Choose your Top-25 Braves Mid-Season Prospects

slide freddie freeman up to 4, and you got it.

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http://www.smoltz3000.com

by cgilmo78 on Jul 16, 2008 11:57 PM EDT 0 recs

i’m only doing a top 10, since i’ve never seen any of these guys actually play a game.

1) heyward
2) hanson
3) schafer
4) locke
5) freeman
6) teheran
7) hernandez
8) flowers
9) rohrbough
10) gilmore

i excluded lillibridge, morton, et al because they’re getting some reps in the majors and might lose their rookie eligibility

by bigjoe on Jul 17, 2008 12:09 AM EDT 0 recs

i totally forgot about the NEW KIDZ who are looking like dynamite so far. i can’t rank them since they have less than 25 innings combined, but nevertheless, i love em

by bigjoe on Jul 17, 2008 1:14 AM EDT up 0 recs

Lucky 13

1. Jason Heyward, OF
2. Tommy Hanson, RHP
3. Gorkys Hernandez, OF
4. Jordan Schafer, OF
5. Brent Lillibridge, SS
6. Freddie Freeman, 1B
7. Tyler Flowers, C
8. Julio Teheran, RHP
9. Kris Medlen, RHP
10. Charlie Morton, RHP
11. Jeff Locke, LHP
12. Brandon Jones, OF
13. Cole Rohrbough, LHP

by call_me_chipper on Jul 17, 2008 12:22 AM EDT 0 recs

1. Jason Heyward
2. Tommy Hanson
3. Jordan Schafer
4. Julio Teheran
5. Freddie Freeman
6. Goryks Hernandez
7. Cole Rohrbough
8. Jeff Locke
9. Brent Lillibridge
10. Charlie Morton
11. Cody Johnson
12. Kris Medlen
13. Brandon Jones
14. Brandon Hicks
15. Tyler Flowers
16. Jon Gilmore
17. Tyler Stovall
18. Brett Devall
19. Daniel Matra
20. Zeke Spruill

by smscardinals1 on Jul 17, 2008 1:10 AM EDT 0 recs

1. Jason Heyward OF, Rome Braves
2. Tommy Hanson RHSP, Mississippi Braves
3. Gorkys Hernandez OF, Myrtle Beach Pelicans
4. Jordan Schafer OF, Mississippi Braves
5. Freddie Freeman 1B, Rome Braves
6. Jeff Locke LHSP, Rome Braves
7. Cole Rohrbough LHSP, Rome Braves
8. Tyler Flowers C/1B, Myrtle Beach Pelicans
9. Brandon Hicks SS, Myrtle Beach Pelicans
10. Julio Teheran RHSP, Danville Braves
11. Kris Medlen RHSP, Mississippi Braves
12. Brent Lillibridge SS, Atlanta Braves
13. Jon Owings OF, Myrtle Beach Pelicans
14. Cody Johnson OF, Rome Braves
15. Brandon Jones OF, Richmond Braves
16. Casey Hodges RHSP, Danville Braves
17. Edgar Osuna LHSP, Rome Braves
18. Scott Diamond LHSP, Rome Braves
19. Bryan Dumesnil LHSP, Mississippi Braves
20. Todd Redmond RHSP, Mississippi Braves
21. Phil Stockman RHRP, Richmond Braves
22. Craig Kimbrel RHRP, Danville Braves
23. Jon Gilmore 3B, Danville Braves
24. Richard Sullivan LHRP, Rome Braves
25. Travis Jones 2B, Myrtle Beach Pelicans

(Don’t consider Charlie a prospect anymore even though he doesn’t have a whole lot of time in the majors)

by NYBravesFan on Jul 17, 2008 1:12 AM EDT 0 recs

here's mine..

1. jason heyward
2. tommy hanson
3. charlie morton
4. jordan shafer
5. freddie freeman
6. gorkys hernandez
7. tyler flowers
8. kris medlan
9. jeff locke
10. cody johnson
11. brandon jones
12. brent lillibridge
13. cole rohrbourgh
14. julio teheran
15. eric campbell
16. jon gilmore
17. jon owings
18. brandon hicks
19. edgar osuna
20. craig kimbrel
21. travis jones
22. scott diamond
23. barbaro canizares
24. van pope
25. steve evarts

- Mighty Healthy

by Mighty Healthy on Jul 17, 2008 4:24 AM EDT 0 recs

My List

Also not including Morton, Lillibridge, Brandon Jones, or Clint Sammons. I’ve also never seen the young guys and new draft picks. So….

