Battery Power: All Posts by Devin CsigiYour one stop shop for everything Atlanta Braveshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/52890/favicon-32x32..png2024-03-25T10:00:00-04:00https://www.batterypower.com/authors/1674756901/rss2024-03-25T10:00:00-04:002024-03-25T10:00:00-04:00Braves Spring Training Prospect Update
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<img alt="Atlanta Braves Workouts" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/lJEc67rsE3IGBShabyYmjJoz0NE=/0x0:7670x5113/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73231205/1705847117.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Matthew Grimes Jr./Atlanta Braves/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p id="W6EJWl">As we enter the week of Opening Day, lets take one last look to see how the <a href="https://www.batterypower.com/">Atlanta Braves</a> prospects did last week in Spring Training ball. </p>
<p id="QM3iTq"><strong>Carlos Arroyo </strong></p>
<p id="JZlHIX">Arroyo got his first spring training AB of his career on Sunday but he flew out to right. </p>
<p id="noWR3W"><strong>Ignacio Alvarez</strong></p>
<p id="qEXZFD">Nacho appeared in just one game last week and did not have a plate appearance. </p>
<p id="YOrOt1"><strong>Drake Baldwin </strong></p>
<p id="tT0et6">Baldwin continued his strong spring training going 1 for 1 on the week with his lone appearance coming last Monday. </p>
<p id="yBqbqf"><strong>Cade Bunnell </strong></p>
<p id="hhhlke">Bunnell went 0-1 on the week. </p>
<p id="AR8PEq"><strong>Cal Conley </strong></p>
<p id="App1Pa">Conley registered his first home run of the spring on the 23rd. Outside of that, his only other at bat came on March 21st where he struck out. </p>
<p id="3yeHTa"><strong>Justin Dean</strong></p>
<p id="p1ZkvN">Dean only appeared in two games this week, compared to last week’s four. The 27 year old went 1-2 with a double and a run scored. </p>
<p id="Bbf78i"><strong>Dylan Dodd</strong></p>
<p id="MtpJcz">Dodd appeared in his first spring training game since February 29th on Sunday. He spun four innings of one run ball where he struck out five and picked up the save. </p>
<p id="4DY4jx"><strong>E.J. Exposito</strong></p>
<p id="Ty7n0B">Exposito played in two games going 1 for 3 whilst scoring two runs and striking out once. </p>
<p id="6IHNYO"><strong>Jorge Jan </strong></p>
<p id="L7xR7Z">Jan made his lone appearance of the week against the <a href="https://www.pinstripealley.com/">Yankees</a> on Thursday where he pitched a scoreless frame striking out one enroute to a save. </p>
<p id="xnDbem"><strong>Kade Kern </strong></p>
<p id="8bJExC">After a strong week, Kern saw action in just two games last week. He struck out in both appearances against the <a href="https://www.overthemonster.com/">Red Sox</a> and Yankees. </p>
<p id="oWpoCL"><strong>Kevin Kilpatrick Jr. </strong></p>
<p id="RByrDT">Kilpatrick Jr. appeared in two games last week going a combined 0 for 3 with a strikeout. Although, the 2022 draftee was able to register his first stolen base of the spring. </p>
<p id="6tsBid"><strong>Keshawn Ogans </strong></p>
<p id="fNkAtF">Ogans had four at bats over three games last week going 0-4 with 3 strikeouts and a run scored. </p>
<p id="8X5thH"><strong>Landon Stephens </strong></p>
<p id="8d4IGr">Stepehs hitless spring continued appearing in two games going 0 for 1 in each whilst recording a strikeout against the Blue Jays. </p>
<p id="V6CWnj"><strong>Ambioris Tavarez </strong></p>
<p id="MuLQn4">Tavarez’s lone appearance on the week game as a pinch runner against the Yankees. </p>
<p id="E23EkJ"><strong>Tyler Tolve</strong></p>
<p id="moTx6p">The Kennesaw State alum struck out in his only at bat of the week. </p>
<p id="VEWhKJ"><strong>Forest Wall</strong></p>
<p id="aeymfc">Wall had six at bats over the course of the week with the 28 year old picking up one hit and one striking out. </p>
<p id="TesnrU"><strong>Luke Waddell </strong></p>
<p id="q8FlU8">The 2021 draftee only appeared in two games last week where he went 0-1 in each game, but he was able to pick up an RBI on the 21st. </p>
<p id="eEDceU"><strong>Adam Zebrowski</strong></p>
<p id="DiwALe">To close it off, Zebrowski played in just one game last week, striking out in his lone plate appearance. </p>
https://www.batterypower.com/2024/3/25/24111083/atlanta-braves-spring-training-prospect-updateDevin Csigi2024-03-19T12:00:00-04:002024-03-19T12:00:00-04:00Braves Organizational Depth Preview: Left handed pitching
