This story was excerpted from Mark Bowman’s Braves Beat e-newsletter. To learn the complete e-newsletter, click on right here. And subscribe to get it frequently in your inbox.
TAMPA — With the Minor League season in full swing, here’s a have a look at among the Braves’ prospects who’ve gotten off to a superb begin.
RHP Lucas Braun (Braves’ No. 10 prospect): Expertise evaluators have tabbed Braun to be the more than likely member of the Braves’ group to appreciate a major leap in prospect worth this 12 months. The 23-year-old hurler has a 3.86 ERA, 13 strikeouts and two walks by means of his first two begins (11 2/3 innings) for Double-A Columbus. He produced a 27.7 % strikeout charge and recorded a 2.38 ERA within the 13 begins he made after a midseason promotion to the Double-A stage final 12 months. So there’s definitely an opportunity he might quickly attain Triple-A Gwinnett and presumably even make his MLB debut sooner or later this 12 months.
Like Spencer Schwellenbach, Braun has proven he has the flexibility to command a well-stocked repertoire. His arsenal contains two fastballs (four-seam and two-seam), a slider, a curveball and a changeup. His fastball sits round 93 mph, however he has been clocked as excessive as 95.
RHP JR Ritchie (Braves’ No. 7 prospect): Braves followers obtained an opportunity to see Ritchie when he threw an ideal first inning in opposition to three gamers from MLB Pipeline’s High 100 Prospects listing — Max Clark (No. 5), Kevin McGonigle (No. 26) and Thayron Liranzo (No. 78) — throughout a Spring Breakout recreation in opposition to the Tigers on March 16. The 21-year-old hurler tossed 5 2/3 scoreless in opposition to Bowling Inexperienced on Thursday, and he has allowed simply two earned runs by means of his first two begins (9 2/3 innings) for Excessive-A Rome.
Ritchie was drafted by the Braves with the thirty fifth total choice in 2022. He missed most of 2023 whereas recovering from Tommy John surgical procedure and made simply 12 appearances whereas finishing his restoration final 12 months. So this might be his first full season on the skilled stage.
1B/3B David McCabe (Braves’ No. 18 prospect): The 25-year-old Canadian appears to be like like he has made a full restoration from the Tommy John process that sidelined him by means of final season’s first 4 months. He has hit .409 (9-for-22) with 4 doubles and a homer by means of his first seven video games for Columbus. He has made six begins as a 3rd baseman and one as a delegated hitter.
OF Isaiah Drake: Drake fell out of the listing of the Braves’ High 30 prospects when he struck out in 35.3 % of his plate appearances whereas producing a meager .511 OPS in 69 video games for Single-A Augusta final 12 months. However the 19-year-old Atlanta native is 8-for-24 with a double and 4 stolen bases by means of his first seven video games with Augusta this 12 months. His brother Kenyan Drake starred at Alabama earlier than enjoying within the NFL.
