Fangraphs releases Atlanta Braves Top 32 prospect list

It’s not often you get to see a top prospect list coming from someone who either currently works for, or was recently employed by a front office of a big league ball club. That’s what makes today’s Fangraphs Atlanta Braves Top 32 prospect list even more interesting than anywhere else.

That’s because Fangraphs prospect writer Kiley McDaniel was in the Braves front office until the end of last season, and has plenty of insight into these prospects that other sources don’t have. McDaniel has seen some of these players regularly since their amateur days, as well as having additional reports on these players, and most importantly access to injury, Trackman, and mental makeup information on all of these prospects. That gives him a little bit of an edge when grading the Braves prospects than other sources, and hopefully a more accurate set of rankings than anyone else.

It should come as no surprise that Ronald Acuña Jr was the top prospect, and comes with a 65 FV grade(20-80 grade on future value). Acuña is one of the best prospects in the game and it is reflected here with a very strong grade.

The prospects ranking 2-5 are all players with a 55 FV grade, though there is certainly some difference from the general industry consensus. Top 2017 draft pick Kyle Wright was second on the list just ahead of big lefty Luiz Gohara and followed by Mike Soroka. The fifth guy on the list is ranked a bit higher than most others rank him, as Cristian Pache’s rise up the charts gets him into the Top 5.

Coming in from 6-10 are a group of five guys with a 50 FV, led by Ian Anderson and Austin Riley. Touki Toussaint follows them at eighth overall, just ahead of Joey Wentz and finally Kolby Allard.

The 11-19 ranked group all come with 45 FV, and it’s a little surprising to see Brett Cumberland(12) directly ahead of Bryse Wilson, William Contreras, and Alex Jackson. Rounding out the 45 FVs are AJ Minter, Drew Waters, Tucker Davidson, and Ricardo Sanchez.

The final thirteen players are all 40 grade FV, some in part due to risk or how far away they are. You can find Kyle Muller(20), Patrick Weigel(26), and finally Jean Carlos Encarnacion(32) among those on this list.

The biggest surprise omission is probably Isranel Wilson, though he did get written up in the list of additional prospects.