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<figcaption>Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p id="TICWfQ">As we continue with our off-season, let’s preview one of the <a href="https://www.batterypower.com/">Atlanta Braves</a> most type heavy positions in left handed pitching. </p>
<p id="fNyTmM"><strong>40-man roster</strong></p>
<p id="JEuGJb">The Braves depth chart is headlined by arguably the best left handed pitcher in baseball in ace Max Fried. Fried, entering the final year of his deal, is coming off of a season where he appeared in just 14 games. His fewest number of big league appearances in a full season since 2018. Behind Fried sits the headline acquisition of Atlanta’s off-season in Chris Sale. Sale, like Fried, is also coming off of an injury shortened 2023. </p>
<p id="Ig5e4C">The only other lefty starter on the club’s 40 man is prospect Dylan Dodd who has appeared in just seven career games at the Major League level. </p>
<p id="zSOfmz">The Braves left handed bullpen options are made up of journeymen and a couple of the organization’s better relievers. Three of those players are Aaron Bummer, A.J. Minter and Tyler Matzek. Minter and Matzek are both coming off of strong years for the Braves whilst Bummer is two years removed from a 2.36 ERA. If Bummer can recapture his 2022 form, that trio will be one of the league’s better left handed reliever combinations. </p>
<p id="tt0jWt">Outside of that threesome is Ray Kerr, Dylan Lee and Angel Perdomo, all of whom could factor into the Braves bullpen this year. However they look like back end pieces at best based on their career numbers. </p>
<p id="UV0Gzq"><strong>Top prospects</strong></p>
<p id="PsEJ0q">It is difficult to envision many, if any, teams being lighter with left handed pitchers in the minors than the Atlanta Braves are. Just two, yes two, of their top 30 prospects on MLBPipeline are southpaws. Dylan Dodd, the highest ranked of the duo comes in at 15th. </p>
<p id="tmSjaD">Where Dodd figures into the Braves plans this season is an interesting thought. He was drafted in 2021 and turns 26 this June, although he is at best the teams 8th or 9th starting pitcher this year. As a result it is likely he is stuck in the minors for the majority of the year which does in turn make him a potential trade candidate. </p>
<p id="cPaPkD">Besides Dodd, the only other lefty on the list is Luis De Avila who is just 22 and is coming off of an extremely strong year where he pitched to a 3.26 ERA across Double and Triple-A. </p>
<p id="s1eNoe"><strong>2023 draftees</strong></p>
<p id="XdtiRc">So you know how we just spoke about how light the Braves are with left handed pitchers in the minors? They addressed that by picking just two lefties in the draft last season. One in 14th round pick Mitch Farris with the other being Riley Frey who was selected in the 19th round. </p>
<p id="vpBJGh">Farris appeared in 5 games throwing 16 ⅔ innings pitching to a 2.16 ERA between Rookie and Single-A. </p>
<p id="jlD0Ia">Frey was far less impressive as the southpaw posted a 5.57 ERA across his 21 minor league innings. </p>
https://www.batterypower.com/2024/3/19/24105267/atlanta-braves-organizational-depth-preview-left-handed-pitchingDevin Csigi2024-03-14T11:00:00-04:002024-03-14T11:00:00-04:00Four Braves prospect breakout candidates for the 2024 season
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<figcaption>Photo by Kelly Gavin/MLB Photos via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Here is a look at four prospects that you need to keep an eye on for the 2024 season. </p> <p id="9hlUiS">The <a href="https://www.batterypower.com/">Atlanta Braves</a> farm system witnessed one of the biggest prospect breakouts in the game last season. The clubs 2021 7th round pick, AJ Smith-Shawver, closed the 2022 season as the organizations 17th biggest prospect on MLBPipeline. But a 2.76 ERA across three minor league levels saw him become a top 100 prospect a year later. Breakouts of that caliber are not overly common, although there is a predictive element to them. Let's look at four of the Braves candidates who can breakouts in 2024. </p>
<h3 id="heUUES"><strong>Mario Baez - SS </strong></h3>
<p id="Ab2r9a"><em>2023 stats - .311/.393/.422, 3 home runs, 20 walks, 25 strikeouts</em></p>
<p id="ZQ62x6">The biggest knock on Baez as a prospect is his lack of power. That shortcoming can be attributed to the fact that the middle infielder measures in at just 5 foot 9 and weighs 175 pounds. However, that lack of in-game power did not prevent him from making a noticeable impact in his first professional season. In addition to his impressive triple slash line Baez also swiped 24 bags in just 47 games, which translates to .51 stolen bases per game, a 162 game pace of 82. I don’t think the breakout for Baez is going to come through an uptick in power, rather an impressive batting average and eye popping steal numbers for the 17 year old. </p>