1. Jason Heyward – obviously
2. Tommy Hanson – I can see him being a dominant #1 starter in the bigs soon.
3. Tyler Flowers – big-time power, maybe our future first baseman
4. Jeff Locke – adjusts well to adversity, and can pitch. Good character guy as well.
5. Jordan Schafer – Odd man out because of his suspension – Gorkys moves up Atlanta’s ladder. I still think Schafer will have a better long term career than Hernandez.
6. Brandon Hicks – Chipper’s replacement. I think he’ll cut down on the strikeouts and move to third next year at Mississippi. I believe he’s a star in the making, and that’s why I list him so high. This is my limb, and I am okay with being out on it.
7. Gorkys Hernandez – to me he’s getting too much of the Elvis Andrus hype: lot’s of potential to be Vernon Wells or whoever. Well, let’s see it! Still a solid looking player, I’m just not sure about a superstar. An outfield of Heyward, Hernandez, and Francoeur would be great, and I think Gorkys would thrive there.
8. Eric Campbell – I bet he’ll get the average up. If he does, he’ll be a beast. If his attitude problems aren’t behind him (which I personally don’t think they are), I bet he gets traded. BUT, if I’m going on sheer ability and what his big league career could turn out to be, this guy could be really good.
9. Freddie Freeman – I think he’s for real, but he could be a Ka’aihue in the waiting – we’ll have to wait and see how he handles his moves up the ladder. If he adjusts well and maintains his numbers, man, he’s going to be the #2 guy in the organization.
10. Cody Johnson – his homeruns go a mile. I’m banking on his learning to harness his swing. If he does, NL pitching better look out.
11. Cole Rohrbough – when he’s completely healthy, I expect he’ll return to form.
12. Scott Diamond – the best surprise this season will hopefully keep it up.
13. Kris Medlen – valuable because he can relieve and start, and quite good at both.
14. Jon Gilmore – what he’s been doing in Danville is impressive. Here’s hoping for continued improvement – if Hicks or Campbell aren’t the answer, Jon could be, but can we wait that long?
15. Eric Barrett – the guy plays with a lot of heart and seems to be a strong character guy, the kind the Braves like. Hard worker – I’m betting he’ll get things together.
16. Zach Schreiber – good for several years now. I think he’ll be in the bullpen next year.
17. James Parr – good starter potential
18. Cory Gearrin – looks good so far
19. Edgar Osuna – again, the potential is there
20. Jon Mark Owings – I love this guy! He’s really found some good consistency at MB this year, and that’s saying something. Next year at AA will be the real proving ground for JMO.
21. Chris Vines – this guy has been a project for a while (elbow surgery), and the Braves have really stuck with him for some reason. I think we’re seeing the reason given his good year at MB.
22. Benino Pruneda – 100 mph
23. Ryne Reynoso – Former outfielder turning into one heck of a pitcher.
24. Travis Jones – maybe.
25. Kala Ka’aihue – can’t drop him yet, but something’s got to give….

Hated leaving them off, but….
Tommy Palica
Chad Rodgers
Jose Ortegano

by secondbass on Jul 17, 2008 7:03 AM EDT 0 recs

no

Teheran?

by BlueVol03 on Jul 17, 2008 2:07 PM EDT up 0 recs

Don't know enough about him yet...

...to small of a sample size so far….for me, anyway. If he lives up to the billing, somebody will have to go from my list for sure.

by secondbass on Jul 17, 2008 8:10 PM EDT up 0 recs

My top 25

Here are my top 25 prospects in the Braves organization. Some of these are easy to pick but there are a few I selected that I haven’t really seen on anyone else’s list.

1. Jason Heyward, OF – This is really a no-brainer. After being a 1st round pick for the Braves a year ago, he has done nothing but impress scouts and move up prospect rankings.
2. Tommy Hanson, P – The no-hitter this season was great but he’s had several good games. He initially struggled after his promotion to Mississippi but has since settled down. His combined stats at the two minor league levels this season are: 7-4, 2.94 ERA, 98 IP, 104 K, 35 BB. Opponents are only hitting .180 off of him. Look for him to be in Atlanta at some point in the 09 season.
3. Jordan Schafer, OF – The suspension at the beginning of the season really hurt his chances for a call up this season. He has come back and put up so-so numbers, hitting for power but not average. He is still a defensive wiz in CF and should be exciting to watch in the years to come.
4. Gorkys Hernandez, OF – Our lone representative at this year’s Futures Game. He started off hot and has struggled as of late. Still, he his hitting for decent average and if he stays injury free will have really good numbers at the end of the season.
5. Freddie Freeman, 1B – He is just not getting enough credit for what he is doing. He has better numbers than Heyward and his hitting for both average and power. He is a big left handed first baseman that should make some noise on prospect lists the next couple of years.
6. Charlie Morton, P – He has shown flashes and may turn out to be a good number 3 or 4 starter in the big leagues. Barring injury or trade, he will be a fixture on the staff for several years.
7. Julio Teheran, P – He has only played in 2 games thus far with 1 win and 1 no decision. He is surrounded by a lot of hype but is still young. Until he proves more from the mound I can’t place him any higher.
8. Brandon Jones, OF – He has done better in the majors than he has in the minors. He needs to stay consistent to stay on the big league team.
9. Brent Lillibridge, SS – He has already spent some time in the majors even though he was struggling in the minors. Barring catastrophe, Escobar is our SS of the future so Lilli may be moved at some point.
10. Tyler Flowers, C/1B – I don’t know whether his future is at Catcher or 1st base but I do know the kid can flat out hit. He may be the best hitter on a Myrtle Beach team that is loaded with offensive production.
11. Kris Medlen, P – His record may be 3-4, but he has 73 Ks to only 15 BBs. Opponents are only batting .248 against him this year. He has started 8 games this season but we could see him in the Atlanta bullpen sometime in 09.
12. Cody Johnson, OF – It’s obvious he can flat out rake. However, he strikes out way too often and hasn’t seemed to get his average up. With all of our other OF prospects, he could end up traded within the next couple years.
13. Cole Rohrbough, P – I’m not on high on him as some but I think the potential is there. He’s only 21 so he can still make adjustments to improve. He was much better last season but he’s slowly starting to turn it around in Rome.
14. Jeff Locke, P – He hasn’t even turned 21 yet and he seems to have a lot potential as well. His record shows he is 4-8 but he is slightly improving.
15. Jon Owings, OF – Owings is having quite a year and is hitting for both average and power (.293, 15 HR). He’s a little bit older than some of the other guys on the team but he is showing steady improvement and making a name for himself on prospect lists.
16. Brandon Hicks, SS – He is similar to Johnson in that he has far to many strikeouts. He can also hit for power and is a decent fielder. Some think he may slide over to 3B to eventually replace Chipper.
17. Travis Jones, 2B – Another hitter who struggles to hit for average but absolutely kills the ball when he makes contact.
18. Ryne Reynoso, P – I’m not sure if he’ll remain a starter but he’s having a good year, going 7-6 while holding opponents to a .251 average. He doesn’t have as many strikeouts as you might like but he could turn out to be a good long reliever or setup man.
19. Todd Redmond, P – He is putting together a nice season and could end up in Atlanta at some point next season. He has a really good changeup but doesn’t strike out a lot of batters.
20. Steve Evarts, P – He was a compensation pick in the 06 draft. Evarts has only appeared in 3 games this season but he is 2-0 with a 1.50 ERA. Last season he went 4-0 in 8 games started with an ERA of 1.95.
21. Eric Campbell, 3B – He has a ton of talent but off field issues have caused him to slip in the Atlanta organization. This season he is not hitting for a very good average but showing decent power.
22. James Parr, P – His record stands at 8-4 and he is holding opponents to a .246 average. He is only 22 and in AA so he could make it to the big leagues sometime within the next couple of seasons.
23. Craig Kimbrel, P – Kimbrel is a recent 3rd round draft pick and at 20 yrs old is dominating in the Appy league. He has 4 saves and 1 win in 8 games and has not allowed a run.
24. Jon Gilmore, 3B – I’m really pulling for this kid to put it all together. He seems to have the talent but struggled when he played at Rome. Now back in Danville, he is looking pretty solid. He’s only 19 so he has plenty of time to develop.
25. Brett Butts, P – A 19th Rd selection last season out of Auburn, he is closing at Myrtle Beach. He has 9 saves and has a record of 3-3. He is also holding opponents to a measly .201 batting average.

