We now leap ahead into our second group of gamers of our prime 30 Atlanta Braves prospects, closely represented by current introductions to the system. The Braves have, it’s no secret, centered closely on constructing pitching depth at each stage of the minor leagues, to the purpose that from the FCL on up by Double-An almost each begin is made by a participant with a reputable prospect pedigree. The Braves have additionally been unafraid to take gamers with harm considerations, and a theme begins to emerge right here with three of the prospects on this portion of the record having their seasons minimize quick as a result of arm accidents. Nonetheless, the Braves give attention to pitching has created an thrilling group of pitching abilities within the again half of the highest 30, who though possible a few years away not less than from main league contribution have the potential to make vital strides and be a part of an ever-increasing group of Braves prospects to vastly exceed their early expectations.
25-30 | Honorable Mentions
24. Hayden Harris – LHRP
How he received to the Braves: Signed as undrafted free agent in July 2022
The story of Hayden Harris — no matter what occurs in 2025 — might be one for the books so far as Braves prospects go. As an undrafted free agent out of Georgia Southern College, Harris has catapulted himself to the brink of a giant league call-up using a singular fastball that has a big quantity of rise on it regardless of missing elite velocity.
Harris started his 2024 marketing campaign in Mississippi, the place he made 19 appearances — posting a 14.8 Okay/9 ratio to go together with a 1.74 ERA — earlier than being referred to as as much as Triple-A Gwinnett. There, he made 22 appearances out of the Stripers’ bullpen, albeit with a lot completely different outcomes. In these 22 video games, Harris posted a grisly 7.36 ERA, good for a 5.66 FIP. Nevertheless, whereas the run prevention statistics weren’t nice, numbers continued to point out Harris had the flexibility to overlook bats on the higher ranges and not using a dominating fastball. In 22 innings, Harris posted a 14.32 Okay/9, which was only a smidge beneath his Double-A numbers.
Given the truth that the Braves are primarily taking part in with home cash in relation to Harris, no matter Atlanta can get out of him ought to be thought of a win. However, that’s to not say there isn’t any massive league worth there. Harris will almost definitely get a shot at Atlanta’s bullpen someday this season — particularly given the departure of A.J. Minter and the harm to Joe Jimenez. He’s not going to blow anybody away along with his stuff, however Harris has made his profession defying the percentages, so who’re we to say he can’t do it as soon as extra?
23. Cade Kuehler – RHP
How he received to the Braves: 2023 MLB Draft, 2nd Spherical
When the Braves drafted Cade Kuehler out of Campbell within the second spherical again in 2023, the scouting report on him was a 98 MPH fastball, plus slider, and common or higher curve and alter. That additionally got here with some reliever danger as a result of his command needing work and being on the smaller aspect at 6’0, 215 with lower than splendid mechanics.
Kuehler made two appearances in 2023, each with Low-A Augusta, and started 2024 again there. General there he posted a 2.52 ERA and 1.22 WHIP with 44 strikeouts to twenty walks over 50 innings pitched. He went to Rome and made one robust three inning begin earlier than having his season come to an finish as a result of harm on the finish of June.
Sadly that harm required a Tommy John surgical procedure, which is able to hold him out for almost all of this season on the very least. The harm, in addition to a slight drop in velocity final yr, assist to clarify why he has taken a little bit of a drop within the rankings from final yr. Whereas it’s exhausting to count on to see him this yr for any size of time, the long run remains to be shiny for a man with two swing and miss pitches – the one query is whether or not that may come from the rotation, or out of the pen.
22. Ambioris Tavarez – SS
How he received to the Braves: 2021 worldwide free agent
Ambioris was one of many largest signings the Braves had upon the ending of the worldwide sanctions positioned upon the group and the Braves went all in on him, giving him the most important bonus at $1.2M. On the time, Ambioris was a slick fielding shortstop who projected to remain on the place with nice bat velocity, good energy (particularly for the place), good velocity, and a cannon for an arm. He was rated amongst the highest worldwide free brokers and was a large addition to the Braves farm system.
Whereas he has proven flashes of what the Braves noticed, a pair of accidents have actually restricted his availability. Getting into his first season within the group Ambioris was identified with thoracic outlet syndrome which knocked him out of the yr after simply 17 video games – an enormous blow to his growth. Ambioris would enter 2023 trying to make a reputation for himself after lacking almost a full yr of baseball and was positioned at Single-A Augusta the place the shortstop struggled with the bat – hitting .216/.319/.337 with a staggering 41% strikeout price that offset his robust 9% stroll price.
Ambioris would enter 2024 with a barely diminished inventory however nonetheless possessed the instruments wanted to succeed and had a transparent plan of motion – work on his plate recognition. Whereas the general numbers on the plate don’t strike tons of confidence (.199/.298/.320) Ambioris led the farm system in pitches per plate look – showcasing an improved potential to acknowledge the general strikezone. Whereas the contact numbers should enhance this can be a participant that also has solely had one full season of baseball all of the whereas bettering on one among his largest struggles.
Ambioris won’t ever lead the league in hitting, however with improved contact numbers which lead to a better batting common and his robust stroll price – you’ve got an intriguing participant with good energy on the shortstop place to go together with incredible protection which is why he stays in our prime 30 regardless of the struggles.