<h3 id="3Q0KA1"><strong>Ambrioris Tavarez - SS</strong></h3>
<p id="IjnGxk"><em>2023 stats - .216/.319/.337, 7 home runs, 44 walks, 196 strikeouts </em></p>
<p id="d3iHqq">Yes, I know, on the surface, Tavarez does not look anything like a breakout candidate with such an ugly batting average and strike out rate. However, as the season progressed, it looked like Tavarez started to figure some things out. From August 6th to September 10th, the final game of the season, Tavarez hit .290, a massive step up from his full season average of .216. He wasn’t impacting the ball well as only 6 of his 31 hits were extra base hits (no homers), but a jump of this nature is impossible to ignore. If Tavarez can even slightly limit the strikeouts and carry his end of season momentum into 2024, he has a chase to rise up the clubs prospect rankings. </p>
<h3 id="pzzqAQ"><strong>Drake Baldwin - C</strong></h3>
<p id="6Ztty7"><em>2023 stats - .270/.384/.460, 16 home runs, 67 walks, 98 strikeouts</em></p>
<p id="2G3XVQ">After a relatively average first season, Baldwin saw a large uptick in his sophomore season numbers. After accumulating just 5 extra base hits with a .460 slugging percentage across 24 games in 2022. In 2023 he racked up 43 extra base hits in 109 games. Baldwin also impressively closed last season in AAA despite starting the season at High-A and playing in just 14 AA games. Since he closed out the year at the Triple-A level, there is an extremely strong chance that the 2022 draftee will see major league action at some point in 2024, especially if he can continue to build on his strong 2023 season. </p>
<h3 id="CauiLB"><strong>Drue Hackenberg - SP</strong></h3>
<p id="fPOwQu"><em>2023 stats - 1.42 ERA, 6 ⅓ innings pitched, 6 walks, 13 strikeouts, 1.42 WHIP </em></p>
<p id="7Qy2cn">If I had to place a bet on who would become the team’s 2024 AJ Smith-Shawver, it would be Hackenberg. There are not any particular numbers that make me think this as after all he pitched just 6 ⅓ innings last season. However, the club showed a great deal of trust in him as they aggressively promoted the 21 year old to Double-A for his final start of the season. They were similarly aggressive with AJSS last season who pitched across 4 different levels in 2023, including the MLB. Because of the fact Hackenberg closed the season in Double-A, there is a chance he could be a couple of injuries away from pitching in the bigs in 2024. </p>
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https://www.batterypower.com/2024/3/14/24096647/atlanta-braves-prospect-breakout-candidates-drake-baldwin-drue-hackenbergDevin Csigi2023-12-29T15:00:00-05:002023-12-29T15:00:00-05:002023 Minor League Review: Drake Baldwin
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<img alt="Atlanta Braves v Washington Nationals - Game One" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/h_0oqJAyGJneEJMK64uv-CAGUKU=/0x0:4362x2908/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73007953/1701274263.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Brandon Sloter/Image Of Sport/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Baldwin kept hitting and flew up the minor league ranks in his first full season as a professional</p> <p id="VvYwGJ">Arguably the best catcher on the <a href="https://www.batterypower.com/">Atlanta Braves’</a> farm, Drake Baldwin is coming off of a stock-improving season in his first full year as a pro. </p>
<h3 id="QeAifu"><strong>How Acquired</strong></h3>
<p id="0cewdK">Baldwin was selected by the Braves with their third-round pick (96th overall) in the 2022 <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/mlb-draft">MLB Draft</a>. </p>
<h3 id="mApGtu"><strong>Preseason report card</strong></h3>
<p id="xXvC1y">In <a href="https://www.batterypower.com/2023/7/26/23800840/battery-power-2023-midseason-top-25-atlanta-braves-prospects-11-15-darius-vines-david-mccabe">our mid-season</a> prospect rankings on Battery Power, Baldwin came in as the teams 15th-best prospect, the same rank he had after the 2022 season. </p>
