top prospect update
Quote
Rank
Prospect, Position
Stock
Comments
1
Julio Teheran, RHP
Up
He's just sick. The kid is 5-0 with a 1.10 ERA in June. A .168 opponents batting average. One-sixty-eight! The best pitching prospect in baseball, and now he knows what to expect in the Majors.
2
Freddie Freeman, 1B
Majors
He just keeps cruising along having a great rookie season. He added more power in June, and he is quickly becoming a fan favorite in Atlanta.
3
Randall Delgado, RHP
Up
The team thought enough of him to give him a spot start in the Big Leagues. His starts at double-A were all really good, as he went seven innings in each start.
4
Mike Minor, LHP
Majors
He's over 50 Major League innings, so he's lost prospect status. I would say he's been jumped by Teheran in the next-regular-Atlanta-starter pecking order. With the Braves drafting Sean Gilmartin (a Minor-like clone), I've got to think that Minor is the trade chip the team is dangling.
5
Craig Kimbrel, RHP
Majors
The Little Wild Thing was ridiculous in June. A .140 BAA and 25 Ks in 14 innings.
6
Arodys Vizcaino, RHP
Up
Hard to believe he's already made five starts in double-A, and really hasn't lost a beat: 35 Ks vs. 11 BB in 31.1 innings. His BAA from A+ to AA went from .207 to .216.
7
Matt Lipka, SS
Down
He's been regressing all year. From April to June his OPS has gone from .620 to .588 to .517. The kid is still young, so I won't panic yet, but he will move down the prospect list because of this performance.
8
Edward Salcedo, SS
Up
He had a very solid June, and is putting together a nice all-around season. He's trending upward at this point.
9
Brandon Beachy, RHP
Majors
He's back from the DL, and boy are we glad.
10
Carlos Perez, LHP
Even
June has been his best month yet this year, after getting blown up at the end of July. Steady improvement is good to see in a prospect this young.
The rest of the top-25 are after the jump...
Rank
Prospect, Position
Stock
Comments
11
J.J. Hoover, RHP
Up
The Braves moved him to the bullpen this month, though I'm not sure why. He was doing just fine starting, with a .211 BAA and a sub-3.00 ERA. Many scouts have long viewed him as ultimately being a bullpen pitcher rather than a starter in the Majors, and the Braves may want to hasten that transition.
12
Christian Bethancourt, C
Up
He finally conquered Rome, and now he's out to best the Carolina League. I expect him to be one of those prospects who takes time to adjust at each new level, but moves slow and steadily up the ladder. Definitely one of Atlanta's most tradable hitting prospects.
13
Mycal Jones, CF
Even
After a promising end to May, Myke has hit a slump in June. Though the 18-22 strikeout to walk ratio is a sign that his approach is still a good one, and his bat should catch up eventually.
14
Joe Leonard, 3B
Even
He's starting to hit for extra base power, though not yet for home runs. He needs to show more and start distancing himself from the other hitters in the organization.
15
Brett Oberholtzer, RHP
Even
Oberholtzer has been regressing this year, and was really lit up this month. From April to June his BAA has gone from .211 to .279 to .305. He might need more of an adjustment period in double-A than originally thought.
16
Cory Harrilchak, OF
Down
He bounced back a little in June, but he still doesn't have any tool that stands out. He's in danger of being forgotten as a prospect.
17
Cory Rasmus, RHP
Off
He hans't pitched since May, and is once again trying to fight shoulder soreness. The chronic shoulder problems no longer make him much of a prospect. (Though I'm still rooting for him.)
18
Eric Cordier, RHP
Even
Back from the DL, and doing decent work, though he may not be much of a prospect any more.
19
Steve Kent, RHP
Off
After getting blown up for the first two months, the Braves released the Aussi left-hander in June.
20
David Filak, RHP
Down
After failing in Rome, the team sent him back to Danville, but it hasn't gone very well there either. He's more of a project than originally thought.
21
Andrelton Simmons, SS
Up
Still rolling along. I'd like to see more power out of him, but I don't think that will happen. He's a guy who will make it on his throwing arm and ability to get on base. The latter needs work.
22
Todd Cunningham, OF
Up
He was doing great until getting injured mid-June.
23
Adam MIlligan, OF
Up
Milligan has really stepped up the production, distinguishing himself as one of the best power hitters among all Braves minor leaguers.
24
Abraham Espinosa, RHP
Even
The Braves are giving him another run in the Dominican. We'll look for him to build on last year's numbers.
25
Tyler Pastornicky, SS
Up
A good scrappy shortstop who should have a future in the Majors as at least a utility player.