zbhargrove
Well-known member
Southisene’s early approach and adjustments have been very great to see
Minor League Thread Part Deux
- Thread starter 50PoundHead
- Start date
cajunrevenge
Well-known member
The ceiling and floor never change. Only our perception of it does.
Carp
Well-known member
Recent highlights from the farm:
Gwinnett:
Jim Jarvis is hitting the cover off the ball to start the year with a 1.015 OPS. His 3 homers so far in 15 games exceed his entire 2025 total (2) in 101 games. He is also 10/10 in SB attempts. Before you get too excited, his average EV is only 86.8, which doesn't support the sort of power he has displayed thus far. But he is barreling the ball as good as anyone in the system right now. He is only 25, so there may be some potential as a utility player. Certainly he seems more useful than Luke Williams.
On the pitching side we all know about Ritchie and Didier, but Karinchak and Ian Hamilton have been pretty electric out of the pen. Both have a history of success in the majors, so it not should be surprising to see one or both in Atlanta soon to replace guys like Jose Suarez, Munoz, or Payamps.
Columbus:
Every hitter is off to a good start in Columbus it seems like. But I'll focus more on players with legitimate upside.
David McCabe is finally showing some in game power, which could drastically change his role in the system. He's always been a quality hitter, but lack of true position and in game power really limited his fit on the big league roster. If the power is legit, he can be a useful MLB player to DH and spell Riley/Olson from time to time. It would be better if he could play a competent LF.
Former prized Intl signing Ambioris Tavarez is showing some impressive on base skills early this year. While he is striking out at a 30% clip, it actually represents a significant improvement over previous years. We've been waiting every season for him to break out, so I am not going to hold my breath. But it's still nice to see him start well.
Rome:
Where to start? We have a ton of talent in Rome currently and nearly all of them have started the year hot. While I could go over 8-9 different prospects here alone, I am going to stick to guys with perceived upside of starting caliber players.
Eric Hartman, #15 on my pre-season top prospect list. He has had the biggest start of the hitters, with a 1.021 OPS to start the year. 3 homers, 8 XBHs, and 3/3 in SBs attempts, all while playing fantastic defense. He does need to reduce the Ks and take some more walks, but this kid is exciting. Even with the K's, if he continues to show this power, he will fly up prospect lists with the power, speed, defense combo.
John Gil. We've talked about him for awhile. .785 OPS (.924 OPS before an 0-5 Sunday). The power and on-base ability have been impressive to start the year. He is also 9/10 in SB attempts. Stock way up.
Owen Carey. 778 OPS to start the year. More gap power than anything else at this time. But he's showing good strike zone judgement and barreling the ball up well, while playing solid defense.
Isaiah Drake. The contact issues remain, but the increase in power is nice to see. And the defense is legitimately terrific.
Honorable mention for Mason Guerra. A college hitter, who is repeating the league. So some of his production should be excepted. But he has been terrific regardless with a 1.081 OPS.
Augusta:
Tate Southisene. I've already mentioned him a few posts ago, but he has arguably been the most impressive prospect in the system through the early going. The EVs are pretty elite for a prospect his age. His walk rate is 17% and his K rate is down to 25%. He is also 5/6 in SBs. He is seeing a ton of pitches too, which is super impressive for a prospect his age. I haven't seen or heard any reports on his defense yet, but no news is probably good news. His stock is WAY up to start the season.
Conor Essenburg. Super raw, but the talent oozes off of him. He has put some impressive power on display so far and, like Tate, has been showing a lot of plate discipline, seeing a lot of pitches which has lead to 23% BB rate. The problem is the K's. A 44% K rate isn't going to cut it.
Nick Montgomery. Tell me if you've heard this one before. The Braves draft a HS catcher in the first 5 rounds, and within 2 years he explodes on to the prospect scene. It's too early to say Montgomery is going to be a future top prospect, but it's hard to not like what we're seeing out of him to start the year. .935 OPS with 26% walk rate. Defensively, he's had some lapses with 4 charged errors and 3 passed so far. But he is also gunning down runners at a 24% rate. Reports last year were mostly positive on his defense, so hopefully this is just a small hiccup.