<p id="gdYk8M">Coming into the year, there was still some question marks surrounding Baldwin’s game. Despite being a three-year college player, Baldwin posted a 22.5 percent strikeout rate in his 111 PAs after being drafted, with most of those coming in A-ball. On the flip side, he walked a <em>ton</em> in those 111 PAs (18.8 percent of the time), and there was power potential to dream on, even if he failed to show it in a small sample at Augusta.</p>
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<strong>What we saw in 2023</strong> </h3>
<p id="q3IuFK">Sometimes, dreams become reality. After picking up just five extra-base hits in his debut season, Baldwin hit 16 homers and 26 doubles in 109 games across three minor league levels in 2023. His slugging percentage skyrocketed from a lowly .315 in 2022 to .460 in 2023. </p>
<p id="V1neEb">Concerns about his strikeout rate also abated, as he struck out 20.5 percent of the time across High-A, Double-A, and Triple-A, with most of his exposure coming at the High-A level. </p>
<p id="tFuGrE">In the end, Baldwin destroyed High-A to the tune of a 135 wRC+, managed a 117 wRC+ in 59 PAs at Double-A, and had a 122 wRC+ in his teeny-tiny sample of 12 PAs at Triple-A.</p>
<h3 id="UzFMGM"><strong>2024 outlook</strong></h3>
<p id="w7ReXG">The Braves’ aggressive promotion of Baldwin in 2023, almost ensures that he will start the year in Triple-A. There is a small possibility that they start him in Double-A, seeing as he only had 59 PAs there last season, but it would be a bit surprising to see them effectively demote him at this point. While Chadwick Tromp is around, it’s possible we could see Baldwin make his MLB debut this season if there’s another surfeit of catching injuries in the organization.</p>
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https://www.batterypower.com/2023/12/29/24017105/drake-baldwin-2023-atlanta-braves-minor-league-reviewDevin Csigi2023-12-23T14:00:00-05:002023-12-23T14:00:00-05:002023 Minor league season in review: Luis De Avila
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<img alt="Atlanta Braves v Washington Nationals" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/-qw3QyhmLSHGM-WICEbaJ8PNrwM=/14x0:3977x2642/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/72993892/1700704894.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Luis De Avila didn’t really shine at Double-A in 2023</p> <p id="gqAmjf">A left-hander in his second season with the organization, Luis De Avila moved up to Double-A in 2023 and did okay.</p>
<h3 id="FBrxl6"><strong>How was he acquired?</strong></h3>
<p id="nOVZzO">The Braves selected the southpaw in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 Draft after the 2021 season. </p>
<h3 id="cTZfnu"><strong>Preseason report card</strong></h3>
<p id="kyAkyt">Entering the season, De Avila’s potential impact for the organization was largely unknown. He only had 214 ⅓ professional innings since signing all the way back in 2017 and the highest level he had appeared at was High-A. He pitched reasonably well in 2022, spinning a 3.96 FIP and 3.70 xFIP in 2022, where he started all 24 games he appeared in. While he did manage to have a strikeout rate approaching a quarters of batters faced and kept his walk rate in the single digits, those numbers weren’t all that impressive for anyone, much less a 21-year-old in High-A.</p>
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<strong>What we saw in 2023</strong> </h3>
<p id="hv96oa">De Avila moved up the ladder to Double-A and saw his numbers slide in response. In 25 starts spanning 123 <sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>3</sub> innings at Mississippi, he managed a 4.05 FIP and 4.33 xFIP. His strikeout rate stayed steady, but his walk rate ballooned from 8.4 percent in High-A to 11.7 percent in Double-A. He made one short start for Triple-A Gwinnett at the end of the year, where he got blasted with more walks than strikeouts.</p>
<h3 id="qdIggL"><strong>2024 Outlook</strong></h3>
<p id="fknKCu">Barring any unforeseen circumstances, he will almost surely start the 2024 season at Gwinnett. It remains to be seen whether he’ll find even a cup of coffee role in the majors, however. The Braves currently have the 40-man space, but there isn’t too much exciting about De Avila to make him more likely to grab, say, a doubleheader spot start than anyone else. Still, he’s there in case of injury, but he’ll need to show some development at Gwinnett to become more than that.</p>
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https://www.batterypower.com/2023/12/23/24005751/luis-de-avila-2023-minor-league-season-in-reviewDevin Csigi2023-12-19T14:00:00-05:002023-12-19T14:00:00-05:002023 Minor League Season in Review: Ignacio Alvarez