Other players considered: DeVall, Heath, C. Rodriguez, Diamond, Sullivan, Hodges, Kaaihue, and Pope.

Our future looks really good and I’m excited to see some of these players contribute in the next few seasons.

by BlueVol03 on Jul 17, 2008 8:13 AM EDT 0 recs

Owings

I like your putting him at 15 – he gets lost in the depth of outfield talent we have, but he’s awfully good. He missed a lot of time, I guess you know, when he crashed into a wall at Danville (I think it was) a few years back and had to be carted off the field and have his spleen removed. He’s been hurt a time or two since (including this year), but when he can finally stay healthy, I think he’s going to be a good major league player, whether in Atlanta or someplace else.

I’m also a Jon Gilmore fan….

by secondbass on Jul 17, 2008 9:29 AM EDT up 0 recs

Good reads...

I guess I should be one to talk.
There's nights that I can't even walk.
There's days I couldn't give a fuck.
And in between is where I'm stuck.

by Smoltz's Beard on Jul 17, 2008 9:42 AM EDT 0 recs

My top 25 picks

I’ll rank Morton, Lillibridge, and Jones, simply because gondeee did so as well.

1. Jason Heyward, OF – Great hitter. Power numbers will come once he ages a bit I would say.
2. Tommy Hanson, RHP – Potentially dominant, but the fly ball rate worries me a little bit.
3. Jordan Schafer, OF – I just wish he’d make more contact. Peripherals look good though.
4. Tyler Flowers, C/1B – Big power, great peripherals. And from all I’ve heard he’s a stand up guy.
5. Gorkys Hernandez, OF – I agree with gondeee in that struggle is good for players. Now lets see what he does with it. I’d like to see more steals, though (but he’s got a good ratio nevertheless).
6. Freddie Freeman, 1B – Great numbers in full season Rome. Being a lefty helps out too.
7. Jeff Locke, LHP – Good to see him recovering from his early season woes.
8. Brent Lillibridge, SS – I’m higher on him than Brandon Jones. I think he has the talent to be a starting major leaguer, but its getting close to his ‘prove it’ time.
9. Cole Rorhbourgh, LHP – I think he has the stuff, but boy I’d like to see him throw more injury free innings.
10. Julio Tehran, RHP – I’ll believe it when I see it. But everything points to him having all the goods.
11. Charlie Morton, RHP – Hopefully he can adjust a little better to the majors.
12. Brandon Jones, OF – I see him as being trade bait, but I think he can still be serviceable in the majors.
13. Edgar Osuna, LHP – I’m really high on this guy, along with his counterpart, Medlen. Converted reliever, has done really well as a starter. I’ve only seen him a couple times, but no matter what he’s used as, he’s got the stuff to succeed.
14. Kris Medlen, RHP – Same as Osuna, except a couple years older and a couple levels higher. I only ranked Osuna higher because of his age.
15. Cody Johnson, OF – Wowza strikeouts. If he can learn to make consistent contact then lookout.
16. Jon Gilmore, 3B – Very impressive in Danville, and I think he can put it together next year in Rome.
17. Cory Gearrin, RHP – Looks like a very good reliever.
18. Brandon Hicks, SS – I’m not exactly high on him because of the K’s.
19. Scott Diamond, LHP – Happily surprising.
20. Jon Owings, OF – Good numbers, but I hesistate to rank him any higher due to his age. I think he’d do well in Mississippi, however.
21. Brett DeVall, LHP – Rated here solely on potential.
22. Daniel Matra, C – Very impressive stuff in rookie ball. I’m on the bandwagon.
23. Todd Redmond, RHP – Surprisingly effective.
24. Zeke Spruill, RHP – I’m loathe to put another of this year’s draftees on here, but he’s looked good so far and has great potential.
25. Eric Campbell, 3B – I was this close to dropping him but couldn’t.

