This story was excerpted from Mark Bowman’s Braves Beat publication. To learn the total publication, click on right here. And subscribe to get it often in your inbox.
ATLANTA — Michael Harris II performed only one full Minor League season earlier than making his MLB debut two months into the 2022 season. Spencer Schwellenbach was two months into what was going to be his first unrestricted skilled season when he all of the sudden turned a mainstay inside Atlanta’s rotation.
High Nationwide League Rookie of the 12 months candidate Drake Baldwin was focused to spend this previous season’s first few months on the Triple-A degree. As for Hurston Waldrep, he may not have reached the Majors this yr had the MLB Speedway Basic recreation in opposition to the Reds not been suspended by rain.
Who would be the subsequent vital contributors from the Braves’ farm system, which was fortified by this previous summer season’s MLB Draft? Three of the staff’s prime 5 prospects, per MLB Pipeline, had been drafted in July.
To get a greater really feel for which gamers is perhaps headed to Atlanta over the subsequent couple years, right here’s a glance again at this yr’s Minor League season.
COMPLETE BRAVES PROSPECT COVERAGE
Three gamers who compelled their manner onto the radar this yr
Keep in mind how the Braves drafted Schwellenbach understanding he wanted Tommy John surgical procedure? Effectively, they might have additionally struck gold with their resolution to take Sinnard within the third spherical of the 2024 MLB Draft, as he neared the tip of his restoration from the identical elbow surgical procedure. The 6-foot-8 right-hander impressed as he launched himself to professional ball this previous summer season. He posted a 2.86 ERA, constructed a 28.3% strikeout charge and an 8.8% stroll charge over 16 mixed begins (72 1/3 innings) for Single-A Augusta and Excessive-A Rome. Extra impressively, he completed the season robust, notching 22 strikeouts and permitting simply 4 runs over his ultimate three begins (16 innings). He’s presently pitching within the Arizona Fall League.
The 19-year-old infielder was too superior for Rookie-level ball, and never fairly prepared for the Single-A degree when he hit .204 with a .552 OPS over 39 video games for Single-A Augusta in 2024. However he legitimized his prospect standing whereas hitting .258 with a .730 OPS over 100 video games for Rome this yr. General, he stole 54 bases with a 71.8% success charge and had a 14.2 strikeout charge, noticeably higher than the 23.2 Okay charge he had with Augusta the earlier yr. He performed six video games with Double-A Columbus to finish this previous season, however he might begin 2026 with Excessive-A Rome.
Braun caught the eyes of some Main Leaguers as he skilled his first huge league camp final yr. The 24-year-old right-hander posted a 3.67 ERA and constructed a 24.3% strikeout charge, whereas strolling simply 6.6% of the batters he confronted over 149 2/3 mixed innings with Double-A Columbus and Triple-A Gwinnett. He allowed simply three earned runs over 19 innings, as he made his ultimate three begins of the season for Gwinnett. The rising prospect saved his greatest for final, needing simply 73 pitches to restrict Indianapolis to 2 hits over seven scoreless innings on Sept. 17.
Two doable breakout prospects to look at subsequent season
Murphy generated pleasure about his improvement as he returned from Tommy John surgical procedure and posted a 1.32 ERA over six begins for Excessive-A Rome. He’ll now try to match the success second-ranked prospect JR Ritchie and Schwellenbach each had throughout their first unrestricted seasons again from the elbow surgical procedure.
OF Conor Essenburg (No. 9) and LHP Briggs McKenzie (No. 5) might need increased ceilings. However in the event you’re searching for a 2025 Draft choice who may probably affect Atlanta’s roster throughout the subsequent couple years, Lodise is your best option. The 21-year-old Florida State product gained the Dick Howser Award, given to varsity baseball’s greatest participant, this previous summer season. He posted a .692 OPS in 25 video games for Rome. Given Atlanta’s lack of center infield depth, Lodise may make a fast rise throughout what shall be his first full skilled season.
One huge query for 2026: The place will Ritchie finish 2026?
Waldrep’s emergence over the season’s ultimate two months lessened Atlanta’s degree of want within the beginning pitching division this winter. As for Ritchie, his profitable rise to the Triple-A degree gave the Braves purpose to really feel higher about their MLB-ready rotation depth.
Ritchie’s first full professional season with out TJ surgical procedure restrictions started with him breezing by seven begins at Rome. The 22-year-old hurler then dealt with Double-A earlier than posting a 3.02 ERA over 11 begins for Gwinnett. The 11.1 p.c stroll charge he produced on the Triple-A degree signifies there’s nonetheless room for improvement. However there’s actually purpose to imagine this 2022 first-round decide will attain the Majors in 2026.