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<img alt="MLB: NLDS-Philadelphia Phillies Workouts" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/o49DAkAJ8SpaOwB0WmNL84cPbVA=/0x0:2499x1666/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/72979668/usa_today_21586867.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Alvarez will look to build on his 2023 to garner more widespread recognition next year</p> <p id="YhW2QF">One of the Braves’ better prospects, we had Ignacio Alvarez fifth on our mid-season <a href="https://www.batterypower.com/2023/7/28/23800842/battery-power-2023-midseason-top-25-atlanta-braves-prospects-1-5-aj-smith-shawver-hurston-waldrep">top 25 prospect list</a>. Alvarez has quickly become one of the biggest risers, not only in the Braves’ system, but across the entire minor league landscape. Though unheralded before the draft, he suddenly has a chance to be a Top 100 guy in 2024. </p>
<h3 id="1H600j"><strong>How Acquired</strong></h3>
<p id="Yww6Yd">The Braves took Alvarez in the fifth round of the 2022 MLB Draft, giving him a $500,000 signing bonus.</p>
<h3 id="QmshxZ"><strong>Preseason report card</strong></h3>
<p id="00AQl6">Alvarez was coming off of an excellent small-sample debut season in 2022 where he posted a triple slash line of .287/.451/.394 with 26 walks to 15 strikeouts. That said, entering the 2023 season, there were reasonable concerns surrounding his game. Relative to other prospects, he was fairly inexperienced for his age, having not played in A-ball and turning 20 in early April.</p>
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<strong>What we saw in 2023</strong> </h3>
<p id="Uzwedl">Alvarez’ initial pro success carried into the 2023 season at High-A. The infielder had a triple slash of .284/.395/.391, racked up 24 doubles, stole 16 bags and walked 66 times compared to 87 strikeouts 501 plate appearances. In total, he managed a 123 wRC+. If you’re looking for warts, Alvarez did only hit seven homers on the season which is a rather disappointing number in today’s day and age. But, with an OBP near .400, you can look past the lack of power.</p>
<h3 id="VWZVMq"><strong>2024 outlook</strong></h3>
<p id="YIDRji">After a full season at the High-A level, it seems like a foregone conclusion that the Braves will start Alvarez at the Double-A level in 2024. The bat-to-ball skills and eye will almost surely be there for him despite the uptick in competition. However, the power production remains a question. After hitting only seven homers last season, it is fair to wonder if that number will creep up this season or slip down. Sure, the doubles are nice, but if a hitter is connecting with single-digit homers in a season, it is difficult to see them carving out a full-time role at the next level these days. If he can get that number closer to 12-15, his ceiling as a prospect will rise significantly. </p>
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https://www.batterypower.com/2023/12/19/24005714/ignacio-alvarez-2023-minor-league-season-in-reviewDevin Csigi2023-12-15T14:00:00-05:002023-12-15T14:00:00-05:002023 Minor League season in review: Lucas Braun
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<img alt="Atlanta Braves v Washington Nationals" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/PqTWvp85CQSZ9q6huQtCbXz3tl8=/14x0:3977x2642/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/72967209/1700704894.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Braun made it to High-A after being drafted</p> <p id="jED7RI">Another draftee from the Braves’ 2023 class, Lucas Braun was a draft pick out of California State University-Northridge.</p>
<h3 id="FHqXPr"><strong>How Acquired</strong></h3>
<p id="Ty8a85">The Braves selected Braun in the sixth round of the 2023 Draft. He was given a signing bonus of $347,500, which was slightly above the slot value for the pick.</p>
<h3 id="0VWQMW"><strong>Preseason report card</strong></h3>
<p id="tryVmW">Since he was a 2023 draftee, we had no preseason report on Braun. </p>
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<strong>What we saw in 2023</strong> </h3>
<p id="1QIHyL">Braun made six starts for the Braves in his debut year. Four of them came in A-ball, where he pitched 17 ⅓ innings, struck out 19, and walked just two. Over those four starts, he was more than dominant as well from a run prevention standpoint as his ERA was a minuscule 1.04. Things kind took a turn though when he got promoted to High-A. It was only two starts, so the sample size couldn’t be much smaller, but in those 9 ⅔ innings his ERA was a 5.59 and he walked three batters compared to 13 strikeouts. As a result, he had a 4.66 FIP but a stellar 2.70 xFIP. As such, the rough landing in High-A really wasn’t, and his strikeout stuff didn’t take a hit at all when advancing levels. In fact, he struck out over a third of the High-A batters he faced in those two starts.</p>
