Ranking the Braves prospects

[SJ24]

Here are my top 25 projected regulars

1. Ronald Acuna
2. Ozzie Albies
3. Kolby Allard
4. Sean Newcomb
5. Luiz Gohara
6. Patrick Weigel
7. Max Fried
8. Ian Anderson
9. Joey Wentz
10. Cristian Pache
11. Mike Soroka
12. Travis Demeritte
13. Austin Riley
14. Touki Toussaint
15. Kyle Muller
16. Brett Cumberland
17. Dustin Peterson
18. Ricardo Sanchez
19. Derian Cruz
20. Braxton Davidson
21. Bryse Wilson
22. Alex Jackson
23. Ray-Patrick Didder
24. Lucas Sims
25. Drew Harrington

I didn't rank the guys I consider bullpen pieces: A.J. Minter, Michael Mader, Akeel Morris, Thomas Burrows, Phil Pfeifer, Tucker Davidson, and Devan Watts lead that group.

I also didn't include some of the youngest guys in the overall ranking because there's simply too much projection there. The guys I'm watching, though, are . . .

Kevin Maitan (was really tempted to put him in the rankings, but decided against it. Beautiful swing, mechanics, arm actions on D. Big kid. Let's see what he does in the States first, though.)

Yunior Severino
Yenci Pena
Abraham Gutierrez
Livan Soto
Andres Adrianza
Victor De Hoyos
William Contreras
Guillermo Zuniga
Yefri Del Rosario
Juan Contreras
Lisandro Santos
Antonio Sucre
Jefry Ramos
Franger Carrillo
Juan Morales
Braulio Vasquez
Isranel Wilson
Jean Carlos Encarnacion
Nicholas Shumpert
Anthony Guardado

There are 3-4 guys I could see in my top 20 or so next year. Maitan and the other guys everyone knows about likely will be.

To me, the biggest lottery tickets of that group are Isranel Wilson, Yunior Severino, and Yenci Pena.

It is truly the deepest system in baseball, as it should be.

[Hudson2]

Soroka is way too low. I'd have him top 5 for sure.

[nsacpi]

Soroka is way too low. I'd have him top 5 for sure.

Yeah. That stood out to me too. I also think Sims should be in the top 15. And I believe Camargo and Ruiz are still eligible and would be in my top 25.

[SJ24]

I understand liking Soroka but those are 10 pretty good names in front of him.

Camargo is a utility guy and Ruiz will be league average at best, IMO. I like Demeritte and Riley much better at the hot corner.

[50PoundHead]

I've been one of Didder's biggest promoters, but I think he is going to turn out to be more of a curiosity than a prospect. Stair-stepped up the system nicely in his first four seasons, but it appears he has hit a wall.

I would probably have Lucas Herbert on the list.

It's his first full-season year and they placed him aggressively, but Harrington has been a disappointment to me.

My guess is we'll see Justin Ellison in Florida soon and he may be someone to watch and would also keep an eye on Randy Ventura.

The guys I've listed probably shuffle around the 20-25 range and it's really difficult to be precise at the end of any ranking.

[Hudson2]

I understand liking Soroka but those are 10 pretty good names in front of him.

Camargo is a utility guy and Ruiz will be league average at best, IMO. I like Demeritte and Riley much better at the hot corner.

Wentz, Weigel, and Pache? They will never be top 100 guys imo. Soroka is top 5 in the system no doubt. He's ranked 67 right now and will only move up.

[SJ24]

Wentz, Weigel, and Pache? They will never be top 100 guys imo. Soroka is top 5 in the system no doubt. He's ranked 67 right now and will only move up.

I don't really care what the other rankings systems think. They may not crack the top 100s of the major sites but I bet they'd be close.

I think the top 11 in my rankings are top 100 prospects in baseball. It's really not that outlandish when you consider a team like the Angels would have 0.

[Oklahomabrave]

Wentz, Weigel, and Pache? They will never be top 100 guys imo. Soroka is top 5 in the system no doubt. He's ranked 67 right now and will only move up.

I agree they shouldn't be ahead of Soroka, but Pache has been mentioned by multiple outlets as nearly a top 100 prospect already. His defense is supposedly amazing and it wouldn't surprise me at all to see him crack some lists this midseason and I'd be surprised if he wasn't on some offseason lists. Weigel has been mentioned by BBA and MLB as someone who will be on midseason list. Additionally Wentz has been spoken highly of as well. Again, I would solidly rank them below Soroka, just think you were greatly shortchanging their status.

[SJ24]

I mean, I think the Braves are going to be loaded soon.

There are so many potential plus arms in contention for a Major League rotation spot in the next couple of years, even if we trade 2 or 3 for another bat.

[SJ24]

We have a set of rotation pieces that I would like to term The Tremendous Ten.

Allard, Newcomb, Gohara, Weigel, Fried, Anderson, Wentz, Soroka, Toussaint, and Muller.

The best assemblage of arm talent in baseball, and we may add another next week . . .

[Hudson2]

I agree they shouldn't be ahead of Soroka, but Pache has been mentioned by multiple outlets as nearly a top 100 prospect already. His defense is supposedly amazing and it wouldn't surprise me at all to see him crack some lists this midseason and I'd be surprised if he wasn't on some offseason lists. Weigel has been mentioned by BBA and MLB as someone who will be on midseason list. Additionally Wentz has been spoken highly of as well. Again, I would solidly rank them below Soroka, just think you were greatly shortchanging their status.

I wasn't tryin to short change them, I like all those guys. I was just saying that nobody else ranks them as highly as Soroka.

[Oklahomabrave]

I wasn't tryin to short change them, I like all those guys. I was just saying that nobody else ranks them as highly as Soroka.

For sure and I agree. Just wanted to point out I believe all three have top 100 potential.

[nsacpi]

I've been one of Didder's biggest promoters, but I think he is going to turn out to be more of a curiosity than a prospect. Stair-stepped up the system nicely in his first four seasons, but it appears he has hit a wall.

I would probably have Lucas Herbert on the list.

It's his first full-season year and they placed him aggressively, but Harrington has been a disappointment to me.

My guess is we'll see Justin Ellison in Florida soon and he may be someone to watch and would also keep an eye on Randy Ventura.

The guys I've listed probably shuffle around the 20-25 range and it's really difficult to be precise at the end of any ranking.

Ventura has a good case to be in the top 25.

[Enscheff]

Isn't there already a huge stickied thread where we discuss prospect rankings?

[Preacher]

Ventura has a good case to be in the top 25.

I agree, all he has done is keep hitting.

[Oklahomabrave]

Isn't there already a huge stickied thread where we discuss prospect rankings?

That thread sucks. This one is lit.

[rico43]

Isn't there already a huge stickied thread where we discuss prospect rankings?

Yes.

[rico43]

That thread sucks. This one is lit.

I welcome your critique. I said in March that I would not update the list until we were on top of the draft.

[Preacher]

I welcome your critique. I said in March that I would not update the list until we were on top of the draft.

He wasn't being serious

[rico43]

I mean, I think the Braves are going to be loaded soon.

There are so many potential plus arms in contention for a Major League rotation spot in the next couple of years, even if we trade 2 or 3 for another bat.

It would be easier and briefer if you simply listed the minor leaguers who aren't on your list. The challenge is to make an all-emcompassing Top 25 or 30 without 40 "I'm watching." I will be happy to pass the responsibility on to you if you'd do more than list guys. I want to know WHY you have someone placed where they are.

Feel free to reply on the Top 30 Prospects thread, which is stickered and in place for these very discussions.