BA's Take on the Braves Farm System

[nsacpi]

http://www.baseballamerica.com/minor...e-farm-system/

[Coach_Chris]

"You mean we are not number 1?"
-Concerned Braves Fan

[smootness]

Good article. Our rank has varied depending on what different people value, but this pretty much lines up with what we've been saying. Our system lacks elite guys at the top but is extraordinarily deep and should be extremely good in 1-2 years.

[weso1]

It's probably not top 10 right now, but I think we have guys already in our system that could make it top 5 after they've played a bit more in the minors. I personally think Allard is our top prospect, but he just hasn't pitched enough yet to have earned that ranking from the professionals. There are guys like Soroka, Riley and Yepez who have a good chance to be elite prospects, but again they just have to do it for a bit longer to convince the dudes who do these rankings. Also Herbert is another guy who could be a top prospect, but will be ranked low because of the injury. So, while at this time it's not a top 5 system, it's not hard to imagine this system being top 5 by this time next season even if we don't make any moves. With that in mind, obviously we supposedly are going to sign that top international prospect along with a top draft pick and another 1st round pick.

[Hudson2]

We should def have a top 2 pick next year. If we sign Maitan and that elite catching prospect then we should be #1 this time next year.

[mqt]

We definitely have the makings of a top system, but all the potential impact talent is far away and thus too risky to rate highly. If you combine our depth with a few top prospects, we have an elite system. We just have to hit on a few of our young guys like Acuna, Yepez, Riley, etc.

Edit: it turns out weso1 beat me to the punch.

[nsacpi]

It's probably not top 10 right now, but I think we have guys already in our system that could make it top 5 after they've played a bit more in the minors.

Right, our best group of prospects played the just ended minor league season at ages 17 and 18. They were acquired in the 2015 draft or recent international signing periods. The group we acquired via trade contained few elite prospects, but contributed to a deeper farm system. For me 80-90% of a system's value is in its elite prospects, i.e. those who make the Top 100 lists.

[nsacpi]

We just have to hit on a few of our young guys like Acuna, Yepez, Riley, etc.

I'm assuming Allard, Soroka, Riley, Yepez, Acuna, Herbert and Salazar will be in Rome next year. That's really the level where they will have an opportunity to establish themselves as elite prospects.

[50PoundHead]

I'm assuming Allard, Soroka, Riley, Yepez, Acuna, Herbert and Salazar will be in Rome next year. That's really the level where they will have an opportunity to establish themselves as elite prospects.

I'm not sure on Salazar. He may need some time in Danville, but with the move of Didder to the OF there's not a better SS prospect ahead of him for Rome. I don't know why Hoekstra didn't play much down the stretch in Danville, but he had a fairly nice season when he did play. Grullon started for the last couple of weeks, but it doesn't appear he can hit.

I think the BA article is right on the mark. There's a ton of depth in the system right now and some of that may project. There's no question we lack star power at the upper levels, especially in the hitting department.

[Tapate50]

I'm assuming Allard, Soroka, Riley, Yepez, Acuna, Herbert and Salazar will be in Rome next year. That's really the level where they will have an opportunity to establish themselves as elite prospects.

Comment From Z in Tempe
Do you have any thoughts on Isranel Wilson?

12:36 Kiley McDaniel: Good size, lefty pop and numbers in the GCL as a 17 year old, but swing and miss issues, so more of a keep-an-eye on him than fly him up the list. Probably 35 or 40 FV. Ronald Acuna is the short-season Braves prospect to watch: big tools, CF fit.

[Tapate50]

Comment From Zonk
What 2015 draftees have really stood out for you so far, positive or negative?

12:56 Kiley McDaniel: I don’t really evaluate them any differently in this short a window after the draft. Allard being healthy is new information that helps his stock. Benintendi had very little track record against top pitching with wood bats, so he’s up, but the top couple rounds can’t really move much unless there was a huge question they answered, but most of these guys were scouted for multiple years, so it’s hard to erase that in a few months unless it’s a special situation.

[Tapate50]

Comment From Tim
What to make of Austin Riley? Havent seen him play. Is he Cody Johnson part 2 for the Braves?

1:16 Kiley McDaniel: Nope, Riley just put things together at the plate this spring and didn’t get a ton of pre-draft hype. He was seen a lot as pitcher and hitter in the previous summers/springs but was overweight. There was at least one other team on him in the same range the Braves took him. I think he’s 45 FV for now since it’s a short track record of really hitting, but he may be higher than that in the next year or so.