Gwinnett:
Jim Jarvis is hitting the cover off the ball to start the year with a 1.015 OPS. His 3 homers so far in 15 games exceed his entire 2025 total (2) in 101 games. He is also 10/10 in SB attempts. Before you get too excited, his average EV is only 86.8, which doesn't support the sort of power he has displayed thus far. But he is barreling the ball as good as anyone in the system right now. He is only 25, so there may be some potential as a utility player. Certainly he seems more useful than Luke Williams.
On the pitching side we all know about Ritchie and Didier, but Karinchak and Ian Hamilton have been pretty electric out of the pen. Both have a history of success in the majors, so it not should be surprising to see one or both in Atlanta soon to replace guys like Jose Suarez, Munoz, or Payamps.
Columbus:
Every hitter is off to a good start in Columbus it seems like. But I'll focus more on players with legitimate upside.
David McCabe is finally showing some in game power, which could drastically change his role in the system. He's always been a quality hitter, but lack of true position and in game power really limited his fit on the big league roster. If the power is legit, he can be a useful MLB player to DH and spell Riley/Olson from time to time. It would be better if he could play a competent LF.
Former prized Intl signing Ambioris Tavarez is showing some impressive on base skills early this year. While he is striking out at a 30% clip, it actually represents a significant improvement over previous years. We've been waiting every season for him to break out, so I am not going to hold my breath. But it's still nice to see him start well.
Rome:
Where to start? We have a ton of talent in Rome currently and nearly all of them have started the year hot. While I could go over 8-9 different prospects here alone, I am going to stick to guys with perceived upside of starting caliber players.
Eric Hartman, #15 on my pre-season top prospect list. He has had the biggest start of the hitters, with a 1.021 OPS to start the year. 3 homers, 8 XBHs, and 3/3 in SBs attempts, all while playing fantastic defense. He does need to reduce the Ks and take some more walks, but this kid is exciting. Even with the K's, if he continues to show this power, he will fly up prospect lists with the power, speed, defense combo.
John Gil. We've talked about him for awhile. .785 OPS (.924 OPS before an 0-5 Sunday). The power and on-base ability have been impressive to start the year. He is also 9/10 in SB attempts. Stock way up.
Owen Carey. 778 OPS to start the year. More gap power than anything else at this time. But he's showing good strike zone judgement and barreling the ball up well, while playing solid defense.
Isaiah Drake. The contact issues remain, but the increase in power is nice to see. And the defense is legitimately terrific.
Honorable mention for Mason Guerra. A college hitter, who is repeating the league. So some of his production should be excepted. But he has been terrific regardless with a 1.081 OPS.
Augusta:
Tate Southisene. I've already mentioned him a few posts ago, but he has arguably been the most impressive prospect in the system through the early going. The EVs are pretty elite for a prospect his age. His walk rate is 17% and his K rate is down to 25%. He is also 5/6 in SBs. He is seeing a ton of pitches too, which is super impressive for a prospect his age. I haven't seen or heard any reports on his defense yet, but no news is probably good news. His stock is WAY up to start the season.
Conor Essenburg. Super raw, but the talent oozes off of him. He has put some impressive power on display so far and, like Tate, has been showing a lot of plate discipline, seeing a lot of pitches which has lead to 23% BB rate. The problem is the K's. A 44% K rate isn't going to cut it.
Nick Montgomery. Tell me if you've heard this one before. The Braves draft a HS catcher in the first 5 rounds, and within 2 years he explodes on to the prospect scene. It's too early to say Montgomery is going to be a future top prospect, but it's hard to not like what we're seeing out of him to start the year. .935 OPS with 26% walk rate. Defensively, he's had some lapses with 4 charged errors and 3 passed so far. But he is also gunning down runners at a 24% rate. Reports last year were mostly positive on his defense, so hopefully this is just a small hiccup.
Last edited:
Southcack77
Well-known member
Where is Briggs McKenzie? Hasn't processed seeing his name in awhile.
Carp
Well-known member
Starting the year in the FCL looks like.
Deester11
Well-known member
He is, as is Tornes whom I expect to move quickly.