I’m not going to rank the likes of Evarts and Rasmus, even though I think they have star potential, simply because you have to be healthy to be a prospect.

by Something Profound on Jul 17, 2008 11:07 AM EDT 0 recs

Wow...

Thanks to all for putting in the hard work! I can’t even begin to rank these guys because I don’t know enough about them. But it is fun to talk about them, so that in 2-3 years when they are in the bigs we can feel like we have been fans for years!

"Have you ever had your heart broken?"
"Yeah, when we lost the pennant in '87."

by jug on Jul 17, 2008 12:32 PM EDT 0 recs

Yes

Good work everyone. Lots of good lists too, and so far no one’s been ignorant enough to list someone like Josh Anderson at number 13.

by gondeee on Jul 18, 2008 12:07 PM EDT up 0 recs

it could

be even worse than that. I’m glad nobody has put Andrus on any list. It’s also good to see that Chuck James isn’t on the lists either.

by BlueVol03 on Jul 18, 2008 12:20 PM EDT up 0 recs

My top 15

1) Jason Heyward
2) Jordan Schafer
3) Tommy Hanson
4) Freddie Freeman
5) Julio Teheran
6) Gorkys Hernandez
7) Cole Rohrbough
8) Jeff Locke
9) Tyler Flowers
10) Brandon Jones
11) Cody Johnson
12) Brandon Hicks
13) Jon Gilmore
14) Steve Evarts
15) Kris Medlen

by NEBravesFan33 on Jul 17, 2008 2:35 PM EDT 0 recs

Top 25

I’m leaving Brandon Jones, Brent Lillibridge, and Charlie Morton out. They are top 10 talents, but I just feel better talking about guys that are playing full seasons in the minors. Don’t feel bad Morton, everybody loves you…