21. Luke Sinnard – RHP
How he received to the Braves: 2024 MLB Draft, third Spherical
Within the third spherical of the latest MLB Draft the Braves chosen a big (6’8, 250) right-handed pitcher from Indiana named Luke Sinnard. Sinnard almost definitely would have gone a full spherical earlier had he not blown out his arm on the finish of the 2023 school season and missed the complete 2024 season.
Sinnard started his profession at Western Kentucky as a freshman and struggled to discover a constant function as he battled along with his command that spring, earlier than heading to IU for the 2023 season. Sinnard took a step ahead in 2023, particularly with the command, and have become a workhorse for the Hoosiers. He posted a 4.27 ERA and 1.25 WHIP with 114 strikeouts to 25 walks over 86.1 innings earlier than blowing out his arm within the NCAA Match.
Sinnard isn’t what you have a tendency to consider while you image a man along with his body. He’s not a flamethrower, however he has an opportunity to have above common grades on his fastball, slider, and curve, and will get good motion. The command nonetheless must proceed bettering, and his changeup can also be a pitch that has to get higher to ensure that him to succeed in his ceiling.
The ceiling for Sinnard is extra of a center of the rotation innings-eater sort of pitcher than a doable prime of the rotation arm as a result of he lacks a real plus pitch. He’ll possible begin the yr in Low-A, and can possible be introduced alongside very slowly in 2025 earlier than getting turned unfastened subsequent yr contemplating this might be his return from harm.
20. Garrett Baumann – RHP
How he received to the Braves: 2023 MLB Draft, 4th Spherical
Maybe one of many extra bodily imposing gamers Atlanta has taken within the draft in a while, Baumann has maybe essentially the most uncooked potential of any arm within the system. Standing at 6-foot-8, 240-pounds, the 19-year-old received his first style of full season ball and he didn’t disappoint.
After making a lone look with Augusta after being drafted in 2023, Baumann started his 2024 season with the GreenJackets the place — over 19 video games, 18 of which have been begins — he posted a 3.42 ERA. He capped off his first full season by tossing seven shutout frames for Rome, whereas scattering 4 hits, strolling none and hanging out 5 in his Excessive-A debut on Sept. 3.
One of many key knocks towards Baumann — particularly given his dimension — is the truth that his fastball primarily sits within the low-to-mid-90’s. He has additionally proven a heavy reliance on his fastball, and whereas it’s efficient as he usually mixes between his two-seamer and four-seamer, there appears to be a little bit of reluctance to persistently throw his offspeed studd regardless of scouts believing there may be the prospect for common to above-average growth there.
General, Baumann confirmed a superb really feel for the strike zone to the tune of simply 2.25 BB/9 in 99 innings on the mound. The largest indicator that Baumann could have an ideal shot at long-term success, nevertheless, is his potential to maintain the baseball within the ballpark. In these 99 frames, Baumann allowed simply three house runs the complete season. If he can proceed to develop his secondary pitches whereas commanding the zone and retaining opposing batters from rounding the bases, there’s a great likelihood Baumann rockets up our board throughout the midseason rankings.
19. Jeremy Reyes – RHP
How he received to the Braves: 2023 Worldwide Free Company
Jeremy Reyes burst into consideration this season along with his stateside debut, and regardless of poor numbers in restricted appearances in Single-A seems to be on a trajectory to grow to be a significant league beginning pitchers. Reyes joined the Braves in the identical worldwide class that produced fellow prime 30 pitcher Luis Arestigueta, and the duo made for thrilling baseball for the time they have been collectively within the FCL. On any given day these two had the prospect to steer a nasty FCL staff to wins, with Reyes making 5 appearances with a paltry 1.25 ERA and 23 strikeouts in 21 2⁄3 innings. Walks, nevertheless, have been an issue for Reyes as he allowed 13, and so they continued to be upon promotion to Augusta on June eleventh. Reyes walked 4 batters in his debut, however his run-prevention talent, or luck, prevailed all through his 4 begins there as he by no means allowed greater than two earned runs in any begin this season. His greatest begin in Augusta was his second, a 4 inning, 5 strikeout, one stroll affair that knowledgeable a lot of the arrogance in Reyes transferring ahead. Sadly a shoulder harm in a July 2nd begin, although by all accounts a minor one, would put a cease to the season because the Braves properly confirmed excessive warning with their promising 18 yr previous.
Reyes’s command is the most important query mark transferring ahead for him, however his total athleticism, unfastened arm motion, together with a repeatable supply present proof he may develop into common command at maturity. Reyes presently struggles to repeat his launch level and that has led to these struggles with command and the consistency of his two secondary choices, however at his greatest he flashes three common to above common choices. Reyes is already sitting 93-95 mph on his fastball, with the flexibility to the touch the higher 90’s and projection left in his body. He can miss bats along with his fastball on the prime of the strike zone as a result of its above common carry, although he has up to now struggles to get the pitch there. That has been a constant level of emphasis for the Braves with younger pitchers on the Low-A stage, and we’ll possible see that be the primary focus for Reyes this season. Reyes’s slider is his present greatest providing, sitting low-to-mid 80’s with a brief, sharp break. Reyes additionally mixes in a changeup which is much away from being a significant league possibility, with the inconsistency of his launch giving him hassle each with the situation and motion of his pitch. Reyes will often come out a changeup with enormous fade down within the zone that reveals there’s a really feel to kill spin down within the zone, he simply wants extra in-game reps with the pitch to get comfy with it. General there may be the toolbox right here for a mid-rotation starter, although Reyes is the riskiest starter on the highest 30.
