MIDSEASON TOP 30 PROSPECTS -- REVISED!

I notice that no one has a problem with the once-heralded Salcedo nearly falling off the list. I am suprised that some of you disagree with bumping Elmer Reyes up. Leading the SL in hitting for over a month is a significant sign of development.
 
I notice that no one has a problem with the once-heralded Salcedo nearly falling off the list. I am suprised that some of you disagree with bumping Elmer Reyes up. Leading the SL in hitting for over a month is a significant sign of development.

I'm not as pessimistic about Salcedo. The Braves have for some reason promoted him aggressively every year. He's been young at every level, including this year as a 22 year old in AAA. I think it is a coin flip whether he or Kubitza (who is having a strong season as a 23 year old in AA) will have a better major league career.

As for Elmer Reyes, I can't ignore the .400 BABIP. Lady Luck will not always be there on his shoulder. He has risen in my estimation, but I don't have him nearly as high as you do.
 
I neglected to mention Peraza in my post and I want to make it clear that I think he's a solid talent. Curious to see where they start playing him, as SS and 2B appear to be occupied. Could be 3B (but I don't think that's as easy a transition as many seem to believe) or OF.

rico43, I've always been in Reyes' corner. I had him as one of my breakout guys a few years back, but he backslid for a season or so before getting back on track. I think he's surely a Top 15 guy and maybe even a Top 10. I think Reyes' value may lie in that he could be a pretty decent trade chip for a team looking for a good-fielding SS who will hit some. Short of that, I think he can be as good as Ramiro Pena and there's nothing wrong with that.
 
Changes!

I listened to others who have convinced me Alec Grosser needs to be on this list.

Listened to my own argument who convinced me myself that Felix Falcon's amazing DSL season needed to be acknowledged. He's moving up to the GCL this year, so we'll see.

Dropping out, for two completely different reasons, are Gus Schlosser and JR Graham. Read OP updates to learn why.
 
I'd like to personally thank Lucas Sims for remembering he is the Braves' No. 1 prospect. Finally pitched like it Thursday, and lowered in ERA below 5.00 in the process.
 
I like Sims and even though he didn't give up any hits he walked 4 batters and had a WP that scored the run. He was effectively wild to say the least. He's still #2 in my book.
 
I love pitching as much as the next guy but right now Peraza has to be the teams #1 prospect.
 
I love pitching as much as the next guy but right now Peraza has to be the teams #1 prospect.
In my text, I called them 1 and 1A. The better question is why to the baseball experts have Peraza listed so insignificantly on their lists?
 
In my text, I called them 1 and 1A. The better question is why to the baseball experts have Peraza listed so insignificantly on their lists?

BA and BP will be releasing their mid-season lists soon. I expect Peraza to be on both.
 
In my text, I called them 1 and 1A. The better question is why to the baseball experts have Peraza listed so insignificantly on their lists?

I don't mind what the national publications have written about Peraza. They have been very bearish on the majority of Braves prospects the last few years. Heck, Gattis was barely supposed to even be a bench player.
 
In my text, I called them 1 and 1A. The better question is why to the baseball experts have Peraza listed so insignificantly on their lists?

That was before the season started. If you ask any prospect guru now they'd have a different opinion of both Peraza and Sims. I really like Sims don't get me wrong his stuff is still great but the has no command of his CB this season and guys are just sitting on his FB. Peraza on the other hand has showcased his talents and he's growing into his body which should develop more power(10-15 HR), that from a LO guy that could slash a .300+/.350+/.400+ line with 40+ SB and GG caliber defense is Top Prospect material.
 
Here's my Top 30, which includes some guys taken in the 2014 draft and some international players making their stateside debuts, but excludes those in the DSL. Obviously for the guys in the first year of rookie ball everything is very speculative at this point. You have to give as much weight to pedigree (draft position, bonuses) as performance for those players. My list also contains a couple unheralded players who I think should get more appreciation as prospects (Luis Miranda and Daniel Castro). Ryne Harper is another such player who is just outside my Top 30.

1. Peraza
2. Sims
3. Bethancourt
4. Hursh
5. Parsons
6. Davidson
7. Victor Reyes
8. Caratini
9. Albies
10. Fulenchek
11. Cabrera
12. Martin
13. Kubitza
14. Cunningham
15. Falcon
16. Graham
17. Jaime
18. Elmer Reyes
19. Salcedo
20. Schlosser
21. Hoyt
22. Wren
23. Grosser
24. Dykstra
25. Northcraft
26. Williams Perez
27. Tewell
28. Castro
29. Miranda
30. Shreve
 
I have been off the grid for a year or so, literally. What happened to Graham? did he have such a bad injury last year that he is not considered a viable prospect at all anymore?
 
Looks like Pereza is pretty much a second baseman at this point in this organization. what's the book on his defense? his offensive numbers in his short stint in AA are fantastic. looks like nothing can slow this kid and he should definitely be on the fast track.
 
Here's my Top 30, which includes some guys taken in the 2014 draft and some international players making their stateside debuts, but excludes those in the DSL. Obviously for the guys in the first year of rookie ball everything is very speculative at this point. You have to give as much weight to pedigree (draft position, bonuses) as performance for those players. My list also contains a couple unheralded players who I think should get more appreciation as prospects (Luis Miranda and Daniel Castro). Ryne Harper is another such player who is just outside my Top 30.

1. Peraza
2. Sims
3. Bethancourt
4. Hursh
5. Parsons
6. Davidson
7. Victor Reyes
8. Caratini
9. Albies
10. Fulenchek
11. Cabrera
12. Martin
13. Kubitza
14. Cunningham
15. Falcon
16. Graham
17. Jaime
18. Elmer Reyes
19. Salcedo
20. Schlosser
21. Hoyt
22. Wren
23. Grosser
24. Dykstra
25. Northcraft
26. Williams Perez
27. Tewell
28. Castro
29. Miranda
30. Shreve

Only guy I think you might be missing is Connor Oliver. He's pretty much come out of nowhere, but he leapfrogged Danville and has put up decent numbers in Rome. Curcio's promotion has pushed him out of CF on a full-time basis, but I will be curious to see how he does if and when he moves up a level.
 
Looks like Pereza is pretty much a second baseman at this point in this organization. what's the book on his defense? his offensive numbers in his short stint in AA are fantastic. looks like nothing can slow this kid and he should definitely be on the fast track.

Anonymous blurb on rotoworld so who knows how informed it is

Braves prospect second baseman Jose Peraza went 3-for-4 with a double and a stolen base for Double-A Mississippi on Saturday.

The 20-year old Peraza began the season as a fringe top 100 prospect by being assigned to second base due to Andrelton Simmons' extension, and has hit .350/.375/.457 between High-A and Double-A. He is unlikely to hit much higher than .300 in the major leagues due to his lack of power, but he could steal 40-plus bases while playing gold glove defense at second base. Jul. 27 - 10:58 am et
 
I'm curious as to what this list may look like after the season with the emergence of players like Ozhaino Albies, Connor Lien, Fernelys Sanchez, and Tanner Murphy who are all young, high upside guys, along with Justin Black who is a raw guy that has finally shown some improvement this year. Then you add Braxton Davidson, Garrett Fulenchuck, and Luke Dykstra to that mix.
 
Back
Top