1. Jason Heyward – Yeah, he’s awesome, whatever…the point is that he is the Fred McGriff I have been missing since I started growing my man hair.
2. Tommy Hanson – 6’6 RHP with 3 commanding pitches, that’s pretty cool by itself. What is really cool is that he is only 21 and throwing no hitters (ok that shouldn’t be plural, I don’t care) at AA. Plus he looks sort of like an Aussie, so Moylan and Stockman will connect with him easier…or not…
3. Freddy Freeman – I win the award for ranking him the highest, and guess what…I almost had him at number dos. He is clearly overshadowed by Heyward, but the fact of the matter is that he is younger, bigger, and has almost double the amount of doubles, triples, and homers than Jason. He is a XBH waiting to happen (over 40% of his hits go for extra bases). However, he is just not as talented or athletic as Jason is. Jason is potentially a franchise star, and Freeman will be a consistent starter for the next 15 years (which I will take!!!).
Note the two guys above go by Tommy and Freddy, but their real names are Thomas and Frederick. Just one example of Mr. Bobby Cox working his magic down in the farm.
4. Jordan Schafer – The suspension and lackluster performance so far are depressing, but I still believe that Jordan is our centerfielder of the future. He’s already a great defensive presence, and too good of a hitter to stay in suckland. The JD Drew and Grady Sizemore comparisons are just plain sexy!
5. Gorkys Hernandez – That other centerfielder guy of the future. Man, did we rip off the Tigers or what? He has game changing speed and nice pop for his size. Once he learns to run the bases better, then we will finally have another guy that can lead off and steal 40+ bases.
6. Julio Teheran – Our only prospect with true ACE potential IMO. This kid is just 17 years old and already works with three above average pitches. That heater reaches mid 90s. He is only about 150 LBS, so wait until he gains a little weight.
7. Cole Rohrbough – Nagging injuries have screwed up his control this year. His 2007 season was too brilliant too leave him out of a top 10 list for at least a couple of seasons.
8. Kris Medlen – Too high? I don’t think so; he made a seamless transition from relief pitcher to starter this season. Our poor man’s version of Tim Lincecum; both are small little heartbreakers, but with big K potential. 15:73 BB/K in 73IP.
9. Cory Gearrin – I like Gearrin A LOT. The sidearm delivery is a tough thing for a pitcher to master, and hitters will never get used to picking it up. He is mowing guys down viciously right now. He will be a very key part of our bullpen within the next couple seasons.
10. Tyler Flowers – This guy is big as f. I wonder if we will keep him at catcher? Anyways. He has Scott Thorman type of power, but with a way better eye for the ball. I believe he has like a 70/70 walk to strike out ratio, which is completely ridiculous. Plus, the Flowers name is cool, and he will probably have some awesome fan signs at Turner.
11. Steve Evarts – I still don’t know what the hell is wrong with this guy, hopefully it isn’t too serious. He has some of the best control in the system, so if he is seriously hurt he has a better chance of returning to normal than a power pitcher would.
12. Jeff Locke – Bout time I ranked this guy…He still hasn’t got his secondary pitches down well enough. His fastball is already hot, and once he gets that breaking ball on Locke (get it?) he will def. be a top pitching prospect. The Locke-ness monster??? No…idk?
13. Edgar Osuna – I really do not know his pitching repertoire, but it sure is working. He is having a great season at Rome, and seems to be a great relief pitching prospect.
14. Cory Rasmus – Another relief pitcher in the top 15…what am I thinking? I’m thinking that Cory and his brother Colby are two of the baddest mother frs in the minors. Other than that, I adamantly believe that he will be a great bullpen arm.
15. Eric Campbell – Campbell is a true definition of a py. He probably has the 2nd most talent in the system (other than Heyward), but he chooses to be lazy and ignorant. Hey Eric, quit being a b* and play some diamond slide.
16. Brandon Hicks – His defense is great, and apparently he can hit for a ton of power too (15 homers at the beach?). He’s the type of person that makes a great pro athlete, so I hope he can find a better batter’s eye and not strike out so much.
17. Cody Johnson – He’s such a streaky hitter right now that its really tough to tell about Cody. The fact that he does rake like no other at certain times is definitely a great sign that he has awesome potential, but the strikeouts are killing me emotionally. Great size, great power, and great friends with Jhey. I’ve heard about the hitch in his swing ever since he was drafted. The hitch, or attempting to get rid of the hitch is probably leading to much of the strike outs right now, so once he gets that behind him and out of his swing we should be in good luck.
18. Jon Gilmore – I think my judgment on Gilmore has been alittle harsh. He is still only 19, and dominating at Danville. I think he will turn out like Van Pope, minus the superb defense. It would be pretty tight to see the hot group of ladies that make up the Gilmore Girls….cheesy, but you know they will be there, if he makes it to the show…
19. Travis Jones – Travis gives me the Ray Durham vibe…that’s all I got to say about that…
20. Brett DeVall – I saw Mock Drafts that had DeVall being selected at number 9, so I was hopping out of my pants when we landed him at #40. Still not totally sure what pitchability is (they kept saying he had great pitchablity) but it sounds pretty nice.
21. Richard Sullivan – Seriously, who goes to SCAD and becomes a professional athlete? SCAD the most prestigious art school in Georgia, I didn’t even know they had a baseball team. The guy has already pitched himself to Rome, so I am def. excited for him.
22. Daniel Matra – I believe we got a steal in this kid. I believe it was at Talking Chop that I heard he was supposed to be a top round choice, but an injury caused him to fall to us way down the line.
23. Ezek Spruill – Great pitcher’s mold. Another steal in the draft considering most thought we would get him with our first choice. He is pitching great at the GCL.
24. Jose Ortegano – He spicy…he was part of the dominant group of Danville pitchers last season. He continued the trend with a kind of disappointing encore at Rome, but he is still a projectable pitcher and could begin the spiciness at anytime.
25. Jon Owings – What a season he is having at the beach…whats the deal with all the power numbers at Myrtle Beach this season If he keeps that average up and continues the power trend, he will find a pro job somewhere.

Guys to keep an eye on: Santos Rodriguez, Ryan Voekel, Benino Pruneda, Erick Barret, Nick Fellman, Brett Butts, Casey Hodges, Craig Kimbrel, Randall Delgado, Dimaster Delgado, Gerardo Rodriguez, and Tyler Stovall <<

NOOOOO!!! I forgot about Erik Cordier…he’s the guy we stole from Kansas City…yeah hes been injured, but apparently he throws in the upper nineties and is a big time pitching prospect.

I didn’t forget Scott Diamond and Todd Redmond, after Chuck James, I have lost my taste for soft tossing lefties. Chris Vines, Jeff Lyman, James Parr, Kyle Cofield, and Ryne Reynoso all seem to be serviceable bullpen arms, but nothing more.

by bwellnjonesco on Jul 17, 2008 4:30 PM EDT 0 recs

My list, ceiling matters above chances to achieve that ceiling, so guys like Reynoso, Schreiber, etc. who project as middle relievers at best aren’t going to be appearing.