<h3 id="s37Qwk"><strong>2024 outlook</strong></h3>
<p id="oXeCn0">It is safe to assume that Braun will start the year at High-A, considering that he only started two games there so far. The Braves will probably try to get him to Double-A at some point during the season, though, since he’s already 23 and has a college career under his belt. Braun’s status as a prospect as middling, given his size and lack of a plus offering, but he can creep up on lists if he has a solid effort in 2024. </p>
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https://www.batterypower.com/2023/12/15/23989549/lucas-braun-2023-minor-league-season-in-reviewDevin Csigi2023-12-13T10:00:00-05:002023-12-13T10:00:00-05:002023 Minor League season in review: Garrett Baumann
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<img alt="Atlanta Braves v Washington Nationals - Game One" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ZL1BNA6pRU558LoxaY3TtHqDkQc=/0x0:4385x2923/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/72958876/1701274289.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Brandon Sloter/Image Of Sport/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>The 2023 draftee made his pro debut for Augusta</p> <p id="BUKEOE">A 2023 draftee, Garrett Baumann is a 6’8” right-hander with some hype, thanks to a mid-90s fastball and slider combo. </p>
<h3 id="uVf8dd"><strong>How Acquired</strong></h3>
<p id="mFOG8j">The Braves selected Baumann in the fourth round of the 2023 <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/mlb-draft">MLB Draft</a>. He was given an overslot signing bonus of $747,500, on and above the slot value of $521,000.</p>
<h3 id="i7Koez"><strong>Preseason report card</strong></h3>
<p id="fdhfgt">Since Baumann didn’t join the Braves organization until the summer, there was no preseason write up on him. </p>
<h3 id="vAvTHt"><strong>What we saw in 2023 </strong></h3>
<p id="DdUWyi">We honestly did not see much from Baumann in the Braves organization in 2023 as he pitched just two innings in a single start for the club. He was dominant at the high school level this season, though, as he had a 1.21 ERA, pitched 46 ⅓ innings and struck out 73 batters according to <a href="https://www.maxpreps.com/fl/oviedo/hagerty-huskies/athletes/garrett-baumann/?careerid=n9obcdh95ckg0">MaxPreps</a>.</p>
<h3 id="iPY3Kj"><strong>2024 outlook</strong></h3>
<p id="qxbfhb">Seeing as Baumann is a high school prospect, it would be a bit surprising if the Braves do anything with him outside of starting him in Rookie ball or Single-A. He probably won’t get to High-A or anything. Sure, the organization was aggressive with AJ Smith-Shawver, but Owen Murphy, a high school arm the Braves took in the first round of the 2022 MLB Draft, started his second season in Single-A, which is where he headed post-draft, before ending the year in High-A. </p>
<p id="WLjJKu">Baumann hasn’t yet registered on prospect lists for the most part, and is going to need to do something to distinguish himself to make headway in the organization.</p>
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https://www.batterypower.com/2023/12/13/23988043/garrett-baumann-2023-minor-league-season-in-reviewDevin Csigi2023-12-09T10:00:00-05:002023-12-09T10:00:00-05:002023 Minor League season in review: Isaiah Drake
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<img alt="Atlanta Braves v Washington Nationals - Game One" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/RQG77gfaSBxUKzxguA18M8kkraw=/0x0:4362x2908/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/72947144/1701274263.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Brandon Sloter/Image Of Sport/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>The 2023 draftee struggled in his pro debut</p> <p id="eNW1rU">Another member of the <a href="https://www.batterypower.com/">Atlanta Braves</a>’ 2023 draft class, Drake made his professional debut after the draft. Despite being a fifth-rounder, there was considerable buzz around his future at the time of the draft. </p>
<h3 id="z6Uwn2"><strong>How Acquired</strong></h3>
