Top-11 Braves Prospects from Baseball Prospectus

by gondeee on Jan 15, 2008 11:56 AM EST in Minor League News Comment 8 comments

We get our final prospect list of the winter from the major prospect outlets today with Kevin Goldstein of Baseball Prospectus churning out his top-11 young Braves (is that redundant? Young, Braves). Here are his top-11 in our system:

Five-Star Prospects

Jordan Schafer, CF
Jason Heyward, RF

Four-Star Prospects

Brent Lillibridge, SS
Brandon Jones, LF
Gorkys Hernandez, CF
Jair Jurrjens, RHP

Three-Star Prospects

Julio Teheran, RHP
Tommy Hanson, RHP
Cole Rohrbaugh, LHP
Cody Johnson, OF
Jeff Locke, LHP

Just Missing: Joey Devine, RHP (now with Oakland); Steve Evarts, LHP; Kris Medlen, RHP

That's a pretty nice list, and similar to what we've seen from the other big prospect people. I especially like his inclusion of Kris Medlen in the just missing category. I've been high on him for a while and it's good to see one of the experts validate his prospect status. I like Goldstein's cautious approach with regards to Rohrbough, listing him behind Hanson and Teheran (who he doesn't take a cautious approach on).

KG also calls Eric Cordier the sleeper in our system, and seems to be excited to see what he can do now that he's healthy.

Goldstein has been giving his "big picture" look at systems by rating all the players under-25. Here is that list for the Braves (FYI, Escobar doesn't qualify as he is currently 25, not under-25):

The Big Picture: Rankings Combined With Non-Rookies Under 25 (As Of Opening Day 2008)

Jeff Francoeur, RF
Brian McCann, C
Jordan Schafer, CF
Jason Heyward, RF
Brent Lillibridge, SS
Brandon Jones, LF
Gorkys Hernandez, CF
Jair Jurrjens, RHP
Julio Teheran, RHP
Jo-Jo Reyes, LHP

And finally, I like his summation of our minor league system:

While the Braves gave up a ton of talent to get a ton of talent in the Mark Teixeira deal, Atlanta's system is still strong thanks to some very good drafts by the amateur scouting department, and impressive prospect returns for Adam LaRoche and Edgar Renteria thanks to the pro scouting group. While the system is weak in positional prospects outside of the outfield, its collection of young arms is once again the envy of most teams.

Good stuff all around. If you don't have a subscription to BP, get one and check out his write-ups for each player.

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Wow.

I've been waiting for that list for quite some time, as I was getting bored of re-reading their write-ups of the AL teams. All in all I'm pretty happy with BP's take on our boys. Seems like their opinion on Schafer has gotten better since the last time they wrote about him (before they said that he would not turn into a Grady Sizemore type...but this latest write-up sounds almost identical to Sizemore's skill set). I was hoping that they would elaborate more on Heyward, as the phrase "classic power-hitting corner outfielder" doesn't really do it for me. Anyone else feel the same way?

I must say that I'm very happy about the praise lofted on our young arms. Seems like BP believes Teheran could become something truly special. Finally, the way that the spoke of Lillibridge and Cody Johnson makes it sound like they are almost expecting them to be traded. I think Lil could bring in a nice contributor, but sounds like Johnson is DH bound in the future.

by Smoltzs Beard on Jan 15, 2008 1:32 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Who are our pitching studs?

Jurrjens, Teheran, Reyes have decent potential. But do we have any Phil Hughes/Clay Buchholz type guys at any level of the system? I'd love it if we could get Lincecum somehow.

by TradeAndruw on Jan 15, 2008 3:03 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Well

General comments:

I think the Schafer picture is being painted a tad too rosy. He had an amazing season, but that comes after two horrible ones to begin his career. I'd like to see solid numbers (not ridiculous, but solid) at Double-A before I'm ready to declare him a possible future All-Star.
I really hope we don't trade Lillibridge. In my opinion, his future is much brighter than Escobar's and he offers so much more talent wise (more usable speed, more power).

About any Hughes/Buchholz types, no, those guys are rare breeds in baseball and the Braves haven't had a true ace prospect in a long while. Obviously with that write up Teheran has the possibility to be that guy in five years, but that's a long way away. Besides him, Jeff Locke has the most projection (good #2) in my eyes; just because he's so good already, with such good control and he has a lot more projection left because he's a northern pitcher with less innings on his arm.

by 17843 on Jan 15, 2008 3:28 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Nice

Brent Lillibridge at number 3 -- what a fantastic trade that was.

by Velcro Vernacular on Jan 15, 2008 6:55 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Romak

Lost in the LaRoche for Gonzalez for Lillibridge deal is Jamie Romak, currently the #7 prospect in the Pirates organization according to Baseball America. Now, I'm realistic and realize that the Pirates #7 guy might be lucky to crack our top 20. He'd be #14 on my personal list - after Tyler Flowers, who I'd bump up several notches - but I digress.
I'm sure the overwhelming consensus here would be that it's better to have Lillibridge than Romak, and I can't say I disagree, especially given the fact that we have Francoeur, Schafer, Heyward, Johnson, B. Jones, Gorkys on the outfield depth chart....Romak was expendable.
I guess I'm just saying the Pirates didn't make out too bad in that deal themselves. Laroche just signed a one year, $5 million contract and looks to be locked down long term pretty soon. I always liked Romak - he's a Canadian who may really be a late bloomer and a dang fine outfielder when the time comes.

by secondbass on Jan 15, 2008 7:10 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

well you said it

Romak wouldn't be in our top 15 (maybe now with Richmond and Devine gone)... the difference between #3-6 in our system (where Lillibridge has been consistently ranked) and #15 is huge. The real reason the pirates haven't come out too badly is gonzalez being injured. Romak wouldn't be in our plans if he was still here, prolly would have been thrown in with the other 2 to oakland if thats wren's m.o.

by abravesfan on Jan 15, 2008 7:17 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Romak

I'm a big fan of this guy. Legitimate possibility of turning into a .275/.375/.525 kind of guy in right field. That's pretty damn good and something that I think Baseball America underrates. I'd personally stick him #12 on my own list (between Cody Johnson and John Gilmore).

by 17843 on Jan 15, 2008 11:41 PM EST reply actions 0 recs