1. Jason Heyward – Elite offensive ceiling that will play at either outfield corner and first base, athleticism and polish to boot. One of the best in the game.
2. Jordan Schafer – His defensive ceiling is ridiculous and he’ll have a major league career if he can be even mediocre with the bat. Thankfully, his offensive ceiling is impressive and he’s showing excellent plate discipline and solid power despite a poor average in AA.
3. Tommy Hanson – Plus fastball, plus curve, average change. Looks like a good chance to be a #2 starter. Responding well to the AA promotion despite his HR tendencies.
4. Gorkys Hernandez – Plus range, plus arm, plus plus speed, and he’s refined. Holding his own for sure in the Carolina League and that’s about all we need for a 20 year old. He’ll be special.
5. Julio Teheran – His ceiling is as an ace level starter and the Braves saw enough in instrucs and spring training to let him skip complex ball as a 17 year old.
6. Tyler Flowers – His ceiling is to be an absolute monster at catcher. He’ll never be average at the position, but his splits this year show impressive power outside Myrtle Beach. A catcher with a 1:1 K/BB ratio and that kind of power will play. If he’s forced off C he can be adequate at first base, but he’ll drop down this list.
7. Brandon Jones – Has a ceiling as an average outfielder and is almost there. He’ll provide plus defense along with an average bat eventually.
8. Jeff Locke – He’s a 20 year old from the northeast and he’s proving himself more than able to handle the Sally League. Great K/BB, great GO/AO, great HR ratio. He can be a #1 starter if he refines his change and curve because the command is there.
9. Freddy Freeman – He’s an 18 year old in Low A and he’s destroying the league. His ceiling may not be as an elite power hitter because that wasn’t his profile coming out of HS, but his defense is supposedly plus and he can hit.
10. Charlie Morton – Mid rotation starter in the future; he certainly has the stuff and he’s polishing it right now.
11. Eric Campbell – the 243 isolated power and solid on-base average show signs of life; he’s struggling in the AVG category along with a lot of guys at the Beach. If he keeps his nose clean he can develop into the slugging third baseman we’ve been expecting.
12. Jon Gilmore – rightly beating up on rookie league pitchers; needs to show something at the higher levels next year.
13. Cole Rohrbaugh – nice mix of pitches; #2/3 starter
14. Brandon Hicks – kind of splitting the middle between guys who think he’ll be a stud and those who project him as a utility guy.
15. Kris Medlen – though I have questions about durability and his ability to sustain the three pitch mix he’s using.
16. Cody Johnson – he’s what, maybe an average left fielder? Poor defense, 250/.325/.500 line at best? I can’t say I’m high on him.
17. Daniel Matra – fell in the draft and we got a steal; he’s dismantling complex ball, but that’s not surprising.
18. Brett Lillibridge – his standing as a future above-average shortstop is in question; I expect him to evolve into some sort of offensive oriented utility guy ala DeRosa. That has value o/c.
19. Eric Cordier – power arm showing signs of life; that’s always valuable.
20. Cory Rasmus – see Cordier
21. Chad Rodgers – possible mid-rotation guy who isn’t pitching bad at Low A.
22. Brett DeVall – He has the potential to be a #2/3 starter.
23. Zeke Spruill – See DeVall
24. Jose Ortegano – good control and K rate; lefty to boot
25. Edgar Osuna – see Ortegano

by 17843 on Jul 17, 2008 7:48 PM EDT 0 recs

Mine

1. Jason Heyward – could be here until he gets called up
2. Tommy Hanson- honestly don’t think he’s worthy of this spot, fits better at 3-5, but no one else can be justified ahead of him
3. Jordan Schafer- if Gorkys breaks out of his slump, he’s below him
4. Gorkys Hernandez
5. Cole Rohrbough- still like him a lot long term
6. Brent Lillibridge- rough first half, but defense is still there and confident his bat will come around, as it appears to be
7. Freddie Freeman- largest jump of any prospect this year, phenomenal potential
8. Jeff Locke- not bad he’s struggled a bit, prefer it was a further along than A ball, but love the Ks, groundballs and control
9. Julio Tehran- still just based on potential/scouting reports
10. Tyler Flowers- future slugger
11. Brandon Jones- biggest drop off of anyone this year, worried he’s a 3/4 OF
12. Brandon Hicks- without the Ks, he’s top 8 or higher, love the power
13. Cody Johnson- more of the above but without the defense
14. Kris Medlen- very nice year, was filthy in person, longterm RP possibilities lowers his stock a bit
15. Todd Redmond- might not have enough stuff, but SP potential sometime next year
16. Eric Campbell- still a legit prospect, unlike Pope
17. Travis Jones- power has been surprising
18. Erik Cordier- could rise very quickly, if he didnt suffer a setback to start the year I’d expect he’d be closer to 10
19. Brett Devall- great value first pick, love the potential
20. Steve Evarts- injuries hurting stock
21. Jon Owings- big numbers this year, whats up with the Beach turning into a launching pad?
22. Jon Gilmore- not sold, but coming around in rookie ball at least
23. Edgar Osuna- lots of potential on the Rome staff
24. Cory Gearrin- good numbers
25. Zeke Spruill- good potential

HM: Cory Rasmus, Richard Sullivan (lets see it against a little stiffer comp for a college kid), Scott Diamond

by abravesfan on Jul 17, 2008 10:53 PM EDT 0 recs

Wow

So i got through 15 and accidentally closed the screen. Breathe, Breathe. Anyways, here is the list:

