 innings pitched with a 2.49 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, and a 49/142 BB/K ratio
The 2018 season was a huge step in the rebuild for the Atlanta Braves, and the farm system has many more players to continue seeing the Braves succeed well into the future.