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Prospect list season continued Wednesday as FanGraphs released its Top 100 prospect list for the 2021 season. The list actually includes 133 players and the Atlanta Braves have three players listed including two in the Top 15.
There are no real surprises among the groupings. Outfielder Cristian Pache is slotted at No. 8. Ian Anderson comes in at No. 13 while Drew Waters is at No. 47. FanGraphs prospect writer Eric Longenhagen has a Future Value of 60 on both Pache and Anderson while Waters slots in at 55. Longenhagen had this to say about Pache’s future.
Even though he’s already started to slow down a little bit, Pache’s reads in center, his contortionist’s ability to slide and dive at odd angles to make tough catches, and his arm strength combine to make him a premium defensive center fielder, and he’s a likely perennial Gold Glover barring an unexpected, precipitous physical regression. Even if he’s not posting All-Star offensive statlines, I think he’ll provide All-Star value overall because of the glove, and hit about 20 annual pull shots, perhaps with below average OBP.
FanGraphs doesn’t have any other Braves prospects with a Future Value of 50. We will have to see if anyone else emerges by the time midseason lists roll around.