1. Jason Heyward – not much to say other than there is no way we should have gotten this guy last year with the 15th pick.
2. Tommy Hanson – outside a couple of horrendous starts in AA Tommy Hanson has been amazing all year long, and with reports of improved stuff this year he could be our ace of the Future.
3. Freddie Freeman – Don’t forget that he is in his 18 year old season as well. His stats are better than Heywards in many respects. I was laughed at on a minorleagueball board last year for saying I thought his bat could be as good as Heyward and I was the only person here who ranked him in their top 25. Thats all my bragging for now.
4. Jordan Schafer – His defense is enough to get him in the top 10 and his ability to hit for XBH gets him in the top 5. He needs to show us something this last month though.
5. Tyler Flowers – He plays his home games in a pitchers park, he plays the most demanding position on the field, and he has gotten better each month of the season. .277/.417/.453 splits is good for the 7th best OPS in the league.
6. Gorkys Hernandez – he has the skills to be the best lead off guy we have had since Furcal.
7. Jeff Locke – The man has gotten better every month of the season and I have always been a fan of him. He might be the next guy to throw a no hitter.
8. Charlie Morton – Morton has always had the talent to be a top of the line pitcher but he could never hold it all together. Well he really flashed something special in the first half of this year. Lets see how he handles the second half in Atlanta.
9. Brandon Jones – He still has average tools across the board and nagging injuries have plagued him a bit this year. I think he will be fine in the future but not for the Braves.
10. Kris Medlen – I think Medlen’s performance as a starter should have opened some eyes. He was dominant as a reliever and has adjusted amazingly well as a starter.
11. Julio Teheran – I know he might be the most talented player on this list by raw standards but he hasn’t done anything yet and he some arms problems already. Wait and see for me
12. Cole Rohrbough – he has been hurt too but I have never been very high on him to begin with. His spike curve is supposed to be amazing and he has pitched well the past two games. He will have the most rethinking on my part by the end of the year.
13. Jon Owings – Same age as Brandon Hicks in the same league with better all around stats. He has the 5th Best OPS in the Carolina League.
14. Brandon Hicks – Has shown a lot of power for a guy who wasn’t supposed to hit with wood bats. His K rates are alarming though.
15. Brent Lillibridge – I like Lilli and even wanted him to be the shortstop over Escobar at the seasons start, but now I don’t know if he peaked last year or has been hampered by injuries this year.
16. Eric Campbell – I have always been a Campbell fan and his stats this year show a good bit of power and a solid eye at the plate but the hits just haven’t been falling. I expect him to break out in the second half. Could rocket up the charts if he behaves himself.
17. Cody Johnson – it is a deep system when he is this far down. He is ULTRA talented with tons of power, but his inability to make contact is Epically bad. He has been better, but I want more evidence.
18. Jon Gilmore – I like Gilmore a lot. He is probably our 3B of the future manning the middle of the order with Freeman and Heyward. Remember he was taken before Freeman last year.
19. Steve Evarts – No one knows where he is, but when he is on the mound he has tons of talent.
20. Travis Jones – a former South Carolina guy I feel obliged to put him on. He has good power for a 2B and has a good eye at the plate, but just hasn’t had enough hits fall for him. Kinda similar to his DP partner Hicks.
21. Daniel Matra – I am surprised other people have listed him, but he has big time talent and we got a steal when we picked him up in last years draft.
22. Scott Diamond – he has been really good this year and probably deserves to be higher on the list.
23. Chad Rodgers – He has some good talent, but has struggled at times and doesn’t have enough velocity to over power guys.
24. Todd Redmon – another crafty lefty who has been really good for the Mississippi team this season. He may see some time in Atlanta this year or next.
25. Dimaster Delgado – a pretty talented Panamanian pitcher on our GCL team. He struck out 86 in 59 innings last year in the DSL and has been good for the GCL Braves. He is just 19 but could move up later this year.

Watch List: Gerrado Rodriguez, Danville; Eric Cordier, Rome; Cory Rasmus, GCL

There you go. My wonderful list.

by yondaime4 on Jul 17, 2008 11:46 PM EDT 0 recs

does anyone have any info on this Gerrardo Rodriguez guy, who is he?, i know its Danville but he is crushing the ball

"We win today, that's two in a row... if we win tomorrow, that's called a winning streak. It has happened before..."

by Swo12bv on Jul 18, 2008 12:59 AM EDT up 0 recs

G. Rodriguez

He was a converted catcher who played for two seasons on the Yankees’ GCL team and was then released. The release was a bit surprising and perplexing to some, but I guess the Yanks didn’t feel that he was progressing as he should. He’s 20, and with two seasons of GCL under his belt he may be a bit advanced for Danville. He’s also coming down to earth just a bit after his torrid start, still he has a SLG over .600. He seems like a swing and miss power guy, so don’t get too high on him, he could just be a young Kala Ka’aihue/Cody Johnson type.

by gondeee on Jul 18, 2008 10:12 AM EDT up 0 recs

thanks alot thats kinda waht i thought, but i had no clue where he came from.

"We win today, that's two in a row... if we win tomorrow, that's called a winning streak. It has happened before..."

by Swo12bv on Jul 22, 2008 6:32 PM EDT up 0 recs

Todd RedmonD is crafty but is not a lefty at all. Not sure why i put that other than tiredness

by yondaime4 on Jul 18, 2008 6:48 PM EDT up 0 recs

Quick notes on Freeman and Ortegano

Ortegano’s okay:
“The Braves received some uplifting — and surprising — news Thursday when they learned pitcher Jose Ortegano will be activated from the disabled list and will be able to resume pitching.
Ortegano, who is on the DL with a severe shoulder strain, was checked by the Atlanta Braves’ medical staff and was given clearance to pitch again.
It was initially believed that would either have to undergo surgery or, at best, would spend the rest of the season rehabbing the injury at the Braves’ complex in Orlando, Fla.”

And this on Freeman’s hitting streak:
“Freeman went 3-for-5 and drove in a run while stretching his streak to 16 games — five shy of tying the Rome record set by Josh Burrus in 2004. Freeman is batting a gaudy .484 (30-for-62) with four homers and 18 RBIs during his streak.”