<p id="Ii5OPf">The Braves selected Drake in the fifth round of the 2023 <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/mlb-draft">MLB Draft</a>. He was given a signing bonus of $747,500.</p>
<h3 id="l5k2GJ"><strong>Preseason report card</strong></h3>
<p id="sFlxqG">Since Drake was a 2023 draftee, we had no preseason report on him. </p>
<h3 id="c1sZpT"><strong>What we saw in 2023 </strong></h3>
<p id="aQaVaz">In his debut season, Drake showcased some of his plus tools, namely, his blazing speed. He stole nine bases in just 18 games and flashed what can become a plus glove based on his legs. </p>
<p id="WKdBZg">But, there were some negatives as well. Despite being a prospect with some power potential, Drake managed just two extra base hits in 77 plate appearances, both of which were triples. Additionally, he had a strikeout rate north of 37 percent. Seeing as Drake was drafted out of high school, some early struggles were to be expected, but a strikeout rate that high is always somewhat concerning. All-in-all, Drake managed just a 64 wRC+ in the FCL; the only saving grace is that it came in just 77 PAs.</p>
<h3 id="vIiHQ1"><strong>2024 outlook</strong></h3>
<p id="1kAOED">Seeing as Drake won’t turn 19 until July 2024, it is likely the Braves will take it slow with him when it comes to development — similar to what they did with Tyler Collins, a 2021 draftee. Collins, a prep pick, was selected in the eighth round and started his second year with a brief stint in Rookie ball before being promoted to Single-A. You could expect the Braves to do the same exact thing with Drake, although his second Rookie ball stint might be a long one if he can’t figure out the things that challenged him in his 77 PAs in his pro debut.</p>
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https://www.batterypower.com/2023/12/9/23988004/isaiah-drake-2023-minor-league-season-in-reviewDevin Csigi2023-12-07T10:00:00-05:002023-12-07T10:00:00-05:002023 Minor League Review: Mario Baez
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<img alt="St. Louis Cardinals v Atlanta Braves" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/7vnwbDF2o7oOTlhrcR-sZyHVFVk=/0x0:7519x5013/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/72940065/1652522020.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Kevin D. Liles/Atlanta Braves/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Baez had a great 2023 in a small sample</p> <p id="Ha8AOJ">Despite being 2023 signee with a smaller signing bonus, hype is building around shortstop Mario Baez amongst Braves fans. In our community prospect list, Baez was voted as the organization’s <a href="https://www.batterypower.com/2023/11/22/23972341/2023-community-prospect-list-vote-for-14">13th best prospect</a>.</p>
<h3 id="WgG1hF"><strong>How Acquired</strong></h3>
<p id="HMNmr2">The <a href="https://www.batterypower.com/">Atlanta Braves</a> signed Baez on January 15, 2023, out of the Dominican Republic for $240,000. </p>
<h3 id="nJEbL6"><strong>Preseason report card</strong></h3>
<p id="W3Vceb">Initially, there was not much hype around Baez. Teams handle every young international prospect differently because of their age and rawness. As a result, Baez’s deployment by the Braves this season was something that was up in the air at the time of his signing. </p>
<h3 id="uL8Tbq"><strong>What we saw in 2023 </strong></h3>
<p id="OWSXyn">Baez only got 206 PAs in 2023 in the Dominican Summer League, but the hype around him is understandable based on his performance. Over those DSL appearances, Baez posted a triple slash line of .311/.393/.422 (121 wRC+). He tallied 12 extra base hits, three of which were home runs. Moreover, Baez swiped 24 bags while being thrown out five times, and had an impressive 25/20 K/BB ratio.</p>
<h3 id="08zpCB"><strong>2024 outlook</strong></h3>
<p id="Jah8Ub">It is more than likely that we will once again see Baez used in a summer ball league this season, before a potential promotion to A-ball. The main thing for Braves fans to keep an eye on with Baez is his plate discipline. If he is able to continue to put the bat on the ball and keep a low strikeout rate, while doing damage at the plate, the hype level will likely rise more and more. Still, it’s not clear how much power he’s going to generate, given his 5’9”, 175-pound vitals and his .111 ISO from 2023. If and when Baez gets promoted, keep an eye on his quality of contact and power production to get a sense of his trajectory through the system.</p>
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https://www.batterypower.com/2023/12/7/23984765/2023-minor-league-review-mario-baezDevin Csigi