All from the Rome paper.

If batting average was the main thing seperating Heyward and Freeman, well, these are their numbers as of today (Friday):
Heyward: .325 / 8 HR / 43RBI / 109 hits – 335 At Bats
Freeman: .320 / 15HR / 72RBI / 116 hits – 362 At Bats

by secondbass on Jul 18, 2008 7:42 AM EDT 0 recs

That last bit is from me - not the paper - the comps for Freeman and Heyward

by secondbass on Jul 18, 2008 7:43 AM EDT up 0 recs

My Lists--This include the Mid-Season July 2008 and the one earlier posted on this site.

Braves Prospect List

Mid-Season 2008

Top 25

1. Jason Heyward
2. Freddie Freemen
3. Jordan Schafer
4. Tommy Hanson
5. Tyler Flowers
6. Gorkys Hernandez
7. Cole Rohrbough
8. Jeffery Locke
9. Brandon Jones
10. Julio Teheran
11. Scott Diamond
12. Cody Johnson
13. Kris Medlen
14. Kala Kaaihue
15. Brent Lillibridge
16. James Parr
17. Todd Redmond
18. Jon Mark Owings
19. Eric Campbell
20. Brandon Hicks
21. Travis Jones
22. Edgar Osuna
23. Jon Gilmore
24. Clint Sammons
25. Kevin Gunderson

Flying Under the Radar

1. Diory Hernandez
2. Ernesto Mejia
3. Jeff Lyman
4. Kyle Cofield
5. Chris Vines
6. Matt Kennelly
7. Yeliar Castro
8. Willie Cabrera
9. Conception Rodriquez
10. Carlos Rivas
11. Joel Campusano
12. Nick Fellman
13. Michael Mehlich
14. Bruno Pruneida
15. Deunte Heath
16. Carlos Sencion

Breakthrough Candidates

1. Michael Timms
2. Craig Kimbrell
3. Casey Hodges
4. Daniel Matra
5. Randal Delgado
6. Dimaster Delgado
7. Brett DeVall
8. Tyler Stovall
9. Gerardo Rodriguez
10. Jason Hanson
11. Zeke Spruill
12. Richard Sullivan
13. Benji Johnson
14. Adam Coe
15. Steven Kent
16. Cory Rasmus
17. Luis Avilan
18. Julio Surinach
19. Braeden Schlehuber
20. Craig Shehan
21. Samuel Sime
22. Calvin Culver
23. Ross Francis
24. Adam Milligan
25. Paul Clemens
26. Michael Broadway
27. Ryne Reynoso
28. Brett Oberholzter
29. Kyle Farrell
30. Ryohei Shimabukuro
31. Rashod Henry
32. Rafel Betancourt

Hope Their Healthy

1. Steven Evarts
2. Chad Rodgers
3. Jonathan Venters
4. Jario Cuevas
5. Jose Ortegano
6. Phil Stockman
7. Zach Schneider
8. Erik Cordier
9. Anthony Lerew
10. Dustin Evans
11. Lee Hyde
12. Caleb Brewer
13. Steven Shults

Braves Prospect List: Prior to 2008

1. Jordan Schafer
2. Brandon Jones
3. Cole Rohrbough
4. Tommy Hanson
5. Cody Johnson
6. Jason Heyward
7. Brent Lillibridge
8. Jo Jo Reyes
9. Jeff Locke
10. Steve Evarts
11. Kris Medlen
12. Van Pope
13. Kala
14. Jose Oretegano
15. Chad Rogers
16. Edgar Otsuna
17. Eric Campbell
18. Gregor Blanco
19. Tyler Flowers
20. Clint Sammons
21. James Parr
22. Eric Barrett
23. Dan Smith
24. Jose Ascanio
25. Manny Accosta
26. Sung Ki Jung
27. Travis Jones
28. Brandon Hicks
29. Bryan Pena
30. Chase Fontaine
31. Martin Prado
32. Jario Cuevas
33. Deunte Heath

Flying Under the Radar

1. Diory Hernandez
2. Steven Kent
3. Michael Nix
4. Tyler Wilson
5. Steve Shults
6. Charles Morton
7. Francisely Bueno
8. Philip Britton
9. Cole Miles
10. Michael Mehlich
11. Quentin Davis
12. Jon Owings
13. J.C.Holt
14. Carlos Sencion
15. Francisely Bueno
16. Kevin Gunderson
17. Kevin Villa
18. Carl Loadenthal
19. Wes Timmons
20. Danny Brezeale

Candidates for Breakthroughs in 2008

1. Fredy Freemen
2. Julio Teheran
3. Jon Gilmore
4. Phil Stockman
5. Adam Coe
6. Ryohei Shimabukuro
7. Ernesto Meija
8. Samuel Sime
9. Nicholas Fellman
10. Thomas Palica
11. Larry Williams
12. Matt Kennelly
13. Yelivar Castro
14. Caleb Brewer
15. Rico Reid

Hope Their Healthy

1. Erik Cordier
2. Chris Vines
3. Johnny Venters
4. Kyle Cofield
5. Cory Rasmus
6. Anthony Lerew
7. Mosies Hernandez
8. Lee Hyde
9. Timothy Gustafson
10. Sergio Valenzuela

by Stephen in the UAE on Jul 19, 2008 9:10 AM EDT 0 recs